John Boswell

November 12, 2009 by mike.cox

I started club-racing Sidecars in England in 1973 – Sidecars being my first passion, working my way from Club through to Nationals and finally gaining my International Racing License in 1977.
 
Was reasonably competitive on a TZ 750 Windel outfit with passenger Graham Wellington. Both of us privately entered from Wolverhampton.
 
We had many good dices and near misses with the likes of Jock Taylor, Mick Boddice and George O’Dell. Racing on a shoestring on those stages we finally managed to bankrupt ourselves between the years 1979 and 1980.
 
I did not realize at the time but now I look back having competed in the 1979 and 1980 TT’s what an accelerating achievement to look back on.
 
End of Chapter One.
 
I then immigrated in 1981 to South Africa and lost a few years making money like you do.
 
The Sidecar scene in SA in 1989 was just getting off the ground for the second time in SA history but was short lived due to general lack of interest but I managed to have a good few ding dongs with the local likely lads campaigning a conventional Windel Outfit using a gigantic GXS1100 engine.
 
When the sidecars eventually faded away it then led to the current interest in the Historic Motorcycle Group and I have taken a great interest in restoring Rocket 3's and Trident’s for the road and track.
 
My current machine been used in anger is a Rob North Replica with Richard Pekett Trident motor. This motor is a full spec motor using stroked crank 930cc primary belt drive, quaiff 5 speed box Carrillo rods
Electronic ignition.
 
This bike is well sorted and reliable with the original open mega so you can imagine it gives me great pleasure to own and ride this machine at every possible event.
 
A list of motorcycles currently in my stable: -
 
10        -           Triples in various states of build.
 
2          -           Norton Commando’s
 
1          -           Twin Shock TZ750
 
The very one ridden by Jim Redman in current events.
 
2          -           Tritons and a s---t house full of spares.