MANX GRAND PRIX 21 AUGUST -3 SEPTEMBER 2004
23 July 2004 - Isle of Man

Great interest continues to be shown in looking forward to this year’s Manx Grand Prix races – Guests of Honour beingGeorge and Isobel Costain from Colby, Isle of Man.

It is precisely 50 years since George splashed through the rainand mist to win the Senior Manx on a Norton. He moved on to the TT before devoting the rest of the time supporting the Southern 100, which was set up in 1955 to honour the Manx victories by himself and Derek Ennett.

Stirling’s Wattie Brown has the honour of carrying the No. 1 plate in both Classic races, where he hopes to take a winto add to his impressive tally of success on the TT Course. He has three bronze replicas from the TT and nine silvers from the Manx, including three rostrum places. He rides a 350cc Drixton Honda entered by George King and a 500cc

Petty Manx Norton entered by Hans-Georg Stutz. Wattie says he’ll keep trying for a win “until the money runs out!”. Another rider with plenty of hardware from past Snaefell success is sports therapist John Barton from Crosby. He
twice finished in the top three of the now-discontinued Singles TT and has racked up 11 silver and 10 bronze replicas.

For the Manx he has 350 and 500 Classic Hondas.
Newcomer Chris Bradshaw from Tamworth in Staffordshire will be one to keep on the right side of. He is a Traffic Policeman who previously attended the Manx helping Pete Symes. Now he has decided to have a go himself and seeks to call upon his extensive experience helping novice riders on the TrackTime Promotions scheme. He has
entered a 600CBR Hona for the Newcomers and Junior races and would like to lap at over 100mph on his debut.

Gavin Bell from Selby in North Yorkshire looks set to go well. Riding an RS250 v-twin Honda in the Lightweight and a 600cc CBR Honda in the Junior, he has support from the Martin Bullock organization. In 1999 Gavin was third in the
250cc Newcomers, then finished fourth in the 250cc Lightweight in 2002 and third last year.
Does his wife Gwen know? Geoff Bates production engineer from Blackpool plans to celebrate his Silver Wedding Anniversary in the Isle of Man. The actual date is Wednesday September 1st and Geoff hopes to mark it by winning a silver replica in the 350cc Classic being run that day. “Look what I’ve got you for our 25th dear!”.

Clocking up a milestone of a different sort is Chris Bray from London, but this time it’s 20 years since he first took part in the battle. Not marriage, but as a competitor in the Manx. He was fourth in the 1984 Newcomers on a 600cc Yamaha and is back on the same capacity and name of machine, under the banner of DC Butler Motorcycles, once
sponsors of Keith Townsend among others.

Back for more punishment is former British International Six Days Trial teamster Arthur Browning from Birmingham. He has again entered the technically interesting Jawa Metisse run by Bob Pearson racing and aims to lap at least ten
per cent quicker than last year, which means around 94mph. The Czechoslovakian engine is fitted into a frame designed by the Rickman Brothers, so there remains a direct scrambling connection between Arthur and Derek and
Don Rickman. Arthur rode works Greeves while Derek and Don rode machines of their own make.
Allan Brew from Andreas, Isle of Man, has an enviable record in the 500cc Classic.

He has finished every time since
1995 aboard his G50 Matchless single including lapping at nearly 103mph. He also can cite a 111mph-plus lap in the TT, but at the Manx will again campaign the Plumstead mount alongside a 350cc Drixton Aermacchi.

Additions to the list of those opting to ride 125s in the 125/400cc Ultra Lightweight: Mark Edwards from Cowbridge, Terry Crane from Braddan, Gail Musson from Foxdale, Elle Forrest from Glasgow, Mick Jackson from Richmond and Karl Smolenski from New York. Gail is the fastest female 125cc rider at 97.23mph, with Elle pushing hard at
96.91mph.

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