Today in motorcycle history, July 25, 1954

 


    

 

 

  Known as one of the true gentlemen of motorcycle racing, Britain's Denis Lashmar is killed during the 1954 German Motorcycle Grand Prix at Solitudering.

 


  Denis Lashmar's first race was at Dunholme in October 1948 for the BMCRC (British Motorcycle Racing Club) Hutchinson 100. Chasing Harrold Daniell on a Lancefield Norton, the inexperienced Lashmar ended up in a field of crops travelling at 80 mph. He would eventually find his way back on the circuit and finished 15th! Impressed by his tenacity Daniell lent Denis his own Norton to ride for the next few races.


  He would win the 1949 1000cc Clubmans TT on a Stan Pike prepared Vincent. More than speed, running out of gas was his major concern as three other riders ahead of him did awarding Denis the victory. Afterwards, he admitted that being a fan of speed the irksome restraint of travelling slowly to reduce gas consumption was worth it because he would take home the trophy but, it robbed  him of the thrill of a high-speed run on the mountain course.


  He competed in three TT events in 1951, his best result being 13th in the Senior on Daniell's Norton. In 1954 he was entered by the legendary Geoff Duke in both the Junior and Senior races on a Pike-BSA, finishing in both. Sadly, Denis was killed in the penultimate lap of the 1954 500cc German Grand Prix at Solitude near Stuttgart while riding a BSA A7 prepared by Stan's brother, Roland.

   BMCRC printed a tribute that read in part, “ His happy-go-lucky manner never left him whether he was enjoying a hard-fought race or wrestling with a recalcitrant machine in the paddock, and his dashing style of riding often placed him amongst the leaders, even though their models might be faster. With his death Bemsee has lost one of its keenest members, a genuine private owner who rode for the sheer joy of travelling fast.” 

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD).  www.nabd.org.uk