John - So, how did this extraordinary career begin?
I began trials riding on a solo Greeves, progressed to sidecar trials as a passenger, then onto grasstrack sidecars. I met John Wright-Bailey when I was buying some second-hand leathers.He needed a passenger for a practice session at Brands Hatch and so it just progressed from there. J Nowadays, newcomers study DVDs and make pre-TT visits. How did you prepare for your first TT? We found a book which had photos of the main corners and a description of the racing lines – for solos! Not ideal! When we got there we did lots of laps in the van and did a lot of talking to the experienced crews.

It was 1970 – the days of Klaus Enders, Siggy Schauzu and Georg Auerbacher, etc, which presumably was a big step-up from the opposition on the UK tracks?
They certainly had better kit and went a lot quicker but Chris Vincent, Peter Brown, the Hanks’, Mick Boddice, Pip Harris, Tony Wakefield, Graham Milton, Dennis Keen and Co were pretty quick on the mainland and in Europe. J After two TTs with John Wright-Bailey, you paired up with Dick Hawes and gained three top ten placings,

two in the World Championship class. Looking back were those the highlights of your TT career?
To get top ten placings and world championship points was a high point; although the results don’t show it, my rides with Tony Wakefield were much faster and more competitive. The two 4th places with Dick in 1993 at 100 mph and more recently the 18th with Wal (Saunders) in 2006 on a completely standard engine were also highlights

Almost inevitably in a long career, you teamed up with several drivers – Tony Wakefield, Helmut Lunemann,
Mick Hamblin. Did these changes present problems for you?
Riding with Tony Wakefield was such a big step-up in speed and general performance. Tony had been on the podium at several Grand Prix and so I really had to get my act together. In August 2007 I rode with Tony at Cadwell Park on the Magnum that he had rebuilt, 26 years after our last ride together. Brilliant! Every driver has a different style and sets his bike up in a different way. The key is communication, always debrief after every ride. I look at every ride as an opportunity to learn and develop my style and ability. After all, you never stop learning!

At this stage in your career, was the T.T. the ‘big’ race of the year?
I obviously enjoy the T.T. but also enjoyed racing abroad. I did the world championship with
Dick in the early ‘70s, the British GP at Silverstone with Tony, and the 1999 World Cup with Andy
Percy. I did most of my racing in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Sweden.

You and Dick were a team for about 20 years, a time during which sidecars changed from the 750 and 1000cc engines to the F2 outfits. Were there problems and which do you prefer?
There were no real difficulties in changing for me – you just have to ride properly if you don’t have as much power (the 350 twins). It did mean that more drivers were able to drive flat out with the 350s. I prefer the 750s and the F2 600s. The power developed by modern 600s is now similar to the old 750 TZs.

What are your favourite/most hated corners or sections of the course?
I like the fast sections and sweeping corners. I don’t hate any part of it but the bits you don’t like are the ones you need to work on to get better at.

During such a long TT career you must have had some amusing incidents…
In my first T.T. with J. W-B we got an intermittent misfire and stopped in a gateway at Glen Vine, changed plugs and continued. On the next lap the misfire returned so we stopped at the same place, found the old plugs, refitted them and then carried on again! The real problem was poor preparation.

‘Passengers’ these days seem to get a little more press coverage but years back they were rarely mentioned. Did you ever consider driving an outfit?
I did but never had enough money. I’d also have had the problem of finding a sidecar rider!

A 38 year career at the TT - so far. How have you kept fit in the past and what do you do now?
I never bothered until Dick and I finished with two 4ths in 1993 – then I realised I would have to get fit or retire! I now go to the gym three times a week and swim twice a week.

Nearly four decades at the TT – there have been many changes, but what alterations would you make?
I think the TT needs more races for proper racing bikes. For sidecars, it would be nice to get one or two practice sessions without looking into the sun at the start and end of each lap.

For the last three years you’ve paired up with that lively youngster, Wal Saunders. Is retirement a ‘dirty’ word or can we expect to see you and Wal for a good few years yet?
I certainly hope so! I think we’ve got a few years left and I really enjoy my racing with Wal although the results may not show it.

I thank Eddie for his time and look forward to meeting up with him again in the TT paddock next year.

John Newton