Jim Curry Passes
It is with sadness that Southern 100 Racing have learnt of the passing of
Jim Curry, a past competitor between 1963 and 1968 and twice a winner on the 4.25-mile Billown Course.
Jim made his debut in 1963 in the 250cc race, finishing second, on his Bill Webster Aermacchi, just0.6 of a second behind winner Terry Grotefeld on another of the Italian single cylinder machines.
Returning in 1964 with a double entry, with mixed fortunes, a DNF in the 350cc race on an Bultaco, followed by a fourth place in the 125cc race on a Honda at 70.29mph. Bill Smith was the race winner.
1965 and another double entry in the Lightweight (250cc) and Ultra Lightweight (125cc) race. Once again opening his account with an unwanted DNF on the 250 Parvel machine.
However, on the little Honda, Jim scored his first race win over six laps, taking 20m 45.00s at a new race record speed of 73.73mph. He had a 4.6 second advantage over runner up, Terry Grotefeld.
Jim Curry returned to the Southern 100 in 1968 and competed in four races, including the first Southern 100 Solo Championship race. He opened account in the Lightweight 250cc race with a fine fourth place behind winner and ‘old’ rival Terry Grotefeld, Stan Woods, and Derek Chatterton.
He then took his second victory at the Southern 100 in the Junior race on the 350cc Aermacchi, ahead of Brian Steenson, Stan Woods, Martin Carney, Neil Kelly and Keith Heckles. Jim’s time for the 12 lap (51 mile) race was 36m 57.400s an average of 82.800mph.., with the fastest lap of 84.900mph.
On the same single cylinder ‘macchi he finished 11th in the 500cc race and brought the curtain down of his Southern career with a 10th place in the first ever Southern 100 Solo Championship race, again on the Aermacchi. Steve Jolly took the winners laurels.
Jim Curry went on to become a British Road Race Champion and competing in the World Championship Grands Prix as part of the ‘Continental Circus’ for a good many years.
Jim never forgot the Southern 100 and was a regular visitor every July up to and including 2019. A larger-than-life character, rarely without a smile, his presence and his stories will be very much missed at Billown and no doubt at many other road race paddocks in the UK and much further afield.
Thanks for all your friendship and support given to the Southern 100 Club and Races over the past sixty years. Rest In Peace now Jim.
(Photo: Courtesy of Southern 100 Archives, shows Jim Curry duringh the 1963 250cc Race where he finshed second on his Bill Webster Aernacchi, on his debut race.)
