Jack Findlay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jack Findlay | |
| Nationality |  Australian |
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| Grand Prix motorcycle racing career | |
| Active years | 1961 - 1978 |
| Teams | Suzuki |
| Grands Prix | 156 |
| Championships | 1975 Formula 750 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Podium finishes | 25 |
| Pole positions | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First Grand Prix | 1961 500cc Nations Grand Prix |
| First win | 1971 500cc Ulster Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1977 500cc Austrian Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1978 500cc West German Grand Prix |
Cyril John Findlay (February 5, 1935 - May 19, 2007) was an Australian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is noted for having one of the longest racing careers in Grand Prix history spanning 18 years. He competed at the highest level despite racing as a privateer - that is, not as a contracted member of a factory team - through most of his racing career.
Findlay was born in Mooroopna, Victoria, roughly 120 miles north of Melbourne. He began racing aged 15, two years under age, taking the name "Jack" so he could use his father's identication documents. After leaving school, he worked as a trainee accountant at Commonwealth Bank of Australia until 1957.
He moved to England in 1958 to race, joining the Grand Prix circuit with a 350cc Norton Manx. He competed in his first Isle of Man TT in 1959. He competed on the Grand Prix circuit from 1961 to 1978.
His best championship result was in 1968 when he rode a Matchless to finish second behind Giacomo Agostini in the 500cc class. His greatest victory came in 1973 when he won the Isle of Man TT after 15 years of trying. He rode Suzuki TR500s in 1973 and 1974. In 1974, he was a member of the Suzuki factory racing team and helped develop the RG500, with Barry Sheene and Paul Smart. In 1975, he defeated Barry Sheene for the FIM Formula 750 championship. An accident that fractured his skull curtailed his racing career, and he retired in 1978. A further high-speed accident in 1987 stopped him riding motorcycles.
He married Dominique Monneret, the widow of George Monneret, and made his domestic base in France. He was appointed Grand Prix technical director by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme in 1992, retaining the post until he retired in 2001. He was assisted by his fluency in French and Italian.
A bronze statue of Findlay on a TT-winning Suzuki by Philip Mune was unveiled in July 2006, in a park in his hometown that was renamed the Jack Findlay Reserve.
