Photo: niclassicscramblesclub.com
It is with sadness that we have to report the passing of Geoff Duke, one of the iconic figures in both the British and world motorcycle racing scenes. Duke died aged 92 at his home on the Isle of Man, the place he loved and moved to after retiring from professional racing.
Geoff Duke was one of the biggest figures of the '50s and was even awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1953. He was also one of the influential individuals who helped change the public's perception of motorcyclists.
With a professional rider career spanning between 1950 and 1959, Geoff Duke took part in 60 Grand Prix races and won more than half of them. With 33 victories and 17 additional podiums, Duke also has 6 TT victories to his name, from the time when the Isle of Man races counted as world championship rounds.
Even in such conditions, Duke went off to win three world titles for Norton before switching over to Gilera in 1953 and adding three more titles to his name. In 1955he was credited as the first rider to do a 100 mph (160,93 km/h) lap around the Snaefell Mountain in the Isle of Man. Later, the lap was corrected to 99.97 mph (160.85 km/h), but still he is regarded by many as still being THE 100 mph rider around the Manx island.
After Geoff Duke hanged his leathers, he moved to the island he loved and became a successful businessman. His name and sports heritage lives on through Duke Marketing, a very lucrative business ran by his son Peter.
Geoff Duke passed away quietly at the Elder Grange Nursing Home on the Isle of Man, but his legendary memory will never be forgotten.
With a professional rider career spanning between 1950 and 1959, Geoff Duke took part in 60 Grand Prix races and won more than half of them. With 33 victories and 17 additional podiums, Duke also has 6 TT victories to his name, from the time when the Isle of Man races counted as world championship rounds.
"You never knew if you were going to have brakes when you got to any particular corner"
In the interviews he gave, Duke used to admit that racing motorcycles in that era was a particularly risky business, much more than it is in the modern era. The protective gear was close to nothing but some leather trousers, a jacket, gloves and a half-helmet, while the bike's brakes, suspensions and tires were do-it-all and provided almost no predictability.Even in such conditions, Duke went off to win three world titles for Norton before switching over to Gilera in 1953 and adding three more titles to his name. In 1955he was credited as the first rider to do a 100 mph (160,93 km/h) lap around the Snaefell Mountain in the Isle of Man. Later, the lap was corrected to 99.97 mph (160.85 km/h), but still he is regarded by many as still being THE 100 mph rider around the Manx island.
After Geoff Duke hanged his leathers, he moved to the island he loved and became a successful businessman. His name and sports heritage lives on through Duke Marketing, a very lucrative business ran by his son Peter.
Geoff Duke passed away quietly at the Elder Grange Nursing Home on the Isle of Man, but his legendary memory will never be forgotten.
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