Raynor, Brian – Grantham biker won Isle of Man GP

Brian Raynor 1961 – 2021

Grantham-born Brian went to Huntingtower primary school then on to St Hugh’s Secondary School.

After leaving school in 1977, he began his apprenticeship with BMARCo.  Back then they took on about 15 apprentices every year along with the likes of Barfords and Coles Cranes to mention a few.

The first year was Full time at Grantham College – broad based engineering with all the Grantham engineering apprentices. The second year was another full year in BMARCo’s Apprentice school

In the third year they were let loose on the shop floor  either as a turner, miller, fitter, grinder etc. or toolroom – which is where Brian cut his teeth in precision engineering.

Following the demise of BMARCo, he went self-employed for a year designing, manufacturing and selling specialised motorcycle components and offering a sub-contract engineering services working from home.

Brian then travelled the world working as a commissioning engineer for a large American oil rig company based in Kent for three years before returning to Grantham and working for a company in     Lincoln as a weapons technician.

From there he went to Parker Hannifin then on to DLS Plastics, toolmaking again.

From DLS he joined BGB Engineering , as a continuous improvement engineer and November 2012 re-located to the USA to be a part of setting up a brand new manufacturing Company BGB Technology Inc. as implementation project manager.

He  lived in Richmond, Virginia before returning to his home town.

But it was on two wheels he is best known.

His late father Jack Raynor used to race motorcycles way back in the 1960s riding Triumphs and Nortons at Cadwell Park and Syston Park.

It was a natural progression to follow in his tyre tracks and he started racing in 1980 aged 18.

He raced for 10 years and retired at a time Jack was still competing in the Classic MGP.

His biggest trophy was when he won the 1987 Senior Manx Grand Prix

At his fourth attempt in 1986 he finished the race on a 500cc single cylinder Honda in 48th place at an average speed of 92 mph.

That year Tony & Jane Gilbert from KPS Racing Grantham paid their first visit to the Isle of Man – They were that taken back from the Island and its Racing Magic, and promised to buy him a brand new bike for the following year which would be competitive – The rest is history, a lifetime ambition from a young boy to win The Isle Of Man MGP a few days after his 26th birthday.

Having won the Senior MGP in 1987 it was a gentlemen’s agreement you could not return to race at the Manx again (other than a Classic race).

He went on to compete in the TT in 1988,1989 and 1990.

His results were: 1988 TT -Production A – 27^th; Senior TT – 31^st; 1989 TT Supersport 600 -14^th;  Senior TT-  15^th; 1990 Supersport 600 – 13^th;Senior TT – DNF.

He retired from racing at the end of 1990.