Joey Dunlop – Road Racer 1977
I stumbled across this incredible series of videos, featuring the legendary Joey Dunlop, shot back in 1977.
The first video of Road Racer kicks of with Dunlop testing his Yamaha on public streets at dusk and then staying up in his garage until 3am in an attempt to get his bike sorted!
In the second video Joey is preparing for the Isle of Man and is robbed of a race win by a broken clutch cable at the Kirkstone circuit.
In the final video he talks about the incredible nerves he feels as he lines up on the grid before a race. His honesty is so refreshing, no wonder he was so loved by the fans.
Remembered as the world’s greatest ever road racer, Joey’s record at the Isle of Man is incredible.
I cant write it any better than it appears on the official Isle of Man TT website……
“‘King of the Road’ Joey Dunlop OBE MBE first saw the course in 1976 as he set off for his first practice – he went home with two replicas. The first of his record breaking 26 wins came in the 1977 Jubilee Classic Race. He won the TT Formula 1 Race six years in a row between 1983 and 1988 and was Formula 1 World Champion five times. He is the only rider to have three hat-tricks to his name – 1985 F1, Senior and Junior, 1988 F1, Senior and Junior and in 2000 the Formula One, Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight. He has lapped the course at over 110 mph in races 256 times and has more 120mph plus laps to his credit than any other rider in the history of the races. He started in 100 races on the TT course, 98 TT and two Classic MGP Junior Races. His astounding record of successes speak for themselves. Altogether Joey’s 26 TT wins include 7 Formula 1, 4 Senior, 3 Junior, 5 Lightweight and 5 UltraLightweight Races, plus the 1977 Jubilee Race and the 1980 Classic 1000. During TT2000, at the age of 48, Joey counted the magnificent win in the Duke Formula One as one of his most rewarding. In his final lap of the TT circuit – the sixth lap of the Senior Race – he set his fastest ever lap at 123.87mph to become joint fourth fastest man around the course.
Joey was killed in a racing accident in Estonia in July 2000 and the world mourned the passing of one of the greatest motorcycling legends of all time. He will be remembered for his skill and determination to win, his humility and kindness, and his warmth and sense of fun. The flash of that famous yellow helmet as he raced by is gone but the legend of Joey Dunlop will live forever.”
Images: Iomtt.com
