Although not sporting his familiar, trademark moustache, it clearly is the same Eric Oliver who was to claim the inaugural GP world sidecar racing championship in 1949, a title he added to with further successes in 1951, 1953 and 1954, all on Norton outfits.
Indeed, his first win – when 600cc outfits were allowed – was on a prewar example, passengered by the intrepid Denis Jenkinson, who a few years later enjoyed more success, when he partnered Stirling Moss to Mille Miglia victory in their Mercedes.
Though he enjoyed his greatest success when he’d switched to three wheels, it was on two Oliver first sought fame and fortune.
Born in April 1911, in Crowborough, Sussex, Oliver made his TT debut in 1937, retiring a 500cc Vincent-HRD Comet in the Senior TT. He was back in 1938, with Norton entries for the Junior and Senior races, but, alas, he retired both times, before switching to Velocette for the 1939 TT.
This story is from the August 2020 edition of The Classic MotorCycle.
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This story is from the August 2020 edition of The Classic MotorCycle.
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