The BBC Archive recently shared a fantastic video on YouTube called Race of the Power Bikes, which focuses on John Player Norton’s effort for the Formula 750 race at the 1973 Isle of Man TT.
Per the BBC’s description (I’ve added the links for anyone that wants more detail): “Peter Williams is the number 1 rider of the John Player Norton team and also the team’s research and development engineer, who is tasked with returning the Norton to its former racing glory. Norton’s number 2 is the larger than life Dave Croxford – a former plumber, painter and poodle clipper. Metal worker John Stewart is also preparing a bike for his first ever TT, endlessly tuning and tweaking a production Norton for rider Graham Bentman. For John Stewart’s team, the training track is a short, potted strip of road through the local allotments.”
In Peter’s words, “It sounds it bit over ambitious but my mission was to help to bring glory back to Norton – and to be a part of that great manufacturer after racing. I have quite a lot of time on my hands now so I suppose my mind wanders sometimes imagining some sort of connection between my crash in 1974 being synonymous with Norton Villiers crash a few months later and a short time after my illness in 2020 Norton crashed again.” Peter passed away in December 2020 – the same month that Norton started up production again after being acquired by TVS.
This documentary was originally aired on BBC One on August 7th, 1973. I hope you enjoy!