If it's a motorcycle fueled experience you're looking
for head over to the Hawick museum where there are
rooms dedicated to racing legends Jimmy Guthrie and
Steve Hislop, the nearby Wilton Park also has statues of
the two racing legends.
Time to brush up on some local racing history.
Jimmy Guthrie
The “Flying Scotsman"
Guthrie served with the Royal Engineers as a dispatch rider.
On demobilisation he joined the Hawick Motorcycle Club and
took part in the Isle of Man tourist trophy (TT). By 1926 he was
Scottish speed champion and in the 1930s broke the world
record several times, became European 500cc champion and won
TT races and nine grand prixs. He was close to winning another
when he was involved in a fatal crash aged just 40.
Guthrie died on 8 August 1937 at the Kuchwald Hospital in Chemnitz
after an accident at the German Grand Prix.
Steve Hislop
"HIZZY"
Steve Hislop was encouraged to get into motorcycle racing by his father and
soon developed an enormous passion for the sport. As a youngster, Hislop
worshipped the late Hawick-born Jimmy Guthrie who won motorcycle races
across Europe and claimed six Isle of Man TT victories.
Hislop made his racing debut in 1979 and in 1983 he finished second in a
newcomers’ race at the Manx Grand Prix. He went on to become a legend of the
world-famous Isle of Man TT, claiming 11 victories and eight podiums between 1985
and 1994. This included a classic victory over long-term rival Carl Fogarty in the 1992
senior TT – regarded by many as the greatest TT race in history.
Back on the mainland ‘Hizzy’ won the British 250cc Championship in 1990 and became
British Superbike Champion twice in 1995 and 2002. He was the reigning British Superbike
Champion when he died in 2003.
Regarded as one of the most talented motorcycle riders of all time, a number of memorials have been created to recognise his substantial achievements including the status in Wilton Park.
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