A superb and rare photo
of the absolutely magnificent Ray Amm
on a Norton 30 M 500cc
Manx, on his way to a 3RD place finish in the 1952
500cc Isle of Man Senior TT. It was his first major racing success!
The incredibly talented Ray
Amm rode a Norton Manx 30M. His great riding style can be admired in this beautiful
image. The year 1954 was to be his best racing season ever, winning the Isle of Man 500cc Senior TT and
finishing 2ND in both the 350cc as the 350cc World Championships!
Ray (William
Raymond) Amm was born in Salisbury, Southern
Rhodesia. A motor-trader from Salisbury in Southern
Rhodesia, Ray Amm started racing when he was 17 years
old. After the purchase of an AJS motor-cycle shortly after the end of the
Second World War, Ray Amm started grass track-racing near Salisbury in Rhodesia and finished
last in his first race. The next season the AJS motor-cycle was replaced with a
Triumph motor-cycle. The purchase of a brand new Norton motor-cycle allowed Ray
Amm to enter the prestigious 1949 Port Elizabeth 200 Motor-Cycle Race in South
Africa and despite breaking the lap-record he finished in 17th place when the
clutch started to slip. Again entering the 1950 Port
Elizabeth 200, Ray Amm finished in 1st place for
the 500cc race and set a new lap record of 95.86 mph. Another win followed
in the 500cc class for the 1951 Port Elizabeth 2000 Race despite sufering
carburation problems. After these successes the Salisbury Motor-Cycle Club
helped with his passage to compete in Europe. After
ordering two Manx Norton motor-cycles before leaving Rhodesia for the 1951
Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, Ray Amm discovered on arriving in Europe that they
would not be delivered until the start of practice for the 1951 Isle of Man TT
Races. To practice on short circuits before the Manx Nortons where delivered, a
'hack' 7R AJS motor-cycle was purchased and Ray Amm won the 350cc class at an
Andreas Racing Association meeting in the Isle of Man. The two Manx Nortons
arrived on the first day of practice for the 1951 Isle of Man TT Races. Despite
trouble with a gear lever finished in 9th place for the 1951 Junior TT Race at
an average race speed of 81.59 mph. After a 20
minute delay, Ray Amm finished in 28th place for the 1951 Senior TT Race at an
average race speed of 75.42 mph. For the
1952 Isle of Man TT Race, Ray Amm crashed at Braddan Bridge on lap 3 of
the Junior Race. This was followed by
a 3rd place in the 1952 Senior TT Race at an average race speed of 92.40 mph (SEE PHOTO), a race that was won by
Reg Armstrong for Norton. For the 1952 Dutch TT, Ray Amm was a full member of
the Norton team and was second to Geoff Duke in the 350cc Dutch TT and retired
from the 500cc race. At the 1952 German Grand Prix held at Solitude, Ray Amm
crashed and broke a leg, returning later in the 1952 Grand Prix motorcycle
racing season to win the 350cc class for the 1952 Nations Grand Prix held at
Monza in Italy.For the 1953 racing season, Ray Amm debuted the controversial
Norton Kneeler 350cc motor-cycle at the 1953 North West 200 Race. Despite
over-heating problems the Norton Kneeler with the nickname the "Amm
Sandwich" or "Silver-Fish", Ray Amm finished in 9th place in the
350cc class that was eventually won by Bob McIntyre at an average race speed of
86.86 mph. Despite testing
the Norton Kneeler for practice for the 1953 Isle of Man TT Races, Ray Amm
reverted back to the non-streamlined Norton motor-cycles due to handling
problems with cross-winds on the Mountain Section of the course and also
opposition by the TT Race Scrutineers. It proved a good choice as Ray Amm won
the 1953 Junior TT Race at an average race speed of 90.52 mph from Ken Kavanagh in
2nd place and Fergus Anderson in 3rd place. Another win in the 1953 Senior TT
Race for Ray Amm at an average race speed of 93.85 mph completed a prestigious
Junior/Senior TT double win for the works Norton team. Following Ray Amm during
the 1953 Senior TT Race, Geoff Duke commented on Ray Amm's distinctive riding
style;- "After I had caught and passed Ray Amm on the Norton, he passed me
at Ballugh when I missed a gearchange! Then there was the frightening
experience of following him to the end of the lap, Ray could be pretty lurid
when he was trying!" A fall at the 1953 French Grand Prix at Rouen in the 350cc
class broke a collar-bone and brought about a premature end to championship
ambitions for Ray Amm for the 1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.
However, Ray Amm returned to the abortive Norton Kneeler project in November
1953 to set a number of world speed records at Montlhéry, France rasing the
hour speed endurance record to a distance of 133.70 miles. Also at Montlhéry in
November 1953, Ray Amm shared a streamlined Norton Sidecar outfit with Eric
Oliver to set further speed records. Again riding for the works Norton in 1954
Isle of Man TT Races, despite leading the 1954 Junior TT a retirement on lap 5
for Ray Amm, allows Rod Coleman to become the first New Zealander to win a TT
Race at an average race speed of 91.51 mph. The 1954 Senior TT
race was delayed due to weather conditions and reduced visibility on the
Mountain Section of the course. The race is held after a short delay and starts
at mid-day. Despite the conditions, Geoff Duke riding the works Gilera and
leads Ray Amm riding for Norton by 14 seconds on lap 1. On the second lap,
Geoff Duke laps in 26 minutes and 23 seconds at an average speed of 86.97 mph and Ray Amm laps at an
average speed of 86.49 to reduce the lead to just 2 seconds. Further heavy rain
and low cloud on the Mountain Section reduces speed further and on lap 2 and
Ray Amm uses "feet-down" tactics on the slower corners. Then Geoff
Duke decides to refuel on lap 3 and Ray Amm in second place goes straight
through without stopping and now leads Geoff Duke by 32 seconds. At the Windy
Corner on lap 4, the visibility is down to 20
yards and a decision is made to stop the race because
of the conditions. This allowed Ray Amm, due to refuel at the TT Grandstand on
lap 4, to win the highly controversial 1954 Senior TT Race in 1 hour, 42
minutes and 46.8 seconds at an average race speed of 88.12 mph. The next event after
the 1954 Isle of Man TT Races was the Ulster Grand Prix held at the Dundrod
circuit in Northern Ireland. In an event
that was much affected by rain, Ray Amm won the 350cc Ulster Grand Prix at an average
race speed of 83.47 mph from Jack
Brett in 2nd place and Bob McIntyre in 3rd place. The 500cc Ulster Grand Prix
was reduced from 27 laps to 15 laps due to heavy rain and again the race was
won by Ray Amm at an average race speed of 83.87 mph, although later these
result was excluded from the World Championship by the FIM. A further Grand
Prix win in 1954 follows for Ray Amm with another 350cc victory at the West
German Grand Prix held at Solitude. At the end of the 1954 Grand Prix
motorcycle racing season Ray Amm finished in 2nd place in both the 350cc and
500cc classifications behind world champions Fergus Anderson and Geoff Duke.
Despite many offers Ray Amm finally moved from the works Norton motor-cycles to
the factory MV Agusta racing team. The debut race for Ray Amm and MV Agusta was
to be the 1955 Easter Monday race meeting at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
in Imola, Italy. Riding a
350cc four-cylinder MV Agusta in the Coppa d'Oro Shell Race, Ray Amm lost
control at the Rivazza Corner as he pursued Kavanagh and crashed in slippery
conditions and died of his injuries on the way to hospital.
This is your rare chance
to own this non period photo that reflects a very interesting and historic
piece of motorcycle and Norton history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large
format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x 30 cm).
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you
buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on
photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright
expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our
archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well
protected in PVC clear files and board backed
envelopes.
We have
photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the
original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and
excellent quality.
After many decades
of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our
archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They
will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a
border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace,
restaurant, bar or club!
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first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any
questions before the auction ends.