Phil Read R.I.P

Yes , he was colourful & entertaining man and a great racer , may he Rest In Peace ….
 
Very sad news.

I was at the infamous bikers meet at Box Hill one Sunday in the mid/late 1970s when Phill Read turned up on a
racing (?) Ducati (?) with a drop dead gorgeous tall blond lady fitted snugly in to the single seat with Phil. When
he left there was a huge crowd watching, Phil gunned it and the blonde lady was left standing as the Ducati (?)
shot forward under her and she "fell off" the back although she did not actually fall. The Police gave Phil a telling
off with lots of finger wagging. All were expecting Phil to pull away gently, BUT NO, he shot off at breakneck speed
this time with the blonde lady attached. The Police could not believe it and took some time for them to get on their
bikes to give chase. Rumour has it that he got to Oxshott (about 10 miles) before they caught him.
Instant hero status for all us young impressionable boys !
 
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Very sad.
He used to call in to Degens place from time to time. Listening to those to characters go at it was hilarious!
Phil ones one of the few people Dave really spoke highly of, you could tell there was a genuine respect there.
May he RIP.
 
Saddened to hear of another legend passing. RIP Phil "The prince of Speed" Read.

Phil Read R.I.P
 
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I last saw him at Mallory in July, looking quite frail.He was reportedly suffering from some level of dementia recently. I met him very briefly in about 1980 in Surrey, when he was promoting an ‘extra sprockets system’ for rear chains.
He turned up at Buckingham Palace for his award riding in a Quasar. Very stylish and unusual .
 
The last time i saw PR was in the champs tent at the IOM ,sitting on the floor in a corner looking a bit dejected. Whats up phil ? ,and he pointed to Giacomo Agostini the other end of the tent with a bevvy of ladies drooling over him !!.
 
Ago, Phil and myself were the Motorcycle Class judges at The Cartier Concourse d'Elegance in Mumbai a number of years ago. Phil later stayed at my place in Hong Kong on his way to a classic race in New Zealand. He declared that he loved HK and would definitely return, but that was the last time we met, although we did keep in touch with the occasional e-mail. A great rider and a character, R.I.P. Phil.
 
When some guys race, they are ruthless. I think Phil was one of those. I liked his style, but I would not like to be competing against him. I can only think of one guy in Australia who was like that - take no prisoners ?
 
I think I would have had a problem if I got in Read's way. I think he was pretty ruthless. Most riders are careful towards each other. I got the impression Read would run you over to win. I can only think of one other guy who was like that - Ken BLake's mentor.
 
Anyway, my old neighbour, Paul Nicholls, said Read helped him out with a cranked chain link at a race meeting.

That was after he asked Mike Hailwood, who just said: “You shouldn’t go racing if you’re not prepared!”
 
saw phil run the then new laverda jota round Brands for a few demo laps in the wet. he was actually faster and smoother than people racing on a dry track. reminded him of this at some event at mallory some time back in the early 21st century. to my amazement he remembered all sbout it. he was as a rider just so stylish . everything was made to seem effortless
 
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