News Archive

Frank Whiteway And Devitt Reunite After 37 Years For Isle Of Man Tt Centenary

Wednesday, 9 May 2007

Romford, 9th May 2007 – In 1970 a youthful Frank Whiteway won the Isle of Man TT on a Suzuki T500 for the Crooks-Suzuki race team, which was then sponsored by insurance broker Devitt. Some 37 years on, Whiteway, now aged 66, will once again be putting on his leathers and riding the very same motorcycle at this years' TT to celebrate it's 100 year anniversary.

To commemorate the centenary, the TT organisers have endeavoured to bring together as many past winners as possible. A Lap of honour for past competitors and motorcycles takes place on June 4 and the Parade of Champions for past winners takes place on June 8. Both parades allow the seasoned riders to complete a full lap of the TT circuit on their race machines.

"In 1970 whilst riding the Eddie Crooks-Suzuki T500, I finally achieved my lifelong ambition by cruising to a relatively easy win in the 500cc Production Machine Race." Said Whiteway. "Returning there now, I am as excited about it as any youngster with his first driving lesson – it just can't come soon enough. I have the Devitt-badged Suzuki T500 in my workshop and have been working on it for the last six weeks to ensure that it will be perfect for my
two parade laps around the famous and notorious Snaefel Mountain circuit."

Insurance broker Devitt's sponsorship of the Crooks-Suzuki race team began in 1969 and had a long and successful relationship with them that ran until 1975. As part of the arrangement, the Devitt logo was prominent on the fairings of the Crooks-Suzuki team machines.

Up until this sponsorship deal motorcycle racing riders and teams were only permitted to display limited size stickers on the machine showing the make of machine, the fuel, oil and make of tyres but no sponsor advertising was allowed. However, Devitt and Crooks-Suzuki pushed the barriers.

Whiteway added: "I can remember several times when comments were made about the badges by race officials when the motorcycles were put before them but somehow they allowed them to remain in place. This put the Devitt/Crooks-Suzuki sponsorship partnership in a very unique and trailblazing position."

Devitt's Managing Director, William Hughes, commented: "When Frank approached us to gain our support for this event, 37 years after he won the TT with Devitt as a sponsor, we felt we just had to get involved. We are proud of the fact that Devitt were one of the first pioneers of UK motorcycle-racing sponsorship and it is great to see that after 37 years the Suzuki T500, Frank Whiteway and Devitt are still going strong".

The TT mountain circuit is one of the greatest challenges any racing motorcyclist can take on - but it is not for the faint -hearted. One lap of the course is 37.73 miles and takes racers through towns and villages, wooded vales and up and over the rugged and bleak Snaefel Mountain.

The circuit provides little protection for the unfortunate rider who is unlucky enough to make even a tiny error of judgment. This dangerous route has claimed over 200 lives in its history and all riders know the risks. No-one is forced to race there but all come for one reason and one reason alone, to pitch themselves against one of the greatest pure road race circuits of them all, the TT Mountain Circuit.