Great Names in Motorcycle Racing

[okow]

Originally posted by Jules@Dec 9 2005, 08:12 AM
Yes, I recall the local racers too......poor Gary Looi..heard his forks collapsed at Lucas Sweeper. Tai Seng Kooi, Fabian - yes what happen to all this fellas?

I learnt about racing bikes during the 80s and the was one epic duel between Sheene and Roberts at Silverstone......Kenny won by half a bike length.....yes, I have it on video and at this year, 1982, Randy came on board as a youngfaced 18 or 19 years old and there was even one rider with the name Virgino Ferrari...or something like that.

My fav riders......Kenny Snr, Freddie, Eddie, Randy, Kevin! From this era, I dream of owning a RD500LC or the RG500.....2 strokes!

Yes, I remember that traggic accident on that fated day. I was at the tracks when Gary crashed. Was also there when Harvey Yap, in his Escort BDA ploughed thru the fence and killed 2 spectators at almost the same place. Traggic....until then, I believe there were no fatal accidents at Batu Tiga....just the usual broken bones, road rash and dented egos.
Seng Kooi is still racing (mostly for fun). soem years back they had a "cub" endurance race...Seng Kooi patnered Barry Leong and won. ...hahaha 2 old farts competing and even winning a cub race.

Seng Kooi then went on to compete in the Asia Pac 600 series along with Meng Heng.
Those were the days when Honda ruled supreme with ther RC30 for superbikes. AS for GP bikes, the battles were between the TZs and the RGs. Remember Sonny Soh with his Camel Racing sponsored Yamaha TZR?

 

[saat]

I didnt know about the incident and never knew Gary was into bike racing. I got to know Gary many years ago and I later engaged him to prep my track car. At that time he was into cars cos I remembered he had a race prepared RX7 and he was also preparing for otherH. At that time his arch rival was our now millionaire old man Ron Lim.

Later there was another mad young chinaman from Penang who went from bikes to track and later together with Tg Mahaleel went to rallying. Dont remember his name but he was a daredevil and always tring to push it.

 

[okow]

Originally posted by saat@Dec 10 2005, 08:39 AM
I didnt know about the incident and never knew Gary was into bike racing. I got to know Gary many years ago and I later engaged him to prep my track car. At that time he was into cars cos I remembered he had a race prepared RX7 and he was also preparing for otherH. At that time his arch rival was our now millionaire old man Ron Lim.

Later there was another mad young chinaman from Penang who went from bikes to track and later together with Tg Mahaleel went to rallying. Dont remember his name but he was a daredevil and always tring to push it.

Bang Saat, you are talking about a different Gary. The Gary we are refering to was Gary Looi who raced bikes and crashed. He died at Batu Tiga during a race. He was Singaporean.

The Gary you are talking about who tunes and raced Rx7's is Gary Chua. He had his workshop in PJ near Rd 223.

His era was about the same Raj Vijendra, Kenny Lee Mazda Re's. Ron raced Alfa's. ... Suds, Gulia's, Gulieta, Alfettas, Spiders and the GTVs.

I knew Gary then but used to send my RX7 to another arch rival situated in Siputeh.....who later became one of Malaysia's top super saloons driver and was factory sponsored by Volvo. He rallyied too and made a name for himself it that too.......what's his name?

 

[saat]

Sorry, you are right, I forgot Gary's surname is Chua......how silly of me. If it is the at guy who died at Bt3, then yes I remember.

 

[Jules]

Okow,

Yes, I recall Tai Seng Kooi and Barry racing in the 4hr endurance on the kapchai.....Honda event rite on EX5? You told me, you did it as well what.....

You recall races from Esplanade - I only watch the recorded races and if correct - Tai Seng Kooi slided off one corner and knocked himself cold one event.....

Sonny Soh - his name rings a bell but I think he was from an earlier era......

Btw, met Adi Haslam today at kart track.....

 

[rezzy3181]

Wah all of you in this thread into racing are so serious in memories, can recall back by names and incident happen.. good memories I tabek!! :rofl:
I use to go for most of the races (not a racer) during Batu Tiga days as early as 70's but slowed down as I was out of the country till 82' its nice to follow but you all can remember by names. I can remember well Harvey Yap since I was introduce to him at the Pit at Batu Tiga. Those were the days then I was into vintage and classic for the fun of it. :wink:

 

[okow]

Originally posted by Jules@Dec 10 2005, 02:47 PM
Okow,

Yes, I recall Tai Seng Kooi and Barry racing in the 4hr endurance on the kapchai.....Honda event rite on EX5? You told me, you did it as well what.....

You recall races from Esplanade - I only watch the recorded races and if correct - Tai Seng Kooi slided off one corner and knocked himself cold one event.....

Sonny Soh - his name rings a bell but I think he was from an earlier era......

Btw, met Adi Haslam today at kart track.....

Yes I did race in the endurance and several club races. ...just for fun. One of my best meomories was racing in a 1 make race...Kawa Kips 150. Full trottle in most parts (top speed 170kph) of the track except fur turn 1 and Lucas loop....good fun as it wasnt too fast as the bikes were stock standard.

Sonny Soh used to be one of our top racers. He has a bike shop at Jln Bangsar called Soh Motor. He was also into fibreglass business moulding boats and bike fairings.

 

[Jules]

ok, back to 4 wheels.....

since you said abt Kawa Kips150....I hired Kit Choong's Superkarts a few times at Batu 3. These things were powered by the Kips engine and I think we touched 160kph on the back straight.

My 2 scariest moment on them were :
- power sliding on the turn where the new track joined the old straight ( just before Lucas ).........and the grass edge came very close at my exit!
- spinning on the left hander at the end of straight...dropped one gear too low! the tyre mark went for at least 25 feet! I stayed on track but stalled - lucky could push start and find neutral!

The Superkart makes you a track good driver......anyone tried here?

 

[okow]

Originally posted by Jules@Dec 13 2005, 06:23 AM
ok, back to 4 wheels.....

since you said abt Kawa Kips150....I hired Kit Choong's Superkarts a few times at Batu 3. These things were powered by the Kips engine and I think we touched 160kph on the back straight.

My 2 scariest moment on them were :
- power sliding on the turn where the new track joined the old straight ( just before Lucas ).........and the grass edge came very close at my exit!
- spinning on the left hander at the end of straight...dropped one gear too low! the tyre mark went for at least 25 feet! I stayed on track but stalled - lucky could push start and find neutral!

The Superkart makes you a track good driver......anyone tried here?

Yes, Jules, Ive tried Kit Choong's supercarts and they were indeed very scary. Its a totally different feeling doing 160kph on 2 wheels than it is on 4 wheels, especially so, when you are literally sitting 2 to 4 inches above the tarmac. It does seem very much faster and alot much scarrier!
Kit Choong did have the race prepared ZX7s for hire too.