Alec was the Wright man...
By TMX Archives on 8th Apr 10
As Kawasaki donates a new trophy in memory of former ace-boss Alec Wright editor JD shares a few memories of his own THERE'S a nice story on page 2 this week whereby you can read that Kawasaki UK has provided a new Team Green trophy to honour Alec Wright, a man who's very blood ran green. The reason is that Alec Wright and Kawasaki are synonymous. Alec invented Team Green - he was Team Green and when he died a short while back the sport really did lose one of its biggest movers and shakers. It is easy to trot out phrases such as "we will never see his like again” but I really think it is very likely true in Alec's case.
The reason I say this is that big business has moved on. When Alec ruled the roost at Kawasaki that is exactly what he did - he ruled the Kawasaki roost. He was the boss. In his own parlance he was The Ace Boss! Ring Kawasaki Team Green and you got Alec. Ask him a straight question and you got a straight answer. It didn't matter how busy he was or how big the question you got an answer, right there and right then. It might not have been the answer you wanted (although to tell the truth most times it was) but you got an answer and you moved on. His Team Green idea was pure genius and ensured that for decades Kawasaki dominated the Youth MX results and that hundreds of riders went right through their Youth career and on into the adults having never ridden a bike of any other colour but green.
So why will we not see people like Alec in the industry again? Well, big business has moved on and you simply don't get people with the all-encompassing power that Alec wielded. Jobs and responsibilities are split and split again and many decisions are made by committee, as no-one wants the responsibility, following meetings. Lots of meetings. Ring a big company these days and ask for an individual and... "He's in a meeting!” is the unbelievably annoying default reply. When you run the whole show there's no need for any meetings!
Yet though Alec ruled absolutely there was never any sense of him becoming a power-mad ogre. In my dealings with him he never came over as anything but a true motorcycle enthusiast with a great sense of humour. When Alec died I resisted the urge to rush into print with memories of my own because there were many others who knew him much better, such as Pete Plummer who must surely have been as close as a brother to Alec. But I'd like to share a couple of stories with you now.
When I was involved with the Off Road Action magazine project back in the early 1990s and wanted a motocross bike test with a difference I rang Alec. "No problem ace,” was the instant reply, "We'll get you a GP bike sorted - and Billy Liles will come and join-in with your tester!” Just like that, Alec sorted a Grand Prix machine, ordered his factory rider, American Billy Liles, to turn-up on the day and even sorted the track.
For the test we had engaged a young AMCA rider who rode Kawasaki for Colin Harrison, a feisty kid called Chris Walker who surprised Liles by crowding him viciously into a corner at the photo-shoot. Liles was surprised, and retaliated by shoving Chris off the track - when 20 feet in the air over a table-top! Alec thought it was all great stuff. Chris Walker of course went on to become a top British and World Superbike rider.
Another time we were at Hawkstone Park for a bike test and, with plenty of shiny new Kawasakis to play with I waited until everyone had had their pick and, desperate to ride the full Hawkstone Park circuit for the first time ever, including the infamous hill, took what was left. It was of course the fire-breathing KX500 stroker! The bottom line was that, no MX ace I, after two laps I was absolutely knackered and totally by mistake actually jumped the beast into the famous Hawkstone bomb-hole - the real one that Jobe jumped over! Landing heavily, I found myself hanging off the back of the bike with the throttle on full-hole and heading rapidly for the exit lip and a trip into space. I forced my hand off the throttle and careered out of the hole, totally out of control and hoping against hope that no-one had actually witnessed this sorry show. Funny how even in the grip of fear you are still worried first and formost about how it looks to others!
Amazingly I appeared to have got away with it so I rode nonchalantly back to the Kawasaki truck, peeled-off helmet and gloves and, as a total bloody novice, was about to give my carefully considered opinion on the performance of the mighty KX when Alec walked past and - flashing that ‘evil' grin - commented drily, "See you were in a bit of trouble there ace..!”
Doh!
If ever a man deserved a trophy in memory of his name it is Alec Wright - and even more right that Kawasaki should present it.