Large crowds attended the funeral of Coleraine dealer Wilfie Connor who died on 3 December. He was 67 and had gone into semi-retirement two years ago.
North West 200 event director and close friend Billy Nutt described Wilfie as “one of a kind”, with an infectious smile and personality. “I have known Wilfie for more than 40 years through our common love of motorcycles. We met through racing bikes in grass-track and scramble events.
“Wilfie was always a keen competitor and we had many good races along with guys like Eddie Johnston, Sammy Patton, Davy Christie and John Mairs, to name but a few.”
Coleraine Motorcycles, which sold Piaggio Group product, Kawasaki and Yamaha, opened in 1981. The Connor family home is at the magic roundabout on the North West 200 circuit.
When Wilfie’s son Russell started racing 125s in 1994, first on short circuits then roads, Wilfie was chief mechanic and team manager.
Pictured is Wilfie donning a police traffic cap at Ballaugh Bridge during TT week in 2018 to sort out disputed parking arrangements