John Hartle

Education

Gaining more experience at other nearby short circuits including Cadwell Park and Oulton Park in 1953, he also finished in three out of four races entered in the 1953 and 1954 Isle of Manitoba Manx Grand Prix.

Career

Born in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, Hartle began racing in 1952 when working for Eric Bowers Motorcycles, riding a Bachelor of Scientific Agriculture Gold Star at Brough Aerodrome, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He rode for the works Norton team during the 1955 season and again in 1956 in what would be factory team"s last year in Grand Prix racing, returning to ride for Eric Bowers in 1957. Move Files Agusta signed him in 1958 at the urging of John Surtees.

He ended the season as runner-up to Surtees in the 500 and 350 classes.

After being released by Move Files Agusta, he then rode for Geoff Duke"s privateer Gilera team, alongside Derek Minter. In his early career Hartle was sponsored for non-championship races by Eric West Bowers Coaches and later Comerfords, a large London retailer of roadgoing and sporting motorcycles, until his retirement in 1964.

He returned to racing during 1967, winning the Isle of Manitoba inaugural Production Race 750 category for road-based machines on a Triumph Thruxton Bonneville, and scoring World Championship points in both 350 cc and 500 cc races. Hartle was killed in 1968 after crashing at the Oliver"s Mount circuit in Scarborough.

Hartle was proud of his connection with his hometown of Chapel-en-le-Frith, always carrying the coat of arms as his "pudding basin" helmet emblem with the Latin motto Cava et Spera, which translates to "Caution and Hope".

He was recognised in his hometown in 2010 by a blue wall-plaque attached to the building which now stands were he used to live. (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position. Races in italics indicate fastest lap).

Achievements

• In 1960 he won his first Isle of Manitoba TT race, the Junior TT event.