Norman with friend and sponsor Roy Clutton in the assembly area before a Classic
250 race at Aintree. Followed by various photo's taken at Aintree over the past
few years.Norman Williamson has been involved in the sport of Motorcycle Road Racing since 1974. He has competed on many different circuits on the UK mainland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and continues to do so. As well as preparing many of the machines he rides, he also manages and organises his race team. He has won many races and championships on short circuits over the years, and four Silver Replica's as well as many Finisher's Awards in the Manx GP between 1976 and 1991. He remains a very competitive motorcycle racer.
MAKE & TYPES OF MACHINE RACED
Aermacchi 250 (1967 Grand Prix Class) Air cooled, Single Cylinder Four-Stroke, 5 speed gearbox. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10,500 rpm and it is capable of 115mph. Norman has raced two of these machines since the early 80's. One belonging to Terry Kermode and the other belonging to Roy & Sheila Clutton. Norman continues to race Roy's bike in the 250 Classic races at Aintree and Oulton Park, and has won many races and championships on it.
Norman with friend and sponsor Roy Clutton in the assembly area before a Classic
250 race at Aintree. Followed by various photo's taken at Aintree over the past
few years.
Norman & Mark Livingstone starting the 1988 MGP 250 Classic Race.
Aermacchi 350 (1968 Grand Prix Class) Air cooled, Single Cylinder Four-Stroke. 5 speed gearbox. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 8200 rpm and is capable of 130mph. Norman started his racing career on a 344cc Aermacchi in 1974, he raced this machine up to 1982 and won many races on it. He also raced a 344 Aermacchi belonging to Terry Kermode in the 2000 Pre-TT Classic race on the Billown circuit in the IOM. Unfortunately, he crashed in that race and suffered a badly broken leg and ankle.
Quarter Bridge, 1976 Manx GP Junior Race
Ballaugh Bridge, 1976 Manx GP Junior Race.
Ballaugh Bridge, 1977 Manx GP Junior Race.
This is how not to take Ballaugh Bridge. The rider that has just
been passed on the approach to the bridge, re-passed while NW was trying to
regain control of his bike. Manx GP 1977 Junior Practice.
Signpost Corner, 1977 Manx GP Junior Race.
Ginger Hall, 1977 MGP Junior Race.
Greeba Bridge, 1977 MGP Junior Practice.
Quarter Bridge, 1978 Manx GP Junior Practice
Union Mills (1), 1978 MGP Junior Practice.
Yamaha TZ125 (1980 Grand Prix Class) Water cooled, single cylinder Two-Stroke, 6 speed gearbox - No pictures available as yet. The engine on these machines revved to approximately 12000 rpm and they were capable of something in the region of 120 mph.
Yamaha TZR250 (1991 Production Class) Water cooled, Twin Cylinder Two-Stroke, 6 speed gearbox - No pictures available. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10,000 rpm and is capable of 125mph. Norman raced one of these machines in the early 90's.
Yamaha TZ350A/E/G (1975/79/80 Grand Prix Class) Water cooled, Twin Cylinder Two-Stroke, 6 speed gearbox. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10500 rpm and is capable of 140/150mph. Norman's first ride on a TZ350A Yam (B/W picture below) was an unofficial practice at Croft in 1975. He purchased a TZ350E in 1979 and continues to race a TZ 350 Maxton Yam. Some of the machines were his own (like the TZE & Maxton Yam shown below) and others were sponsored rides.
First ride on a TZ350(A) Yam. Practice at Croft 1976 - just a little bit wet.
This bike was modified with a Tony Foal swing arm and Decarbon 'monoshock' suspension.
Village Corner, Aintree, mid 80's, TZ350E
Bradden Bridge, TZ350E, MGP Junior Race, mid 80's
Climbing up the mountain out of Ramsey, MGP Junior Race 1986.
Flat out (140mph+) and just landing at Ballacry, MGP Junior Race 1986.
Maxton Yamaha TZ350G (1980 Grand Prix class) Water cooled, Twin Cylinder Two-Stroke, Gears 6. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10500 rpm and is capable of 140/150mph.
Ballacry, MGP 1987 Junior Race - again flat out but on the Maxton framed bike
this time, which handled quite differently to the standard Yamaha frame.
Creg-ny-ba, 1987 Senior MGP Race
Yamaha SR500 (SR/XT 500 Road based conversion) Air cooled, Single Cylinder Four-Stroke, Gears 5. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 9000rpm and is capable of 120mph.
Beechers Bend, Aintree early 80's.
Honda 492 (1975 CB400F Road based conversion) Air cooled, Four Cylinder Four-Stroke, Gears 6. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 12000 rpm and is capable of 130mph.
Entering the first corner (23) after the start of the unlimited cc Forgotten Era
race, Aintree 2001. Followed by various photo's at Aintree.
Suzuki 250 Gamma (1990 Production class) Water cooled, Twin Cylinder Two-Stroke, Gears 6 - No pictures available. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10500 rpm and is capable of 125mph.
Suzuki TR320 (1967 T20 250cc Road based conversion) Air cooled, Twin Cylinder 320cc Two-Stroke, Gears 6. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10000 rpm and is capable of 130mph.
Club Corner, Aintree 1999.
Castletown Corner, Pre-TT 350 Classic Race, Billown Circuit 1999.
Suzuki T500 (1967 T500 Road based conversion) Air cooled, Twin Cylinder Two-Stroke, Gears 5. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10,000 rpm and is capable of 145/155mph.
NW and sponsor Eric Hulme, Aintree paddock 2001.
Ballakeighan corner, Pre-TT Post Classic Super-bike Race, 2002
Aintree, 2001/02
Greeves Silverstone 250 1966 Air cooled, Single Cylinder Two-Stroke, Gears 6. The engine of this machine revs to approximately 10500 rpm and is capable of 125mph.
Ballakeighan corner, Pre-TT 250 Single Cylinder Classic Race, 2002
3rd place on the rostrum, Pre-TT 250 Single Cylinder Classic Race, 2002
CIRCUITS
Norman has raced on the following Road Race Circuits;
Isle of Man, TT (Mountain Circuit)
Isle of Man, Billown (Southern 100 Circuit)
Dundrod (Ulster GP Circuit)
Oulton Park
Cadwell Park (Mountain & Club Circuits)
Mallory Park
Donington Park
Croft
Three Sisters (Wigan)
Longridge (Preston)
New Brighton Road Race (Wirral)
2002 RACING SEASON
The 2002 season was like most racing events, full of action, unpredictable events, some success and some disappointments.
The Aermacchi 250 owned and prepared by Roy Clutton had been tuned over the closed season but still could not live with the single cylinder Greeves two-stroke machines with good riders on them. After starting well in the Aintree championship, an engine failure caused a DNF in one round while lying third. The loss of points was a disaster as far as the championship was concerned. After lying third up until the last round, Norman eventually finished fifth in the championship.
Norman rode Ron Leighton's 250 Greeves in the Pre-TT 250 Singles Classic race and finished third. This was the first time he had ridden this machine. He usually has to contend with Phil Carpenter riding against him on this particular Greeves, while Norman rides Roy Clutton's 250 Aermacchi.
The Post Classic Super-Bike race at the Pre-TT was a bit of a disaster. Norman had only gone twenty yards out of the warm up area in the first practice session, when he was knocked off the Suzuki by another rider. Fortunately there was little damage and he was able to continue. The Suzuki TR500 then ate yet another piston during the final practice. Frantic efforts and the kindness of Les Trotter (who provided a piston), got the bike to the start line. Unfortunately the gremlins were hungry again during the Post Classic Super-Bike race and yet another piston went two laps before the finish. Two engine seizures flat out at 140/150mph on the Billown circuit cannot be a pleasant experience!!!
Eric Hulme's (Earache Racing) Suzuki TR500, although a rocket ship when going right, continued to eat pistons at an alarming rate. These piston failures eventually caused the crankshaft seals to fail, which in turn resulted in a failure to get to the start line at Ty-Cros for one meeting. The problem now seems to have been cured (fingers crossed!!!) as Norman once again finished first 500 and fifth overall in the unlimited Classic race in the final round at Aintree. He finished seventh overall in the unlimited classic championship in spite of two DNF's in the championship.
2003 RACING SEASON
The 2003 season will start with a similar setup to last year. As well as the machines he rode last year, Norman will race a Maxton Yamaha TZ350G in the Forgotten Era Races at Aintree and some other circuits. He will continue to race the Aermacchi 250 belonging to Roy & Sheila Clutton in selective 250cc Single Cylinder Classic Races. He will also race the Suzuki TR500 belonging to Eric Hulme in selective 500/Unlimited cc Classic Races.
The Maxton Yam is one of Norman's old bikes that he raced in the 80's. He has bought it back from Cliff Mylchreest who last raced it in 1990. The bike has not been used since then, so there is quite at bit of work required to bring it back to race trim.
His first race of the season was at Aintree, the weather was pretty bad with heavy rain and high winds. Some unfortunate rider also dropped a substantial amount of oil around the circuit when his engine blew and some of the racing had to be abandoned on safety grounds. However, not before Norman won his class on the 250 Aermacchi.
Meeting number two was the Pre-TT Classic event on the Billown road circuit in the IOM. Norman raced the Suzuki TR500 and Maxton 349cc TZ Yamaha at this meeting finishing fourth (2nd 350) in his class (unlimited superbikes) on the Maxton Yam.
The rest of the season brought mixed fortunes, the Aermacchi 250 broke twice, once while lying second (push rod failure in the engine) and the 2nd time on the first lap of a qualifying race (big end bearing) which put him out of the final.
However, he still managed to finish 3rd in the Aintree 250cc Singles Classic Race Championship on the Aermacchi and the Aintree 500cc Forgotten Era Class on the 350cc Maxton Yam. He also finished 1st 500 in the Aintree Unlimited cc Classic Race Championship.
SPONSORSHIP
Norman is sponsored to ride the Aermacchi belonging to Roy Clutton, and the TR500 Suzuki belonging to Eric Hulme. In the past he has been sponsored by others, such as, Terry & Barbara Kermode with the 250/350 Aermacchi's and a 320 Suzuki, Ron Leighton with the 250 Greeves and Tony Newby with a 500SR Yamaha.
Sponsorship of any kind is greatly appreciated, without it Norman's racing career would have been drastically curtailed. Any offers of help with machines, supplies, entry fees, tyres, fuel or transport would be of great help.