The Official Site

Cecil Sandford

Cecil was born at Blockley near Moreton-in-Marsh in 1928. He began his motorcycling career by riding a 250cc Triumph in grass tracks in the mid 1940s.

 

In 1948 he was sponsored by Mr. Arthur Taylor of Shipston-on-Stour in road racing to ride a 250cc MOV Velocette. He was in the Velocette racing team in 1951.

 

As a successful rider he was asked to ride a 125cc MV in the Isle of Man TT in 1952, going on to become World Champion that year.

 

Following numerous successes on private Moto Guzzis and Taylor’s KTT Velocette, he rode for Mondial in 1957 and won the 250cc World Championship. This made him the first British rider to win a 125cc and 250cc World Championship.

 

He also rode a 350cc AJS in trials during his career.

 

Cecil married Mr. Taylor’s daughter Pat in 1957 and officially retired from Motorcycle racing in 1958 to join A. R. Taylor Garages Ltd., handling the vehicle sales.

 

In 1963, with a friend, Cecil drove one of the first ever produced 3/25 model Reliant 3-wheeled saloon cars, registration number 342ENX, in the Monte Carlo Rally, not as a competitor, of course, but to prove the reliability and road worthiness of the Reliant. This was achieved and a special plaque was presented to mark their performance.