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.)