Book review by Brian Crichton
Amazing and ebullient, Bill Smith (90) was never scared to shoot from the hip when it came to taking risks in business and as a racer. But he was never reckless. Now retired as a leading bike dealer, Bill has found the time to write his autobiography. Meanwhile, the bike business he started in 1960 continues in the capable hands of son Mark and daughter Karen.
His book is a slim 86-page pocket-sized volume dedicated to his wife Annie, family, and fellow racer, the late Tommy Robb (1934-2024). Bill set Tommy up in business in 1978. They were Bultaco team-mates finishing first and second in the inaugural 250 production Isle of Man TT in 1967, the first of Bill’s four TT wins, including the 1978 F3 TT one-race world title.
What comes across strongly is the key part Bill played in establishing Honda in the UK, and his love of road racing, especially the TT. Does he have any regrets? Yes. “I regret that when I took on Honda in the 1960s I didn’t instead go racing full-time,” he writes. “I knew the guys in the works team and I could have joined them. And without being big-headed, I’m sure I could have been vying for the world championship.”
When Bill first met Soichiro Honda in Japan in late 1960, he was surprised to learn that Bill was both a dealer and a road racer. You can’t do both said Mr. Honda. Well, Bill did, taking on Honda and helping other dealers become involved with Honda, and winning 51 Isle of Man TT Replicas. An amazing record.
A crash at Ballaugh Bridge on the TT circuit in 1982 effectively ended his competitive race career, though it didn’t stop him racing. His last TT was in 2000. He raced on the continent, in Japan, and in America, riding 27 different marques.
When he was made a director of the ACU in 1988, Lord Tom Jopling, then the Union president and a former government minister, invited him to the House of Commons, where out on the refreshment veranda overlooking the Thames, they met Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Roy Jenkins. When asked by Brown, and after a couple of gin and tonics, what he thought of MPs, Bill replied. “You are all a bunch of tossers,” An astounded Brown asked what he meant, and Bill told him. “If any of you did a good day’s work, you’d be knackered.” The conversation passed into ACU legend!
Bill reveals that his initial ambition was to play football for Everton. A knee injury put that into touch. Instead, he scored big-time as a dealer and racer. His accolades include the 2013 British Dealer News Lifetime Achievement Award.
His bijou book is full of amazing anecdotes and daring deals. Compared to today’s convoluted corporate scene, it’s a wild west ride from the days of the post-war motorcycle gold rush. Underpinning the text is a genuine love for two wheels and his desire to spread the PTW gospel.
Bill at Ballaugh: The life and racing career of Bill Smith, is available from Bill Smith Motors, Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester CH3 6AE – 01244 323845. Price: £10.