Jim Redman

November 12, 2009 by mike.cox

PROFILE JIM REDMAN
 
Born in HampsteadHeath on the 8th November 1931. Immigrated to Rhodesia in 1950 and started racing in 1955 in Rhodesia and South Africa.
Became South African champion in 1957 riding 350cc.
 
Then went over to Europe in 1958 and finished 2nd in my first race at BrandsHatch.
 
1960 I won the Spanish Grand Prix on the Norton beating the MV’s/
Chosen for the Honda Team in 1960.
 
Finished 4th in the 1st Race in 1962 and won my 1st World Championship in 1962 and then repeated it in 1963.
 
1964 Awarded the MBE in the New Year’s honors list. Also in 1964 I became the first Rider in history to win 3 World Championship Races in 1 day (only one person also achieved this - the great Mike Hailwood)
 
September 1964 astounded the World with the great sound of the Honda 6 at Monza and in 1964 also won the 350 championship for the 3rd time. Then in 1965 won the 350 championship for the 4th time running and was runner up in the 250 championship.
 
1966 Won the first 2 Races at Hockenheim and Assen with the very first 500 that Honda made.
 
Modern Riders say it takes a year to ride a 500. The Bike arrived at Hockenheim on Thursday and I was expected to ride on Sunday. So I think it takes only 3 days.
 
1966 Finished racing career with 6 World Titles for Honda, which is still a record, Mike Hailwood, got 5, Mick Doohan got 5 and thank goodness Rossi moved on after winning 3 for Honda.
 
I crashed badly at the 500 Belgium Grand Prix in 1966, which ended my racing career.
 
1966 to 1995 I had various business ventures from Van Driver, Mechanic and general dogs body for my 2 sons Brett and Jimmy in Motocross careers. My son Brett won the SA Championship 6 times in various classes from 125 to 500cc and went on to be SA Jet-ski Champion twice after he retired from Motocross due to many injuries.
 
Jimmy was picked to ride for South African Downhill Bicycle Racing and my Grandson – Ryan was under 12 SA Triathlon Champion.
 
Giving us 4 Springbok colour holders.
 
In the 1980’s I bought a Race Horse from England who won almost everything in the one year he competed in South Africa and went on to become Champion sire 12 years out of 13.
 
Then it all happened again as in 1995 I won my first Race after 26 years in Daytona 350cc Classic Grand Prix riding an MV for the first time on a banked circuit in America all of them a first for me.
 
I had broken 2 Collar Bones in crashes in my real racing career and did the same again in my classic racing career.
 
1995 to 2004 – New career as a Classic Racer, Demonstration Rider and Honorary President of the Historic Motorcycle Group in South Africa.
 
Am under threat with one of my sponsors Luke Lawler who has threatened to not let me ride his bikes once I get to 100.
 
Still in the Guinness Book of records as the only rider to win the same 2 races for 3 consecutive TT’s, when it was a World Championship Event.
 
At the age of 72 I have taken on the biggest project of my life – Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in partnership with Mike Fogg – also South African Motorcycle Champion and I’m hoping to be awarded a gold watch once I complete 40 years of service. I shall be 112 years when I retire and look for a retirement hobby.
 
 This by the way was written a few years back. Jim is now 76 years young.