The White Cockade Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 29 years today since Scotland's Jock Taylor was killed in the Finnish Grand Prix Jock was both world sidecar champion and multiple TT winner He was from Pencaitland and was a top bloke Gone but not forgotten Keep her lit mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosanostra Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 There's a giant portrait of this guy on a huge mirror in my old man's boozer. I was totally fascinated by it in the early 80's when I was a little kid in Haddington. I guess a lot of people in my dad's pub knew him and met him with him being local to the area. If I remember correctly, his sidecar guy was called Benga Johnson or something. Did he die too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 (edited) It was Benga Johansson and no he didn't die in the crash. Jock's widowed wife is best friends with my partner. ps, small point but 29 years tomorrow. pps. Unless you're in South Africa. Edited August 14, 2011 by graygo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosanostra Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 It was Benga Johansson and no he didn't die in the crash. Jock's widowed wife is best friends with my partner. ps, small point but 29 years tomorrow. pps. Unless you're in South Africa. That sounds more like it. I was only about 6yr old when the mirror was explained to me and 3yr old when the guy died but i'll never forget the name. There was a few other portraits hanging in the pub as well now that I think about it. No idea if they're still there although the mirror definitely is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Cockade Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share Posted August 15, 2011 Yes Benga was thrown clear but from what I can remember Jock was trapped in the sidecar outfit and while marshals were trying to free him another outfit crashed at the same spot and ploughed into the wreckage killing him instantly Tragic He was still young enough to have carried on winning TT's and world titles for years after that Saw him win a couple of TT's at the Isle of Man and he also smashed the lap record Seem to remember a memorial to him at Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy where they used to run motorcycle races? Yes mate today is the 15th - getting on a bit now and getting my days mixed up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Yes Benga was thrown clear but from what I can remember Jock was trapped in the sidecar outfit and while marshals were trying to free him another outfit crashed at the same spot and ploughed into the wreckage killing him instantly Tragic He was still young enough to have carried on winning TT's and world titles for years after that Saw him win a couple of TT's at the Isle of Man and he also smashed the lap record Seem to remember a memorial to him at Beveridge Park in Kirkcaldy where they used to run motorcycle races? Yes mate today is the 15th - getting on a bit now and getting my days mixed up! All correct mate, Jock would have been a superstar without a doubt, cruelly cut down in his prime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondejamtart Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 God, I can't believe it's been that long. I was a junior reporter on one of the local papers at the time and remember it well. There was a massive turnout for his funeral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 RIP Jock, 32 years now. Spent last weekend up in the highlands in Jock's widow's company, never a day passes when she doesn't think of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EH11_2NL Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Don't they still have the Jock Taylor memorial at Knockhill?. Used to be October IIRC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Don't they still have the Jock Taylor memorial at Knockhill?. Used to be October IIRC 27/28th September this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Cockade Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 This weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 37 years now. RIP Jock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EH11_2NL Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 At the risk of appearing a walloper, do they still do the Jock Taylor memorial at Knockhill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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