First Trophy for Tommy Searle in 2008!
By TMX Archives on 26th Feb 08
With the World Championship season yet to start, Hawkstone Park's International meeting on 2nd March 2008 will see Britain's best hope of a World Championship, Tommy Searle receive the Sunbeam Motorcycle Club's Pinhard Prize, an award he won in December 2007.
Had Tommy not been testing in California at the time, the Prize would havebeen awarded at the ACU's Presentation of Awards in January. Ian McGill,Pinhard Prize Officer for the Sunbeam MCC will now present the Award to Tommy atHawkstone Park during the lunchtime interview session.
Every year since 1950 the Pinhard Trophy has been awarded to the best under21 sporting motorcyclist in ACU jurisdiction. A 50 cheque accompanies the huge2 gallon cup and a lifetime retention replica cup is awarded by Sunbeam MotorCycle Club in memory of Frederick William Pinhard, who died in June 1948 whileserving as secretary of the Club.
Previous winners include John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Jeff Smith, BrianMartin, Roy Peplow, Dan Storey, Scott Ellis, Alexz Wigg and a host of otherswho have gone on to be National and International Champions in the myriad ofdisciplines which comprise motorcycle sport.
Pin', as he was affectionately known, was an astonishing man of boundlessenergy and as founder of the Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club in 1924 he managed anddirected its sport organising activities in trials, sprints, road racing and amyriad of social events that provided Sunbeam members with continuous pleasureand considerable motorcycling activity. He was a mainspring in the ACU centre,on ACU committees and how he fitted Sunbeam work into his private life as astockbroker, rifle shooting champion and the Metropolitan Police SpecialConstabulary is evidence of his astonishing versatility.
Ian McGill said Tommy's superb achievements last season, 2nd in the MX2World Championship, in only his second full season and Runner Up for a secondtime in the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship saw his name come to thetop of a short list of riders that we will all enjoy watching succeed in theirchosen disciplines over the coming years.
I would like to thank the Salop MCC for allowing me to present the PinhardPrize at Hawkstone Park and must take the opportunity to remind all Clubs thatthe Sunbeam MCC only considers riders put forward to us by their respectiveClubs. Any nominations should be forwarded to The Sunbeam Motor CycleClub-Pinhard Prize, 13, Victoria Road, Horley, Surrey, RH6 9BN.