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Fergus Anderson
Fergus Kenrick Anderson (9 February 1909 – 6 May 1956) was a British professional motorcycle racer who competed in world championship road racing competitions from 1932 to 1956. He was one of the first British competitors to make his living racing motorcycles on the European continent, most prominently as a member of the Moto Guzzi factory racing team where he was a two-time Grand Prix World Champion.
Anderson was born in Croydon, Surrey on 9 February 1909, the son of a Scottish naval architect. He was educated at Berkhamsted School, and as a young boy often attended motor races at the Brooklands Circuit. He purchased his first motorcycle in 1923, a Douglas, before he joined the Royal Navy in 1926.
Anderson competed in his first motorcycle race in 1927 at the age of 18, riding a Levis motorcycle borrowed from his sister without her knowledge. He then purchased a 500cc Cotton-Blackburne motorcycle which he used for Motorcycle speedway racing. Anderson was awarded a Brooklands Gold Star badge for having lapped the Brooklands circuit at over 100 mph (160 km/h) on a Grindlay Peerless motorcycle powered by a J.A.P. engine.
Fluent in four languages, he enjoyed foreign travel and spent the 1930s competing in road racing events on the European continent riding a variety of motorcycles including; Rudge, Velocette, Excelsior, Norton and DKW. As well as being an accomplished golfer and sailor, he also worked for a short period as a writer for The Motor Cycle magazine.
Anderson entered his first major international motorcycle competition at the 1932 Spanish Grand Prix. In 1937 Anderson entered his first Isle of Man TT race, competing in both the Junior and Senior TT races aboard DKW motorcycles. He retired from the Junior race and placed 28th in the Senior TT.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, Anderson rejoined the Royal Navy where he served with the Small Vessels Pool, helping to ferry vessels from port to port along the British coastline. His name appears on the Nazis' "most wanted" list drawn up prior to their intended invasion of Britain (published online as "Hitler's Black Book" by Forces War Records).
After the war, Anderson eagerly returned to motorcycle racing, winning 73 races in 1947. The 1947 350 cc Swiss Grand Prix was designated to be a one-race 350 cc European road racing championship. Anderson claimed the title by winning the race riding his privately funded Velocette KTT Mk VIII.
In 1949, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) organized motorcycle road racing into a World Championship series. Anderson finished in third place behind Bruno Ruffo (Moto Guzzi) and Dario Ambrosini (Benelli) at the 1949 250 cc Swiss Grand Prix, and finished the season ranked eighth in the inaugural 250 cc World Championship.
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Fergus Anderson
Fergus Kenrick Anderson (9 February 1909 – 6 May 1956) was a British professional motorcycle racer who competed in world championship road racing competitions from 1932 to 1956. He was one of the first British competitors to make his living racing motorcycles on the European continent, most prominently as a member of the Moto Guzzi factory racing team where he was a two-time Grand Prix World Champion.
Anderson was born in Croydon, Surrey on 9 February 1909, the son of a Scottish naval architect. He was educated at Berkhamsted School, and as a young boy often attended motor races at the Brooklands Circuit. He purchased his first motorcycle in 1923, a Douglas, before he joined the Royal Navy in 1926.
Anderson competed in his first motorcycle race in 1927 at the age of 18, riding a Levis motorcycle borrowed from his sister without her knowledge. He then purchased a 500cc Cotton-Blackburne motorcycle which he used for Motorcycle speedway racing. Anderson was awarded a Brooklands Gold Star badge for having lapped the Brooklands circuit at over 100 mph (160 km/h) on a Grindlay Peerless motorcycle powered by a J.A.P. engine.
Fluent in four languages, he enjoyed foreign travel and spent the 1930s competing in road racing events on the European continent riding a variety of motorcycles including; Rudge, Velocette, Excelsior, Norton and DKW. As well as being an accomplished golfer and sailor, he also worked for a short period as a writer for The Motor Cycle magazine.
Anderson entered his first major international motorcycle competition at the 1932 Spanish Grand Prix. In 1937 Anderson entered his first Isle of Man TT race, competing in both the Junior and Senior TT races aboard DKW motorcycles. He retired from the Junior race and placed 28th in the Senior TT.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, Anderson rejoined the Royal Navy where he served with the Small Vessels Pool, helping to ferry vessels from port to port along the British coastline. His name appears on the Nazis' "most wanted" list drawn up prior to their intended invasion of Britain (published online as "Hitler's Black Book" by Forces War Records).
After the war, Anderson eagerly returned to motorcycle racing, winning 73 races in 1947. The 1947 350 cc Swiss Grand Prix was designated to be a one-race 350 cc European road racing championship. Anderson claimed the title by winning the race riding his privately funded Velocette KTT Mk VIII.
In 1949, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) organized motorcycle road racing into a World Championship series. Anderson finished in third place behind Bruno Ruffo (Moto Guzzi) and Dario Ambrosini (Benelli) at the 1949 250 cc Swiss Grand Prix, and finished the season ranked eighth in the inaugural 250 cc World Championship.