A Cambrian Star

This is a short blog on the Welsh motorcycle racer, tuner and entrant Ray Cowles.

Racing Champion 1957 - Ray Cowles

Ray was from Pontypool, Monmouthshire South Wales and was a true motorcycle enthusiast throughout his life. He started racing motorcycles in the 50s and enjoyed success in many disciplines, with rides in the 1961/62 Senior and 1963 Junior Manx Grand Prix.

 

Ray and BSA Gold Star

 

He opened and ran a motorcycle business in his home town of Pontypool that has remained virtually unchanged to this day.

 

Ray Cowles Motorcycles Pontypool

He serviced and repaired all makes of motorcycle over the years and it was from here that he prepared and ran his famous race machines. From BSA and Matchless to Yamaha and Suzuki, the bikes were all prepared in his workshop on Rockhill Road. In the early years of sponsorship he provided machines for fellow Welshmen Griff Jenkins and Selwyn Giffiths, who also worked with Ray in his shop. In 1967 John Hartle finished 3^rd in the 500cc World Championships on a Cowles Matchless and it is with these machines that Ray is probably best remembered.

John Cooper with John Hartle on the centre port exhaust Cowles Matchless

Ray’s reputation as a builder and tuner of these dated 500cc single cylinder machines grew and over the years he provided a number of very capable riders with the chance to race one of his special machines.  The results they achieved are truly impressive.

Gordon Daniels – 1^st 1969 Senior MGP

Roger Sutcliffe – 1^st 1970 Senior MGP

Dave Williams – first 100mph lap on a single in MGP

 

Ray Cowles IOM

When eventually the 4-stroke single cylinder machines were no longer competitive, Ray turned his hand to preparing and tuning 2-stroke machines. He provided TZ Yamaha’s for the likes of Robert Dunlop, Steve Hislop and Ian Lougher to race and a RG 500 Suzuki for Clive Watts. His primary interest lay in the IOM races and he helped many riders in both TT and MGP until his death in 2007.