Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Today in motorcycle history, August 13, 1977

                                


                                  

  The 1977 British motorcycle Grand Prix is held at Silverstone Circuit.

 

  The British motorcycle Grand Prix, officially known as the John Player British Grand Prix, was the thirteenth and final round of the 1977 GP motorcycle racing season.  More importantly 1977 marked the beginning of a new era as, it was the first time the event was held on the British mainland after the Isle of Man TT had represented the United Kingdom on the FIM Grand Prix calendar for the previous 28 years since the championship's inception in 1949.

  Once the most prestigious race of the year, the Isle of Man TT had been increasingly boycotted by the top riders, and finally succumbed to pressure for increased safety in racing events.  Safety?  In motorcycle racing?  Since when?  

 

  The return to the mainland proved to be good for British racing with a 5-6-7 showing in the 500cc and a 3-4-5 finish in the 350cc class, plus George O'Dell and Cliff Holland would win the Sidecar World Championship (the first of 5 for British-built Windle sidecars).

 

  Silverstone Circuit is near the villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury in East Midlands.  If your planning a trip the nearest towns for hotel accommodations are Towcester, Brackley, Buckingham, Northampton and Milton Keynes.