1971 Anglo-American Match Races
The 1971 Anglo-American Match Races was the inaugural running of the "Anglo-American Match Races" (renamed "Transatlantic Trophy" in 1972), an annual series of motorcycle races between the United Kingdom and America which were held from 1971 to 1988 and again in 1991. The match was held 9-12 April 1971 (Easter weekend) with rounds at Brands Hatch, Mallory Park and Oulton Park. The event was heavily sponsored by BSA/Triumph. They also supplied the 750 cc racing triples that the riders competed on. The motorcycles were to AMA/F750 specification. Most of the  competitors were work BSA/Triumph works riders. The UK won all the races and the series 183-137. Ray Pickrell and Paul Smart won three races each and were the top scorers. Background. British journalists, Gavin Trippe and Bruce Cox, ran California based Motor Cycle Weekly and promoted motorcycle races in the US. The pair were keen to promote American racers in the UK. They met with Chris Lowe of Motor Circuit Developments (MCD), who ran Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Mallory Park circuits, and Jim Swift of the British Motorcycle Racing Club at the 1970 Daytona 200 and the  plan for the Transatlantic Trophy was formulated. Ron Grant, the leader of the US Suzuki team supported the scheme. Lowe approached BSA/Triumph who agreed to supply 750 cc racing triples for the riders and to financially support the series out of their $2 million racing budget for 1970/71. Format. The event consisted of three rounds over the Easter weekend at different tracks: Brands Hatch (9 April - Good Friday), Mallory Park (11 April - Easter Sunday) and Oulton Park (12 April - Easter Monday) Each round consisted of two 12 lap races. Each team consisted of 5 riders. The Americans had  a squad of six riders team so not all riders could compete in every race. However, American captain Gary Nixon fell in practice two days before the first race and broke his wrist so was unable to ride in any of the races. Points were awarded for each race, the winner receiving 10 points, 2nd place points etc down to 1 point for 10th place. Prize money was also awarded for each race with the winner receiving £150 down to £15 for 10th place. A bonus of £50 was given to the rider who had set the  fastest lap over the series. The total prize fund was £5,000. Teams. America. Gene Romero, the current A.M.A. Grand National Champion and runner-up at the 1971 Daytona 200 was to have led the US team but withdrew. Britain. The home team had the advantage of knowing the tracks that were to be used and also in the nature of the circuits. The American riders were more used to dirt tracks, ovals and road races. Motorcycles. In September 1969 Triumph’s chief development engineer, Doug Hele, suggested the factory should switch its emphasis from production racing to the new  F750 open class that was being suggested. Acting on his suggestion, BSA-Triumph announced it would develop its 750cc Rocket III and Trident triples for this series. The factory worked against the clock to get machines ready for the 1970 Daytona race. The factory failed to get results in Daytona due to unreliability. The factory had entered 10 riders for the 1971 Daytona race. A new specification machine had been developed. At Percy Tait's suggestion Rob North had built a new frame for the triples changing the steering head angle angle by 2 degrees to 28 degrees. Shorter forks  were fitted, the engine moved forwards and upwards by 40 mm to put more load on the front wheel and increase ground clearance. This shortened the wheel base and a longer swing arm fitted to compensate. This was known as the lowboy frame. The engines were also modified to produce slightly more power. Disc brakes were fitted to the front wheel. Only four of the new machines were available which were allocated to Gene Romero, Paul Smart, Dick Mann and Mike Hailwood. Mann won the race with BSA/Triumph taking the top three places. The machines were airfreighted in from  Daytona and Smart and Hailwood's bikes converted to short-circuit specification. Smart used his Daytona bike for the matches, Ray Pickrell used Hailwood's Daytona machine and the other three members of the British team had new "lowboy" machines. Mann used his lowboy Daytona machine and Gary Nixon Romero's machine. The rest of the American team used the older spec machines, although, with the exception of Jim Rice's machine, they had been fitted with disc brakes. All the American machines were fitted with the larger Daytona tank and seat. The disparity between the two teams' bikes led  to claims that the Americans were disadvantaged. Don Emde is quoted as saying “"We got beaten so badly that it was close to an ambush situation, but we gave it a good shot, and if we had all been on the same bikes as Pickrell, Smart and Cooper, it would have been closer."" The race started on a damp but drying track. Pickrell took the lead from the start and led the whole race. Smart had a slow start as he was still adjusting his helmet when the flag dropped, but recovered to take second place. Mann was the highest  placed American in third place. Cooper seemed to be struggling, possible due to a recent injury, and finished last. Pickrell soon took the lead and maintained it to the finish, equalling Phil Read's lap record in the process. Smart was again second. Americans Castro and Mann finished third and fourth. Races. Brands Hatch. Britain lead the Americans 61-49 after the first round. Castro took the lead from the start but slid on oil and several riders passed him. Tait slid off at the hairpin and a lap later Smart did the same, breaking a finger. Castro retired with  a broken conrod. Pickrell made it a hat-trick of wins, with Cooper, who had recovered some form, second. Mann finished third and Jefferies fourth. Jefferies had wrecked his bike whilst taking part in the "Unlimited" race that was also on the programme, so only 9 riders took the start for the second match race. Tait retired with engine problems giving Smart the win and Pickerell second. Cooper finished third and equalled the Hailwood's lap record that had been set on a works Honda RC166 six. Mallory Park. Britain beat the Americans 53-48 in the second round. Emde  and Castro got good starts and led the pack away only to be passed by Smart by the end of the first lap. As the race progressed Pickrell, Cooper and Mann passed the pair. Castro fell off on the last lap but remounted and finished last. Mann took the lead from the start but was passed by Smart on lap 2. Mann defended successfully against Cooper and Pickrell to retain second place. Pickrell came off in the closing stages of the race. Oulton Park. Britain beat the Americans 69-40 in the third round. Results. Britain won all three rounds  and the series 183 points to 137 points. Ray Pickrell and Paul Smart won three races each and were joint top individual scorers with American Dick Mann third.