"Problem is that while the bike is competitive in Formula One events when fitted with the 31mm Keihin racing carburettors it simply is not fast enough when using the standard 26mm roadsters carbs." explained Vincent who sponsored BMW's in endurance races for many years.

Oddly enough the big carbs are allowed on the Suzuki in endurance races where anything goes but are not permitted in Formula One events because they are not standard and have not been homologated by the manufactures.

To be homologated the manufacturer is supposed to have sold 200 bikes fitted with the big carbs. I don't know anyone who has seen a Honda fitted with the 31mm racing carbs but they are homologated and it means we cannot really compete. Trouble is that Suzuki are too honest," said Vincent.

What he proposes, and it certainly seems a good way out of what is likely to be an increasing problem, is that all makes should be allowed to use proprietary extras (such as carburettors and brakes) once they have been homologated for any one make.

For example as Honda have homologated 31mm racing carbs then anyone else racing a machine of similar capacity should be allowed to use the same size and make of carburettors.

"If I can't get some sort of go-ahead then I'll have to pull out of the Mr Topps Formula One Championship, the British Grand Prix and the Ulster Grand Prix." concluded Vincent.

June at the Formula 1 TT: Chas Mortimer finished 6th on the GK Suzuki (Hailwood won on a Ducati)
See picture, Left [Photo from the Gus Kuhn Archive]

June 11th at Mallory Park: Post TT races. Chas Mortimer is entered on the GK Suzuki in the TT Formula 1 race (result unknown).

June 21st at Nurburgring: Quote from Chas Mortimer's column in Motor Cycle 1st July: "Since the TT, I've had as varied a road racing programme as one could find. From the Isle of Man I rushed to Mallory Park and from there it was to the Nurburgring for my first long-distance endurance race.

What an eye-opener that was. Like most GP competitors who haven't ridden a long-distance race before, I thought it was very much a case of riding at 60 or 70 per cent effort for a long time. Just how wrong can you be? The top men like Charlie Williams and Christian Leon race every minute like a GP.

Both Kenny Blake and I didn't take racing oversuits. We rarely, if ever, need them in a GP. Luckily Christan Leon loaned me a spare set, and Stan Woods came to Kenny's rescue. But, though the whole of practice was wet and miserable, race day was fine.

The bike ran for seven hours - out of eight till a misfire became progressively worse - and we had to stop. It was an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world - and fortunately, with Vincent Davey and Gus Kuhn, we had someone with a great deal of experience in this type of racing."

Motocourse reports: There was endurance racing for the third successive weekend when the flag dropped for the Nurburgring 8 hour race on June 21. .. The Suzuki of Chas Mortimer and Kenny Blake moved up a place from fifth, but by the time it stopped with ignition problems both Mortimer and Blake had seen enough of the 'Ring to be able to remember it perfectly well until the Grand Prix in August.