Comments on: Chris Conn at Sachsenring in 1967

By: Mick Wells

Mick Wells — Fri, 15 May 2020 09:17:20 +0000

He was famous at that time racing against the biggest names in motorcycle road racing. I think that I read somewhere that one year he was ninth in the world championship ratings and had podium places in the IOM TT
I have always felt that it was a privilege to have known him. They were great days.

By: Findlay Conn

Findlay Conn — Fri, 15 May 2020 05:17:26 +0000

It’s crazy to see my grandad in the 60s my Nana would always tell me how he was deaf because of the motorcycles LOL.
Crazy to think my Grandad was famous

By: Mick Wells

Mick Wells — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 15:45:40 +0000

Hi. Glad that I found this while researching about Chris.I have being trying to find out what happened to him for years.
I met Chis at Lyneham and used to follow him around the races and at times he would even tolerate having me in the pits.I was posted to Changi in Singapore in 1961. Then Chris contacted me in 1962 asking me to help him get an entry into the 1962 Singapore GP and also the 1963 Malaysia GP. I remember him being amused at my attempts at racing my Velocette Venom in the same races and being lapped by him several times. He was defeated by heat exhaustion in 1962 but won the GP in 1963 with a race record that was unbeaten for 5 years. When he was racing at Mallory Park we would at times put him and his crew up at my parents house near Warwick, my mother was well impressed by how tidy and polite they were. It was at Mallory in 1964 I think that he had a big crash while leading a race, he was badly injured but eventually recovered to race again but I don’t think that he enjoyed short circuit racing after that. I last saw him at Brands in 1966 and then he seemed to go off the radar. Bonhams auctions recently sold the Rolex watch that Chris was awarded at the 1963GPand got lots of money for it.
Regards
Mick Wells

By: Mick Wells

Mick Wells — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 15:18:17 +0000

Just came across this web site while researching about Chis. I knew Chris at Lyneham and also used to go around the race circuits with him, we even put him and his crew up at my parents house near Warwick when he was competing at Mallory Park ( Mum was very impressed by how tidy and polite they were) I was posted to Changi in Singapore in 1961 and helped Chris get his entry into the Singapore GP in 1962 and the Malaysia GP in 1963. I remember him being amused at my attempts at racing my Velocette Venom in the same events and being lapped by him several times! He had a very bad crash at Mallory Park while leading a race in 1964/65 but recovered and got back into racing but I don’t think that he enjoyed short circuit racing after the crash.
I last saw him at Brands in 1966 then after that he just seemed to go off the radar.
So pleased to read that he is around and doing well. Bonhams recently sold the Rolex watch that he had as a prize at the Malaysia GP, it fetched a lot of money.
Regards.
Mick Wells

By: bill southcombe

bill southcombe — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 13:38:59 +0000

Trying to get hold of Chris Conn and his mechanic Jack Chaplin. I was Hon Sec RAFMSA Road Racing in the 60s and would like to record RAF servicemen’s rides in the IOM and other race meetings.

By: John Ellis

John Ellis — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:23:33 +0000

Hi, I happened upon this thread recently and I have some news for all concerned regarding Chris. I am pleased to inform you that Chris Conn was the Guest of Honour at last weekends Bob Mcyntyre memorial races held at the East Fortune circuit near Edinburgh. The meeting finished yesterday evening with Chris presenting the winners trophies and he was in good form having enjoyed the classic bike racing and meeting all the race winners including a young lady who won the 250cc race on a Manx Norton.
I managed to speak with Chris after proceedings and asked him to sign a photograph of him for me competing in the 1966 TT coming in 3rd behind Agostini and Mike Hailwood! He was
happy to speak about the race adding that he ‘was never going to catch those two’ I said no but I bet you gave it a good go though – he smiled and said yes I did!.
Hope you find this interesting.

Regards

John

By: Les Spragg

Les Spragg — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 16:13:39 +0000

Hi I too was stationed in Wildenrath 1966-69 and used to talk to Chris when he came in for his meals (I worked in the Airmans mess)and was and still am a big gp fan, the car you are talking about I believe belonged to Jack Ahearne who was a Aussie Gp racer He used to come to see chris and used to park this car near the Naafi shop I have looked many times on Google to see what happened to him when he stopped racing to no avail I did hear when he left the RAF he went selling prams but where i heard this I do not know as it is a long time ago now it is odd he does not get involved with the scene now.

By: Fred Palfery

Fred Palfery — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:13:26 +0000

Hi, I too have been curious why Chris Conn has put the world of motorcycle racing behind him. I too was at RAF Lyneham in the early 60s. Chris, (Ginge) kept his bikes in a lock-up of the motorcycle club in an old wartime shelter complex on the base. After I left Lyneham for Germany I heard that a fire had destroyed the contents of the shelter including Chris’ bikes. His past GP and TT colleagues are also interested in hearing from him. I had an E-mail interchange with Michelle Duff (formerly TT/GP racer Mike Duff) who had mentioned Chris in Michelle’s very interesting Biography. I sent Michelle some race photos of her TT days where I was lucky to be present and included one of Chris. She said that Chris had been invited to the Classic TT event at Assen in1988 but had declined the invitation. She had made unsuccessful numerous further enquiries. No one seemed to know where he is or why he had lost interest in the sport. She would welcome his E-mail address if someone ever finds him. I did not know Chris personally but as another ex Brat, sootie and motorcyclist I always felt a common bond. Wherever he is I wish him well.

By: Paul Callaway

Paul Callaway — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 15:16:36 +0000

I wonder if anyone could help?
I have stumbled upon a scrapbook and I’m interested on finding out as much as I can about Tom Phillips the picture I have is of him testing a new Aermacchi Metisse.
The cut out I think is from Motor cycle news Wednesday March 8, 1967?
Regards
Paul

By: Stewart Courtnell

Stewart Courtnell — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:37:12 +0000

Hi Brian,
Have only just seen your response, sorry for the delay!
Current contacts who knew Chris are :- Ernie King and Mick Simmons, both ex-RAF Halton and Engine Fitters. Ernie moved on to the M.o.D. and Mick joined Rolls Royce as a Field Rep. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Stewart Courtnell