Jock West
Encyclopedia
John Milns "Jock" West, MBE
(February 28, 1909 - June 6, 2004) was a Grand Prix motorcycle racer
from Great Britain
.
to an English father and a Scottish mother. He initially concentrated on grasstrack
racing on an Ariel
motorcycle and, was successful enough that the Ariel factory would sponsor him at the 1931 Manx Grand Prix
. West progressed to compete in the 1933 Isle of Man TT
where, he impressed Triumph manager Edward Turner
, who hired him as a rider.
Afterwards, he took a job as sales manager for BMW
. West rode a BMW to victory at the 1937 500cc Ulster Grand Prix
held on the Clady Circuit
. His win marked the first time that a non-British motorcycle had won the 500cc class at the Ulster Grand Prix. West returned the following year to win again at the 1938 Ulster Grand Prix. At the 1939 Isle of Man TT
, he finished second behind his German BMW teammate Georg Meier
in the Senior TT
.
During the Second World War, West served in the Royal Air Force
, rising to the rank of Wing Commander
. He managed factories where crashed and damaged aircraft were rebuilt for combat and, was awarded the Order of the British Empire
. After the war, he joined Associated Motor Cycles
as a sales director. AJS
had developed a new race bike known as the AJS Porcupine
and, West was the first person to ride the machine. He entered the 1947 Isle of Man TT
with the bike but, teething problems relegated him to a 15th place although, he recorded the third fastest lap time. Leslie Graham
would later ride the Porcupine to win the inaugural 1949
FIM
500cc world championship.
After a fifth place finish in the 1950
Ulster Grand Prix, West retired from racing at the age of 41. He continued to work for Associated Motor Cycles until 1961 and later rejoined BMW.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(February 28, 1909 - June 6, 2004) was a Grand Prix motorcycle racer
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
Motorcycle career
West was born in Belvedere, KentBelvedere, London
Belvedere is a suburban and largely working class area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley in Southeast London.-History:The area which is today known as Belvedere was originally part of Lesness Heath, which originally stretched from the area of Lesnes Abbey to Erith and constituted...
to an English father and a Scottish mother. He initially concentrated on grasstrack
Grasstrack
Motorcycle Grasstrack is a form of motorcycle racing which typically, in its current form, takes place on a flat track consisting of two straights and two bends usually constructed in a field. Mountain and hillside tracks are also common in the UK, creating more technically demanding circuits...
racing on an Ariel
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970...
motorcycle and, was successful enough that the Ariel factory would sponsor him at the 1931 Manx Grand Prix
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
. West progressed to compete in the 1933 Isle of Man TT
1933 Isle of Man TT
The winning ways of Stanley Woods continued with the 1933 Isle of Man TT winning the Junior TT Race at an average speed of and the Norton marque filling the first three places with Tim Hunt and Jimmie Guthrie....
where, he impressed Triumph manager Edward Turner
Edward Turner
Edward Turner was a British motorcycle designer. He was born in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark, on the day King Edward VII was proclaimed King....
, who hired him as a rider.
Afterwards, he took a job as sales manager for BMW
BMW Motorrad
BMW Motorrad is the motorcycle brand of the German company BMW, part of its Corporate and Brand Development division. The current General Director of the unit is Hendrik von Kuenheim....
. West rode a BMW to victory at the 1937 500cc Ulster Grand Prix
Ulster Grand Prix
The Ulster Grand Prix is a motorcycle road race that takes place on the Dundrod Circuit near Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme gave it the title Grand Prix d'Europe...
held on the Clady Circuit
Clady Circuit
Clady Circuit situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland describes a motor-cycle road racing course used for the Ulster Grand Prix. The Clady Circuit was used between 1922 and 1939 and an amended shorter circuit between 1947 and 1952.-History:...
. His win marked the first time that a non-British motorcycle had won the 500cc class at the Ulster Grand Prix. West returned the following year to win again at the 1938 Ulster Grand Prix. At the 1939 Isle of Man TT
1939 Isle of Man TT
The 1939 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the last race festival until 1947 due to the interruption of World War II. It was the last of ten TT victories for the 34 year old Stanley Woods in which he won the Junior TT on a Velocette at 83.19 mph and came 4th in the Senior TT race...
, he finished second behind his German BMW teammate Georg Meier
Georg Meier
Georg Meier was a German motorcycle racer famous for being the first foreign winner of the prestigious Senior TT the Blue Riband race of the Isle of Man TT Races in 1939 riding for the factory BMW team and the first motor-cycle racer to lap a Grand Prix course at over 100mph.-Biography:Meier was...
in the Senior TT
Senior TT
The Senior Tourist Trophy is a motorcycle road race that takes place during the Isle of Man TT festival; an annual event at the end of May and beginning of June. The Senior TT is the Blue Riband event of the festival and takes place on the Friday of race week. The Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars...
.
During the Second World War, West served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, rising to the rank of Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
. He managed factories where crashed and damaged aircraft were rebuilt for combat and, was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. After the war, he joined Associated Motor Cycles
Associated Motor Cycles
Associated Motor Cycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer founded by the Collier brothers as a parent company for the Matchless and AJS motorcycle companies...
as a sales director. AJS
AJS
AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on...
had developed a new race bike known as the AJS Porcupine
AJS Porcupine
-Racing history:The motorcycle was originally designed by AJS to be supercharged, as were a number of pre-war racing bikes, but the FICM banned supercharging in 1946. The motor was then worked on to allow it to perform without a supercharger...
and, West was the first person to ride the machine. He entered the 1947 Isle of Man TT
1947 Isle of Man TT
After an eight year absence the 1947 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the first race festival since 1939 due to the interruption of World War II. With the restart of racing the ACU decided to add three Clubman class races for production machines and introduced these races for Lightweight, Junior and...
with the bike but, teething problems relegated him to a 15th place although, he recorded the third fastest lap time. Leslie Graham
Leslie Graham
For the English footballer and manager see Leslie Graham Robert Leslie Graham DFC was a British motorcycle road racer who competed in the 1930s and 1940s...
would later ride the Porcupine to win the inaugural 1949
1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the inaugural F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 600cc...
FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
500cc world championship.
After a fifth place finish in the 1950
1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 2nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 600cc...
Ulster Grand Prix, West retired from racing at the age of 41. He continued to work for Associated Motor Cycles until 1961 and later rejoined BMW.
By season
| Season | Class | Motorcycle | Race | Win | Podium | Pole | FLap | Pts | Plcd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500cc | AJS AJS AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10th | |
| 500cc | AJS AJS AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14th | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |