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Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 12

A set of Geoff Duke one-piece racing leathers

The Spring Stafford Sale
27.04.2019 - 28.04.2019
Schätzpreis
4.000 £ - 8.000 £
ca. 5.166 $ - 10.332 $
Zuschlagspreis:
n. a.
Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 12

A set of Geoff Duke one-piece racing leathers

The Spring Stafford Sale
27.04.2019 - 28.04.2019
Schätzpreis
4.000 £ - 8.000 £
ca. 5.166 $ - 10.332 $
Zuschlagspreis:
n. a.
Beschreibung:

• Ground-breaking design • Believed used at the 1950 Isle of Man TT • Gifted by Geoff Duke to his cousin Des Wright • Offered for sale by the Wright family One-piece leather suits for racing motorcyclists have been the norm for almost 70 years. Their introduction is widely credited to one man – Geoff Duke – who got the idea in 1949 while engaged in a record-breaking attempt at Montlhéry, France. Still a relative novice - he had signed for Norton's works road-racing team following the '49 Manx Grand Prix - Duke was teamed with Artie Bell for the record attempt, which was timed to generate publicity ahead of the Motorcycle Show in November. Despite his greater bulk, Bell circulated consistently 0.4 seconds per lap quicker than Duke, who soon realised Bell's better-fitting leathers were the reason why. Duke had his leathers' flapping excess material taped down, and the missing performance was restored. Although a tighter fit, Bell's leathers were the traditional two-piece type, and Duke became convinced that a further advantage could be gained from an even closer-fitting one-piece design. In his autobiography, 'In Pursuit of Perfection', Geoff reveals that he approached his local St Helens tailor, Frank Barker, to make a suitable pattern: 'But this interested him so much that, having made the pattern, Frank then said he would like to have a go at making up the suit.' The result, complete with a one-piece separate lining, was ready in time for the 1950 Isle of Man TT races. It soon became apparent that the same principles could be applied to the rider's boots, which at this time were of the baggy pull-on variety. Frank Barker made Geoff a pair of close-fitting zip-up boots, and these too would become de rigeur in racing circles. Geoff's innovations proved so successful that soon the bulk of Frank Barker's business was providing boots and leathers for racing motorcyclists. Wearing his one-piece leathers for the first time, Geoff finished 2nd in the 1950 Junior event and won the Senior race, the second of his six TT victories. Believed to be Geoff Duke's first set of one-piece racing leathers, as worn at the 1950 TT, this suit was gifted by Geoff to his cousin D A 'Des' Wright to wear in the 1954 Clubman's Junior TT race. Riding one of the ubiquitous BSA Gold Stars, Des finished 2nd at an average speed of 81.68mph, setting a new lap record that stands to this day (the Clubman's TT was discontinued after 1956). There can be little doubt that Geoff's knowledge of the TT course and expert tuition played a part in Des Wright's achievement. The leathers appear to have had some modifications during their lifetime, including the addition of leather panels on the shoulders and elbow, presumably as the design was refined and improved. The leathers are offered for sale directly from the Wright family.

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 12
Auktion:
Datum:
27.04.2019 - 28.04.2019
Auktionshaus:
Bonhams London
Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground Staffordshire County Showground Weston Road Stafford ST18 0BD Tel: +44 207 447 7447 Fax : +44 207 447 7401 info@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

• Ground-breaking design • Believed used at the 1950 Isle of Man TT • Gifted by Geoff Duke to his cousin Des Wright • Offered for sale by the Wright family One-piece leather suits for racing motorcyclists have been the norm for almost 70 years. Their introduction is widely credited to one man – Geoff Duke – who got the idea in 1949 while engaged in a record-breaking attempt at Montlhéry, France. Still a relative novice - he had signed for Norton's works road-racing team following the '49 Manx Grand Prix - Duke was teamed with Artie Bell for the record attempt, which was timed to generate publicity ahead of the Motorcycle Show in November. Despite his greater bulk, Bell circulated consistently 0.4 seconds per lap quicker than Duke, who soon realised Bell's better-fitting leathers were the reason why. Duke had his leathers' flapping excess material taped down, and the missing performance was restored. Although a tighter fit, Bell's leathers were the traditional two-piece type, and Duke became convinced that a further advantage could be gained from an even closer-fitting one-piece design. In his autobiography, 'In Pursuit of Perfection', Geoff reveals that he approached his local St Helens tailor, Frank Barker, to make a suitable pattern: 'But this interested him so much that, having made the pattern, Frank then said he would like to have a go at making up the suit.' The result, complete with a one-piece separate lining, was ready in time for the 1950 Isle of Man TT races. It soon became apparent that the same principles could be applied to the rider's boots, which at this time were of the baggy pull-on variety. Frank Barker made Geoff a pair of close-fitting zip-up boots, and these too would become de rigeur in racing circles. Geoff's innovations proved so successful that soon the bulk of Frank Barker's business was providing boots and leathers for racing motorcyclists. Wearing his one-piece leathers for the first time, Geoff finished 2nd in the 1950 Junior event and won the Senior race, the second of his six TT victories. Believed to be Geoff Duke's first set of one-piece racing leathers, as worn at the 1950 TT, this suit was gifted by Geoff to his cousin D A 'Des' Wright to wear in the 1954 Clubman's Junior TT race. Riding one of the ubiquitous BSA Gold Stars, Des finished 2nd at an average speed of 81.68mph, setting a new lap record that stands to this day (the Clubman's TT was discontinued after 1956). There can be little doubt that Geoff's knowledge of the TT course and expert tuition played a part in Des Wright's achievement. The leathers appear to have had some modifications during their lifetime, including the addition of leather panels on the shoulders and elbow, presumably as the design was refined and improved. The leathers are offered for sale directly from the Wright family.

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 12
Auktion:
Datum:
27.04.2019 - 28.04.2019
Auktionshaus:
Bonhams London
Stafford, Staffordshire County Showground Staffordshire County Showground Weston Road Stafford ST18 0BD Tel: +44 207 447 7447 Fax : +44 207 447 7401 info@bonhams.com
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