Rod Coleman (motorcycle racer)
Encyclopedia
Rod W Coleman was a Grand Prix
motorcycle
road racer
from New Zealand
who raced for AMC (Associated Motorcycles) riding AJS
motorcycles both at the Isle of Man TT
, and in the Grand Prix World Championship in Europe, between 1951
and 1956
. He was the first official entrant from the New Zealand Auto-Cycle Union in the 1949 Isle of Man TT
, but crashed in practice., and in 1954 became the first New Zealander to win a TT.
but retired from the 1930 Junior TT
and Senior TT
Races. The first New Zealand competitor to enter the TT was Alan Woodman who entered the 1910 Isle of Man TT
races, but lost a leg in a practice crash. The "TT Special" of 1951 describes Rod Coleman (R W Coleman) as a "motorcycle dealer from Wanganui", then aged 25 years.
, Matchless
and Norton
machines. He rode an AJS to eighth place in the Isle of Man
Junior TT, while his Norton failed to finish the Senior TT. In the 1951
Grand Prix season, he finished 12th in the final 350 class standings.
In 1952
he came fourth in the Senior TT, and third in the Junior TT, riding AJS in both events. He was fourth in the 1952
500 class standings.
For 1953
there was a fourth in the SeniorTT, and while leading the Junior TT, his bike broke down and failed to finish. For the 1953
season, he was tenth in the 500 class, and sixth in the 350 class.
In 1954
he won the Junior, the first New Zealander to win a TT. (He failed to finish in the Senior.) In the 1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Rod came twelfth in the 500 class, and third in the 350 class. This was also the year Associated Motorcycles quit racing.
Coleman met and married an English woman and they returned to Wanganui
where he ran a thriving motorcycle and car business.
Rod Coleman was 81 years of age in 2006, and intends to attend the Isle of Man TT Centenary. He still rides.
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...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
who raced for AMC (Associated Motorcycles) riding 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...
motorcycles both at the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
, and in the Grand Prix World Championship in Europe, between 1951
1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 3rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of eight Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
and 1956
1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 8th 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 500cc...
. He was the first official entrant from the New Zealand Auto-Cycle Union in the 1949 Isle of Man TT
1949 Isle of Man TT
The 1949 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy or I British Motorcyle Grand Prix festival were the first races of Grand Prix World Championship that were held in the Isle of Man....
, but crashed in practice., and in 1954 became the first New Zealander to win a TT.
Background
Rod Coleman is the son of "Cannonball Coleman" also from Wanganui who first raced at the 1930 Isle of Man TT1930 Isle of Man TT
The 1930 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was dominated by the Rudge marque. Despite problems in practice for Rudge and the new George Hicks designed four-valve over-head valve motor-cycles the 1930 Junior TT was a closely contested race. At the end of the first lap, Charlie Dodson riding for Sunbeam led...
but retired from the 1930 Junior TT
Junior TT
The Junior TT 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...
and 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...
Races. The first New Zealand competitor to enter the TT was Alan Woodman who entered the 1910 Isle of Man TT
1910 Isle of Man TT
The 1910 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races took place on the Short Course .-500cc Single & 670cc Twin Results Open Class final standings:Thursday 26 May 1910 – 10 laps St John's Short Course....
races, but lost a leg in a practice crash. The "TT Special" of 1951 describes Rod Coleman (R W Coleman) as a "motorcycle dealer from Wanganui", then aged 25 years.
Racing career
In 1951 Rod Coleman secured a works contract with the British manufacturer, Associated Motorcycles, who produced AJSAJS
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...
, Matchless
Matchless
Matchless is one of the oldest marques of British motorcycles, manufactured in Plumstead, London, between 1899 and 1966. A wide range of models was produced under the Matchless name, ranging from small two-strokes to 750 cc four-stroke twins...
and Norton
Norton (motorcycle)
Norton is a British motorcycle marque, originally from Birmingham, founded in 1898 as a manufacturer of "fittings and parts for the two-wheel trade". By 1902, they had begun manufacturing motorcycles with bought-in engines. In 1908, a Norton-built engine was added to the range...
machines. He rode an AJS to eighth place in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
Junior TT, while his Norton failed to finish the Senior TT. In the 1951
1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 3rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of eight Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
Grand Prix season, he finished 12th in the final 350 class standings.
In 1952
1952 Isle of Man TT
The 1952 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the start of Bob McIntyres association with the Isle of Man, when he came second in the Junior Clubman TT that year. Irishman Reg Armstrong won his first Senior TT event as well as coming in second in the Junior TT race on a Norton...
he came fourth in the Senior TT, and third in the Junior TT, riding AJS in both events. He was fourth in the 1952
1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 4th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of eight Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
500 class standings.
For 1953
1953 Isle of Man TT
The 1953 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy saw Ray Amm win both Senior and Junior TT races. Bob McIntyre retired for his first TT, the Junior.-Senior TT :-Junior TT :-Lightweight TT :-Ultra Lightweight TT :...
there was a fourth in the SeniorTT, and while leading the Junior TT, his bike broke down and failed to finish. For the 1953
1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 5th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of nine Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
season, he was tenth in the 500 class, and sixth in the 350 class.
In 1954
1954 Isle of Man TT
The 1954 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the second race in the 1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season and proved highly controversial for course and race changes. The 1954 Junior TT was the first race where the official race distance was reduced from 7 laps to 5 laps...
he won the Junior, the first New Zealander to win a TT. (He failed to finish in the Senior.) In the 1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 6th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of nine Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc...
Rod came twelfth in the 500 class, and third in the 350 class. This was also the year Associated Motorcycles quit racing.
Coleman met and married an English woman and they returned to Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
where he ran a thriving motorcycle and car business.
Rod Coleman was 81 years of age in 2006, and intends to attend the Isle of Man TT Centenary. He still rides.