Ernie Walker

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Age 49, Ernie Walker is a maintenance fitter from Sheffield. Best known as a sidecar driver, he has also competed in the Island in solo races - as a Manx GP competitor in 1948 and 1949, and in the International TT races in 1950 and 1951. In 1956 Ernie had a most interesting machine of his own construction which featured duplex steering and Woodhead-Monroe suspension fore and aft; the power unit was a 'double knocker' Norton. The sidecar chassis was rigidly attached to the cycle frame, and the whole outfit was encased in a one-piece streamlined casing.

For 1954 he used another home built special, with a field tank built into the sidecar body, and with this machine he achieved eighth place in the Sidecar TT, winning a silver replica. He was also successful on the short circuits, figuring amongst the leaders at Brand's Hatch, Castle Combe, Scarborough, Ibsley, and Cadwell. In 1955 Ernie was sixth in the Sidecar TT. He did well in the 1956 Sidecar TT finishing sixth again at 65.48 mph, but in last year's event he retired on the third lap. He is entered by Eric Bowers for this year's Sidecar race.

(TT Special, Friday, June 06, 1958, p25)

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