Archive
1977 – the Man to Beat
At the Calder Park 2 Hour an over-zealous FIM Official refused to pass Jim’s machine through scrutineering because the horn would not work.
Lindsay Walker, Team Avon Boss Man, ran all over Melbourne looking for a place that would give them a horn. He finally found one. They got the bikes scrutineered and in the race, Buddy would come up behind a rider who he needed to pass and slam on the horn, scaring the shit out of them!
The offical told Lindsay to bring Jim in, disconnect the horn. Lindsay responded with a threat to sue him because it was due to this idiot that Buddy had a working horn at all, and there was no rule to say it could not be used.
extracted from Rapid Bikes article – May 2009
1987 Castrol 6-Hour Memories
This was JB’s last ever race. There’s so many funny stories that could be told about this race.
Jim’s original intention was to team up with Roger Heyes again for one last team ride in the race that they had won twice previously together. What a great publicity angle for the event organisers. However it wasn’t meant to be with negotiations with Heyes broke down a matter of weeks out from the event, so a replacement rider was necessary. So began the search.
A Gift to Remember
To honour Jim, this star has been purchased and named after him.
Phase 4 Superbike
Bathurst: Phase 4's Barry Taylor and JB
JB recounted his time on this awesome superbike many times. He’s thinking here … how do I tell this guy this bike is a pig to ride? Barry’s answer was “need more horses?”. JB cracked up and they got on with getting this Kawasaki rideable.
Rider quotes from the ’77 Six-Hour
Don Wilson: on the winner’s rostrum, replying to a question from the ABC-TV commentator about what the team wil do now: “We might play up a bit, I think”.
Joe Eastmure: “It’s take me a long time to win it, there’s been a few near misses, but it’s nearly worthwhile.”
Ken Blake: “The revs were over the limit near the end.”
Lindsay Walker on the two huge erections in the pits (The Team Avon refuelling towers): “We had to get DA approval for them. Any higher they’d have needed flashing lights on the top.”
Ken Blake (early in the race): “The new BMWs have more torque, more low down grunt out of corners. Joe seems to be getting faster as the race goes on.”
Joe (after 10 laps of practice): “The bike is great, better than last year. I’m going fast, I can go faster. I’m going home.”
Brian Martin: “We expected to do a wheel change, it depended on the temperature just when. After that if there’s still tread on the tyre at the end we’ll give it all it’s got.”
Jim Budd (on riding in the rain): “I spent a few laps waiting for a slide, it didn’t happen, so I powered on.”
Gary Thomas: “My front wheel was taken out by Crosby.”
source: Revs Motorcycle News, November 4 – 11, 177
Want to view more images of the ’77 6-Hour? Check out our friend DeeJay’s site.
Jim Budd Motorcycle Racer 