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Thirty years ago today Newry's very own motorcycle legend Norman Brown lost his life in a racing accident at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
One of the most promising motorcyclists of his time, Norman in his 1982 Isle of Man TT debut took the Senior Race on his trusty Suzuki and second place in the 250cc Junior race. In the 1983 TT Norman made a new absolute lap record of 116.19mph in the Senior Classic race and took third place in the 250 Junior race.
Less than two months later he was dead. With light rain on the track at the Silverstone Grand Prix on the 31st of July 1983 Norman had his hand up and had slowed down to enter the pits or just get on the inside of the track when he was hit by Swiss Rider Peter Huber whose view was obscured by other riders. Both men lost their lives.
Norman also competed in the local road racing scene in the early 80's including the Ulster Grand Prix and Tandragee 100, completing a treble at the Skerries 100 in '82.
Eleven times TT winner Steve Hislop reckoned Brown was "One of the best (riders) I ever saw" and believed that if he hand't died Norman would have "blown Joey Dunlop and the rest into the weeds"
Norman's father Norman senior ran the Star Bar in Kildare Street and Norman often would have been seen behind the bar lending a helping hand.
His funeral from Damolly to the Presbyterian Cemetery on the Armagh Road in Newry was one of the largest Newry had ever witnessed and the sheer number of floral tributes showed the high esteem he was held in by not only his Newry neighbours but the motorcycling fraternity worldwide.
See more photographs from the funeral Here
