Triples Who's Who

Triples Who's Who
Honorary Members & Famous Faces

Peter Williams

Norton legend Peter Williams is a regular visitor to Beezumph; he even attended Beezumph One all those years ago.

His very first race was at the last BMCRC meeting of the season at Snetterton in October 1963 where he finished fourth in the 350 class. He had a full season of racing in 1964 including winning the 250 class of the Thruxton 500 miles with his friend Tony Wood. In 1965 he had some good placings and wins in National class races and started racing for Tom Arter on his Matchless and AJS. Although Peter had been to the Manx Grand Prix in 1964 and 1965, his first TT was 1966 and he finished 2nd to Agostini in the Junior. Peter was also second in the Italian 500cc Grand Prix at Monza that year.

In 1967 he was actually leading the 500 cc World Championship until the fourth Grand Prix at Francorchamps where he slid off trying to stay with Jack Findlay. Unfortunately he did even worse at the East German Grand Prix where he broke his ankle badly.

Peter had designed and made the first motorcycle racing magnesium wheels at about this time and was also offered a job at the new Manganese Bronze owned Norton Villiers. He had hopes of being involved in doing for motorcycle racing what Lotus and Cosworth were doing for car racing. Peter took to just racing in England in 1970 and won the British 500cc Championship on the Arter Matchless and took 2nd place in the Production TT to Malcolm Uphill and Ray Pickrell on the Triumphs.

In 1972 Norton got sponsorship from John Player and in 1973 on the Monocoque JPN Peter Williams famously won the Formula 750 TT. When I asked him what his favourite circuit was, he replied "All circuits except Scarborough were my favourites. But if pressed I would say the Hutchinson 100 back to front Brands Hatch was best of all."

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Ron Barrett