It came as an unwelcome surprise to some road race fans when it was revealed that a sizeable bunch of top riders including Maurice Cann, Bob Keeler, Derek Farrant and the young John Surtees would not be making an appearance at the Crystal Palace circuit for the ACU Jubilee Races in August 1953.
Thankfully the entry list was still suitably replete with short-circuit aces from across the country (with youthful Percy Tait and charioteer Bill Boddice among the most notable) and the event managed to accrue a good-sized crowd, which was treated to some ding-dong battles across the four scheduled races.
Read more in July’s edition of TCM
