i have had a few e mails from persons, who have been unable to see this through my link, so here it is;

Last night I put up a few photos from yesterdays event, however, I purposely kept a couple out, with the intention of honouring someone when I returned home to night,
Sadly, the person in question, John Goodall, crashed heavily on the opening lap of yesterdays Senior Manx Grand Prix, with injuries which he would not recover from.
I didn’t know of this until to day, when a friend of mine, JoeWright, texted me with the words;
“JOHN GOODALL has passed on, to join the others in the Race in the Sky”
To say I was Gutted would be an understatement, my heart sank, to the ordinary road race supporter, John Goodall, may not have been a name on the tip of their lips, but to me, JOHN GOODALL, was one of my heroes in Classic Racing.(the other being Denis Gallagher)


As those who know me, I have followed the sport for many years, but it wasn’t until the year 2000, that I eventually got myself over to the Manx Grand Prix.
Whilst I enjoyed the few days I was there, it was the thrill and excitement of the Classic Races that caught my attention, and also, I saw John Goodall in action for the first time.
I reacalled many years ago, when I was younger, and when Motor Cycle News, was as its title stated!, there were pages of reports from the MGP, and I remember seeing pictures of John Goodall, winning the Senior MGP. I couldn’t believe , how fast this guy was, so many years later!, But what really grabbed me, was his style!, He raced with his bike, no knees out, no hanging off, the Black leathers, open face helmet, the ingredients of a pure classic racer.

The following year, if my memory serves me correctly, the prize giving was in the now defunct Summerland, and it was here, that I first met the man in person.
I told him, how I admired his competiveness, so many years on, his style etc, and congratulated him on his result that day..
He seemed somewhat overwhelmed, that a younger person, had given him the compliments, he told me, that he worked on the bikes himself, all the time, he didn’t have time for any fancy tuning, and I think he told me, that up to that time, that he had finished every MGP he had started in!, Now that alone was an impressive achievement. I also passed a comment on his Chain of Badges, the MGP Supporters Club badge, with the continous chain, for each year, he jokingly told me, that’s how I count the no of years I have raced at the Manx! Maybe I am wrong, but I think he told me, that he first raced at the manx in the seventies! I stand to be corrected here. After this we went our separate ways.
Over the past years since, I have been back to watch the MGP, Maybe not for a full week, but at least to take in the Practices and Senior Classic event. Through this website, you will have seen photos of John, and I am sure, the comments I made with each photo, would have told you, that I held this man in high esteem.
Only a few years ago, when Ryan Farquhar first completed in the classic Manx GP, I jokingly told him, to watch out for this old timer, he is no slouch!, and Ryan admitted he followed him in practice, and learned a lot from him, and when John Burrows made his Classic debut last year, I pointed John Goodall out to him in the paddock, and told him, that if you keep close enough to him, you wont be far away!, Joni B told me afterwards, that he was amazed at his speed and smoothness, and like Ryan, managed to follow him for a bit, and learned a lot.
Yesterday, I had a few words with John on the starting line, before I made my way to Quarter Bridge for the race, I congratulated him, on Being Awarded the SPIRIT of the Manx, something, he richly deserved, the time he has given to others over the past, what 25 years at the MGP, his consistency, and top results since he began racing over the mountain circuit, is a epitome to others.
He Thanked me, I wished him all the best, and he just said, “we will do our best”
Little did I know, that minutes later, motor cycle racing, and Classic racing in particular were to loose one of its finest heroes.
John Goodall crashed at Ballacraine on the opening lap of the Senior MGP, and sustained injuries, which he succumbed to later.

To his wife Rose, and family circle, I offer my deepest sympathies.

JOHN GOODALL , Thanks for the Memories.

RIP.

Baylon

http://www.irishracephotography.com