Leon,
I didn't re-read all of your previous posts and some of the finer details were lost on me, possibly due to the length of this thread! I knew Williams raced as he is listed in the official results as DNF. But only two starters out of 4 Douglas machines and 5 riders?
[EDIT: 3 starters I accidentally missed Johnston from the official record as he is listed as riding a Cotton.]
The question I was pondering was how did Bejarano get to ride a Douglas factory TT bike when he was not one of the four riders originally listed? If I had translated the article in AS Madrid 7th June 1932 I would have answered my question!.....(why do something today when you can put it off until tomorrow?...or something like that!).
Using Google translate certainly sped things up tho' and the results are below. I think one can get the jist of the article even if it didn't convert 100% to readable English. I did it paragraph by paragraph - hopefully that doesn't make it too unreadable? If so let me know and I will re-do it.
"....
Un español camino de ser "as" de la motocicleta en Inglaterra
Luis Bejarano, el co rre d o r vizcaíno, disputará el
Tourist Trophy de la Isla del Hombre
Su viaje a Inglaterra. Sus impresiones de Brookiands,
la "Meca" de los fervientes del motorismo
A Spaniard on the way to being a motorcycle “ace” in English
Luis Bejarano, the Biscayan runner, will contest the isle del Hombre Tourist Trophy
Your Trip to England. Your impressions of Brooklands the “Mecca” for motorcyclists
Apenas trasceniJio fuera del ambiente motorista local la noticia de su marcha i
a Ingrlaterra. Un reducido grupo de amigos le despidieron para la travesia cuando i
el subio a bordo. Y unas linea8--breves—en la Prensa dando cuenta del viaje: '
' Luis Bejnrano. el corredor "amateur” vizcaino de motocicletas, ha salido para •
Bristol, solicitados sus servicios por una importante factoria britanica.” Los an- i
clonados, que ca.sualmente se enteraron de su marcha, todo lo mas que de el
esperaba la mayoria de ellos era que regresase dominando la fonetica del "all
rlghf’. Que la Gran Bretafla es al motorismo lo que al boxeo los Estados Unidos...
The news of his departure barely transcended outside the local motorcyclist milieu.
to England. A small group of friends dismissed him for the journey when i
he got on board. And some linea8 - brief - in the Press reporting the trip: '
'Luis Bejerano. the "amateur" Biscayan motorcycle racer, has come out to Bristol, requested their services by an important British factory. " The years i
cloned, who occasionally found out about his departure, everything more than him
expected most of them was that he would return mastering the phonetics of "all
right '. That Great Britain is to motorcycling what the United States is to boxing ...
Un dia bace ya muchos dias de esto— el "rojo” se decidio por el pequeno
motor sobre dos ruedas: una inscripcion para participar en una de las pruebas
locales organizadas por Pena Motorista Vizcaya. Gano. De desconocido paso a
•ser el heroe de la jomada. Este exito facil le animo a mayores empresas. De entonces
a aca, su nombre nunca falto como el de un concurrente en las carreras
nacionales e Internacionales de la Pena: Castrejana, Autzagana. el Cristo. Guecbo-
Berango... tln todas las pruebas evidencio un estilo limpio, elegante, una habilidad
y una audacia poco comunes. Asi. al comenzar la temporada de 1931. Bejarano
estaba cerca de ser un “as” nacional, y para confirmar esta su valia,
encargo a Inglaterra una motocicleta pura raza Isla de Man, que es tanto como
ilecir. refiriendose a un caballo, un "pura sangre” . Y se lanzo...
One day after many days of this— the "red" decided on the little one
motor on two wheels: an entry to participate in one of the tests
venues organized by Peña Motorista Vizcaya. Won. From unknown he went to
be the hero of the day. This easy success encouraged bigger companies. Then
here, his name was never missing like that of a competitor in the races
National and International Peña: Castrejana, Autzagana. Christ. Guecbo-
Bejarano ... In all the tests showed a clean, elegant style, an ability
and an uncommon audacity. Thus. at the beginning of the 1931 season. Bejarano
he was close to being a national "ace", and to confirm his worth,
commissioned an Isle of Man purebred motorcycle from England, which is as much as
read. referring to a horse, a "thoroughbred." And he launched himself ...
Aquel ano Bejarano establecio primero el "record" de Castrejana. y siguio
despues a Saint-Gautlens, <londe lucho con las primeras figuras francesas por
el Grand Prix de Comminges, y una ‘panne” de motor le hizo perder la victoria,
de la que estuvo a ilos dedos... Basto, sin embargo, lo hecho por el en Francia
para revelar su cla.se internacional, y, como consecuencia, tuvo la de que los
Ingle.ses lomasen nota de su nombre: "Bejarano is a good rider", dijeron ellos.
Mas tarde, dos expertos britanicos, "Jim” Douglas y Jack Clapbman, examinaron
al ^'izcaino en el I I Circuito Internacional de Guecho-Berango y Campeonato de
Espana. Gano Aranda el titulo, pero el "rojo” , sin tocar la victoria, acredito otra
vez el merito de .su.s "maneras” de corredor; iba segimdo cuando abandono, y lo
que hizo era algo mas que lo que de el e.speraban los de Bristol.
That year Bejarano first set the "record" for Castrejana. And followed
then to Saint-Gautlens, <londe fought with the first French figures for
the Grand Prix de Comminges, and an engine 'panne' made him lose the victory,
of which he was at the fingertips ... It was enough, however, what he did in France
to reveal his international class, and, as a consequence, had that of
Ingle.ses lomasen note of his name: "Bejarano is a good rider," they said.
Later, two British experts, "Jim" Douglas and Jack Claphman, examined
al ^ 'izcaino in the I I Guecho-Berango International Circuit and Championship of
Spain. Aranda won the title, but the "red", without touching the victory, credited another
You see the merit of his "ways" as a runner; he was second when he left, and what he did was more than what the Bristolians expected of him.
Una carta y un telegrama de Douglas en 1932:
"Venga usted aqui—le dicen a Bejarano—. Todo
listo para hacer su carrera." Desoyendo familiares
consejos, dejando de lado una situacion “ confortable", atendio la llamada
aventurera. Subio a bordo y enfilo la ruta de Cardlff.
Bristol: entrada en la primera manufactura inglesa de motocicletas, aprendizaje
en los departamentos ex|>erimentales, pruebas en carretera, 'visto bueno de
los directores para su capacidad. Ellos confian en el temple del vizcaino. Y se
dispone la construccion de una "montura” especial para el, su ingreso en el equipo
de carreras de la casa y la proteccion de Clapbman, el mejor preparador. Los
pronosticos mas halagilefios de sus amigos espanoles estaban rebasados: Bejarano
compartia ya las tareas de los "ases” de la marca.
A letter and a telegram from Douglas in 1932:
"Come here," they say to Bejarano.
ready to make his career. "Ignoring relatives
advice, leaving aside a "comfortable" situation, he answered the call
adventuress. He climbed aboard and headed for the Cardiff route.
Bristol: entry into the first English motorcycle manufacture, apprenticeship
in experimental departments, road tests, 'approval of
directors for their ability. They trust the mettle of the Biscayan. And
has the construction of a special "mount" for him, his joining the team
racing house and the protection of Chapman, the best trainer. The
more flattering predictions of his Spanish friends were exceeded: Bejarano
already shared the tasks of the "aces" of the brand.
Ahora va a disputar las carreras mas famosas. Esta acampado en 'M'eybridge,
junto a la pista mas famosa del mundo: Brookiands. ~ ^
.Quereis conocer las impresiones del famoso "track” ?
" L A IL U S IO N D E M I V ID A
"Una de las mayores Ilusiones del motorista espanol es conocer Brookiands.
Pues ya lo be visto y he rodado a 100 millas por hora (unos 160 kilometros);
be fisgoneado todo lo que he podido,., y he pasado cinco dias saturandome de
ruidos y penetrado por el olor de la mezcla quemada.
!
Now he is going to compete in the most famous races. He's camped out at Weybridge,
next to the most famous track in the world: Brookiands. ~ ^
Do you want to know the impressions of the famous "track"?
"L A IL U S IO N D E M I V ID A
"One of the greatest illusions of the Spanish motorcyclist is to know Brookiands.
Well, I have already seen it and I have rolled at 100 miles per hour (about 160 kilometers);
I've been snooping around as much as I can, and I've spent five days saturating myself with
noises and penetrated by the smell of the burned mixture.
......."
Apologies for the long text on this post (...and no pictures!). So Bejarano was invited to go and ride in the 1932 TT by Douglas not a private entrant as I was guessing. He also commissioned the "'31 TT" spec bike for himself and his nickname was possibly "Red".
If I get time I will tidy up the translation.
Cheers
Hutch
[add bold formatting 03Jun21. -Doug, Admin]
