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Phil Read

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Age 22, Phil Read is a racing motorcycle development engineer and comes from Luton, Beds. He has had quite a lot of experience on short circuits and in 1959 scored firsts at Biggin Hill and Goram Fair, with two thirds at Mallory Park, a fourth at Blandford and a filth in the North-West "200".

He was third in the 350 c.c., class of the 1958 Clubman's race at Oulton Park and third again in the 350 c.c. Snaefell race at 81.47 m.p.h. In the Junior Manx Grand Prix of the following day he finished 17th at 83.90 m.p.h. collecting a replica.

In 1959 he was 7th in the Junior Manx and 13th in the Senior, winning a couple of replicas. Last year he had wins at various short circuits and "did the double" in the Clubman's races at Oulton Park in May.

Phil came into the limelight in last year's Senior Manx Grand Prix. He led through the race and won at the record speed of 95.38 m.p.h., with the lap record at 97.09. In the recent North West "200" he was second in the 350 and 500 c.c. races—to Bob McIntyre each time!---and he won both these classes at Mallory Park the following weekend! And at Thruxton on Whit Monday he was second in the 125, 350 and 500 c.c. races.

He describes his Nortons for this year's Junior and Senior T.T. races as "Lacey-tuned", whilst his Bultaco is "Frank Sheen tuned". Hobbies: "Target shooting and sleeping." (TT Special, 16 June 1961, p. 8.)

Junior – Norton
Senior – Norton
Age 21, Phil. Read is a development engineer and comes from Luton, Beds. He has had quite a lot of experience on short circuits and in 1959 scored firsts at Biggin Hill and Goram Fair, with two thirds at Kirkby Mallory, a fourth at Blandford and a fifth in the North-West “200.”

He was third in the 350 c.c. class of the 1958 Clubman’s race at Oulton Park and third again in the 350 c.c. Snaefell race at 81.47 m.p.h. In the Junior Manx of the following day he finished 17th at 83.90 m.p.h. collecting a replica.

Last year he was 7th in the Junior and 13th in the Senior winning a couple of replicas. This year Phil has had wins at various short circuits and “did the double” in the Clubman’s races at Oulton Park in May. His machines for this year’s Manx races both have five-speed gearboxes.

Hobby: “The same as my gearboxes – trying to stay engaged!”
(TT Special, 8 September 1960, p.13.)

Name Variant: Phil *Read

Competed in

RacePositionTimeSpeedMachine
1998 Senior Classic MGP161:11:51.0094.5G50 Matchless
1982 Senior TT42:04:36.20109Suzuki
1982 Formula 1 TTRSuzuki
1982 Classic TTRSuzuki
1978 Formula 1 TTRHonda
1978 Classic TT42:04:22.00109.21Honda
1977 Senior TT11:45:48.40106.97Suzuki
1977 Formula 1 TT11:33:19.6097.02Honda
1972 Lightweight TT11:30:51.2099.68Yamaha
1972 Junior TTRMV
1972 Formula 750 TTRNorton
1971 Lightweight TT11:32:33.6098.02Yamaha
1971 Junior TTRYamaha
1969 Lightweight TTRBenelli
1969 Junior TTRYamaha
1968 Ultra Lightweight TT11:08:31.4099.12Yamaha
1968 Lightweight TTRYamaha
1967 Ultra Lightweight TT11:09:40.8097.48Yamaha
1967 Lightweight TT22:13:06.40102.05Yamaha
1966 Ultra Lightweight TT21:10:03.2096.96Yamaha
1966 Lightweight TTRYamaha
1965 Ultra Lightweight TT11:12:02.6094.28Yamaha
1965 Lightweight TTRYamaha
1965 Junior TT22:16:44.4099.35Yamaha
1964 Senior TTRMatchless
1964 Lightweight TTRYamaha
1964 Junior TT22:25:09.6093.58AJS
1963 Senior TT32:15:42.20100.1Gilera
1963 Junior TTRGilera
1962 Senior TTRNorton
1962 Junior TT72:26:35.4092.67Norton
1961 Ultra Lightweight TTRBultaco
1961 Senior TTRNorton
1961 Junior TT12:22:50.0095.1Norton
1960 Senior MGP12:22:25.0095.38Norton
1960 Junior MGPRNorton
1959 Senior MGP132:32:25.0089.13Norton
1959 Junior MGP72:35:11.0087.53Norton
1958 Junior Snaefell MGP31:51:09.0081.47Norton
1958 Junior MGP172:41:54.0083.9Norton

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