Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Today in motorcycle history, October 15, 1961

 

 




  Homeboy Jorge Kissling wins the 1961 500cc Argentine Grand Prix at the Autódromo Juan y Oscar Galvez circuit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  It's beginners luck as it's his first ever Grand Prix race.

 

  Australian Tom Phillis wins both the 125cc and 250cc class.  He would go on to win the 1961 FIM 125cc World Championship.  The very first World Championship for Honda.

 

  Phillis died while competing in the 1962 Isle of Man TT.  The defending 500 cc world champion, Gary Hocking, was so affected by the death of his friend that he immediately retired from competitive motorcycling.

  Thomas Edward Phillis was cremated and his ashes were scattered at the TT race course starting-line.