This is a
short blog on the Welsh motorcycle racer, tuner and entrant Ray Cowles.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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 3rd in the 500cc World Championships on a Cowles
Matchless and it is with these machines that Ray is probably best remembered.
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| 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 – 1st 1969 Senior MGP
Roger
Sutcliffe – 1st 1970 Senior MGP
Dave
Williams – first 100mph lap on a single in MGP
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| 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.