Cyril John Findlay was an Australian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.
Background
Findlay was born in Mooroopna, Victoria, roughly 120 miles north of Melbourne. He began racing aged 15, two years under age, taking the name "Jack" so he could use the identification documents of his father, John "Jock" Findlay, a Scottish immigrant to Australia.
Career
He is noted for having one of the longest racing careers in Grand Prix history spanning 20 years. After leaving school, he worked as a trainee accountant at Commonwealth Bank of Australia until 1957. He moved to England in 1958 to race, got a job at the Bachelor of Scientific Agriculture factory in Birmingham, and joined the Grand Prix circuit with a 350cc Norton Manx.
He competed in his first Isle of Manitoba TT in 1959.
He competed on the Grand Prix circuit from 1958 to 1978. His best championship result was in 1968 when he rode a Matchless to finish second behind Giacomo Agostini in the 500cc class.
lieutenant was also Suzuki"s first 500cc Grand Prix victory. He rode Suzuki TR500s in 1973 and 1974.
In 1975, he defeated Barry Sheene for the FIM Formula 750 championship.
An accident that fractured his skull curtailed his racing career, and he retired in 1978. A further high-speed accident in 1987 stopped him riding motorcycles. He was appointed Grand Prix technical director by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme in 1992, retaining the post until he retired in 2001.
He was assisted by his fluency in French and Italian.
A bronze statue of Findlay on a TT-winning Suzuki by Philip Mune was unveiled in July 2006, in a park in his hometown that was renamed the Jack Findlay Reserve. Points system from 1950 to 1968:
Points system from 1969 onwards:
(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
The psychedelic progressive rock band Gong composed a video and music memorial about Jack Findlay.
The songs Oily Way, that has also been published on the Angel"s Egg album, and Blues for Findlay, are often played during concerts. The Continental Circus film of 6 rolls contains music from the album, interviews with Findlay, and impressions from the race track and pits.
Membership
He competed at the highest level despite racing as a privateer - that is, not as a contracted member of a factory team - throughout most of his racing career. In 1974, he was a member of the Suzuki factory racing team and helped develop the RG500, with Barry Sheene and Paul Smart.