“RACING AND ROADCRAFT“ 1960s MOTORCYCLE RACING TECHNIQUES GEOFF DUKE ISLE OF MAN XD51774

Join this channel to get access to perks: Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit Visit our website This film, called “Racing and Roadcraft”, was produced by Motor Cycling with Kinocrat Films probably in the early 1960s. It features motorcycle Grand Prix road racing world champion, Geoffrey Ernest Duke OBE (1923–2015), presenting a tour of the country roads composing the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race, also known as the Snaefall Mountain Course. For roughly the first half of the film, Duke takes a group of young motorcyclists on a bus tour of the race course, stopping at various difficult points on these public roads of the Isle of Man to suggest particular motorcycle handling strategies. For the remainder of the film (starting 7:30), Duke sits indoors with Bob Holliday of Motor Cycling magazine to discuss racing strategy. Key ideas discussed include proper lines to allow for acceleration and knowledge of one’s “machine.” Course elements discussed in detail include: Braddan Bridge (’S’ bend and junction with two staggered side-roads on A1 Peel Road), Cronk-y-Voddy Straight (on A3 Castletown to Ramsey road), Ballaugh Bridge (Bridge at junction of C37 Ballaugh Glen Road and A10 (Ballaugh Station Road)), Parliament Square (A3 (Lezayre Road)), 32nd Milestone or Dukes (On A18 Mountain Road), Windy Corner (On A18 Mountain Road), and Creg-ny-Baa (Junction of A18 with secondary B12 Creg-ny-baa Back Road). Keywords: Geoff Duke, Manx Grand Prix, Isle of Man / Mann, Isle of Man TT, Douglas, motorcycle technique, motorcycle race positioning, acceleration times, clutch control motorcycle racing, motorcycle race strategy. Title: Motor Cycling with Scooter Weekly presents: Racing and Roadcraft; Kinocrat Films, London; “film for enthusiasts with racing interests,” motorcyclists (0:08). Port of Douglas, Isle of Man, viewed from afar (0:59). Holiday-makers at Douglas beach (1:05). Tourist couple reads Motor Cycling magazine at beach (1:10). Horse-drawn streetcar, Douglas (1:20). Geoff Duke speaks from armchair in home library (1:45). Clubmen at Peveril Hotel, Douglas; sign for Manx Grand Prix Races headquarters; young men board coach bus (2:05). Red and white coach buses (“Scotts Tours”), Douglas (2:20). Tour bus at Bratton Bridge; Clubman racers listen to Geoff Duke present on road, course assessment, motorcycle race strategy (2:45). Coach bus tours race circuit on Isle of Man: Cronk-y-voddy countryside, 13th milestone, sponsored by Shell and ICA (3:40). Geoff Duke gives circuit tour to racers; group of young men in suits listen to presentation (3:55). Circuit tour continues; bus pulls to side of road near Ballaugh Bridge, strategy discussion led by Geoff Duke (4:40). Manx Grand Prix racers prepare near sign for “Motor Cycling” (5:20). Geoff Duke as tour guide speaks into microphone on moving tour bus (5:30). Parliament Square, Ramsay (5:40). Motorcycle racer gestures at tar on road with foot (6:10). Tour bus, Isle of Man countryside (6:15). Windy Corner, bends in road (Manx Grand Prix) (6:25). Creg Ny Baa, Kirk Onchan, Isle of Man country road (6:45). Group of young white British men in suits walk together down country road (clubmen motorcyclists) (7:15). Larger banner “Motor Cycling,” country road (7:15). Sitting at armchairs with cups of tea, Geoff Duke and Bob Holliday of Motor Cycling converse, discussing: importance of planning, strategy, and self-awareness in motorcycle racing; club riding; specific elements of Manx Grand Prix Isle of Mann circuit (7:30). Holliday lays out sketch maps of various parts of Manx Grand Prix circuit (illustrating motorcycle race approaches, strategy); they discuss approach lines and gear shifts, covering: Braddan Bridge (9:15–10:30), 13th Milestone (10:30–11:40), Ballaugh Bridge (11:40–12:40), Parliament Square (12:40–14:00), 3 Bends Before ‘Windy’ / Duke’s (14:00–15:10), Creg Ny Baa (15:10–15:30). Demonstration footage of motorcycle racing techniques / lone motorcycle racer at Ballaugh Bridge (12:05), Parliament Square (13:00), 3 Bends Before Windy (14:45), and Creg Ny Baa (Motor Cycling banner) (15:10). Bob Holliday with studious expression (15:30). Bob Holliday and Geoff Duke discuss, compare Braddon Bridge with S Bend above waterworks and Creg Ny Baa with Signpost (15:45). Geoff Duke addresses camera, giving advice to club racers (“get to know your machine….safety first may be a bit of a cliché, but it still saves lives….”) (16:30). End title over discussion footage, Kinocrat production (17:45). This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
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