Peter Williams - Designed to Race 

I was so sad to wake up to the sad news of Peter's passing on Monday. He was always so lovely when I met him and would listen with great patiently while I told him how our little engineering business was developing. I was always very in awe of someone who achieved what Peter had as a motorcycle racer, engineer and all round good guy. He gave me his number and told me to call if he could ever help with advice, what a genuinely lovely man.

Peter Williams an John Britten are two of my all time engineering hero's. Absolute legendary in motorcycling with designs so far ahead of their times.

My deepest sympathy for your loss. Peter Williams were a true gentleman and a hero.

Just Simply Peter Williams .My and many other peoples Hero .

Great engineer, incredible rider, lovely guy. One of our best and greatly missed.

This short documentary brought very many wonderful memories of watching Peter Williams race in the late sixties/early seventies. Followed him until his enforced retirement after the horrific crash in 1974 at Oulton Park. Amazing designer and very talented racer.

RIP Peter a true racer and engineer who did wonders with an obsolete engine.

A true gentleman, superb racer and great engineer 👍

Excellent 👍. Thank you

A brilliant engineer/designer and superb racer, performed miracles on the Norton and Arter matchless, i have no doubt that had he gone Japanese he would have been a many times world champion, i was fascinated with the way he developed the John Player Nortons and kept every cutting from the motorcycle press of his race outings and articles of the ongoing development of the bikes, i met Peter on a few occasions, the last time we met i gave him all of my collection of cuttings as he had not kept any. Thoroughly nice man, deserved a lot more recognition than he got.

I was lucky enough to be able to spectate at the TT from 1969 to 1975.. Saw Peter race there in 1969 ( I think) and a mixture of his ability and the Norton history stuck in my mind and a few years later I bought a 750cc Norton Commando Roadster.. and got my new helmet painted in the iconic blue/white W pattern :) Thank you Peter Williams...

Such a privilege Peter Williams, Brilliant Engineer, and motorcycle Genius, first disc brakes first tubeless tyres on a race bike, on a Matchless 500

I will never forget seeing Peter Williams back in the day and being always impressed by His Magnificent and against all the odds Achievements . Peter was always a Man on a mission , a man eager to do it His way , a Brilliant Engineer and innovator, Always the Gentleman . History now to Remember Forever

so understated his achievements, in the late 1960s his development of the Arter and the twin, which beat the triple, Thank You Peter Williams

RIP peter williams racer and engineer

A brilliant man and a blessing to the sport and science of motorbike racing.

Have many memories of Peter Williams racing, the incredible great results he achieved on a bike using a engine that was basically designed back in the late 1940s was down to Peters skills as a rider and his and the teams engineering skills. Do remember the F750 race Peter mentions at Silverstone where Paul Smart on the Suzuki triple and Peter on the monocoque Norton fought for the win, and that Suzuki surely must of had 30 or more BHP. Then I remember a wet Hutchinson 100 Brands short circuit race were Peter on the 500 Arter Matchless passed Agostini on the MV and went on to win! Thanks for the great memories !

So sorry for your loss Jack. In Peter we have lost one of the most innovative and forward thinking of any motorcycling engineers Ever. How can you describe a development engineer that rides and wins a TT on his ideas. Peters contribution to motorcycling magazines and press will also be hugely missed.

Super talented man. Missed for sure

So sad PJ has gone.Not only a fantastic rider but designer and engineer too.Making a Norton go incredibly fast when it was getting on a bit.....

God Bless you Peter Williams, you were my hero back in the day

Peter Williams, what a talented bike racer and engineer.

A great pleasure to see this Jack. I admired your Dad for his combined engineering and riding skills that enabled him to develop such superior machines. I rode a 750 commando in the 70's and followed the Norton team avidly.

WHAT A MAN

I’ve been fascinated by his life and achievements since I read about him in CBG a few months ago. What a guy!

Peter was an inspiration to me, he brought intelligence and style to racing and I enjoyed watching him race more than any other rider since.

brilliant racer & brilliant engineer. RIP pete.

Fantastic video, what a legend, RIP Peter

I had the opportunity to attend the talk given by Peter and Jim Reynolds last night. Peter certainly lived up to his reputation as the intelligent voice of motorcycling and I'd like to thank both Peter and Jim for a fascinating evening. I was too shy to ask my question during the Q&A session but had the chance to pose it to Peter after the talk. He took great care to answer me with his carefully considered and massively well informed demeanour. A truly lovely man who I could spend hours chatting to and hope to meet again in the not too distant future.

Grande pilota! Sto realizzando il modello della sua Norton Commando PR, con cui arrivò secondo al 750 Production TT nel 1970. RIP

A great rider and a very nice man I had the pleasure to speak with on a few occasions, over forty years ago! He also let me sit on the Tom Arter Matchless at the Motorcycle Show one year. 1972-ish? I wish I could have ridden it.

Jack, these are great videos of Peter. Met him the last time at the Shepton Mallet bike show marketing his book. keep the videos coming.

I met your Dad in Ramsey 2 years ago at the IOM classic TT. He was kind enough to autograph one of his books for me. I'd love to have a dvd about the race the year he won on the monocoque Norton but can't seem to find one. I rode Commando's growing up and your Da was my hereo

Mr Williams you are one of the greats

I so enjoyed watching this. I remember watching Peter at many races including Dundrod and some of the short circuits in the UK. I think I remember him winning the 350 race at Dundrod on an MZ (my favourite bike at the time) but it was so long ago I may have that wrong. The last time I had any contact was when I think Peter ran a Kawasaki dealership - again it was a long time ago and I may have that wrong too. One way or another I thought he was brilliant and I've just bought his new book which he signed. Wonderful man..

A brilliant racer and engineer who created iconic motorcycles with very little budget and engineering staff assistance from Norton. He introduced cast wheels to motorcycling and the JP Monocoque racer was soo far ahead of it's time.

The illustrious son of an incredible father. With regards to the monocoque Norton I had connections with the incredibly intelligent owner of one who refilled it with petrol while smoking,you can imagine the results. Granville Motorcycles of Swadlingcote had great knowledge of the works machines and told me that in changing the standard alloy pushrods for steel there was a 2HP gain and a similar amount by having cast iron camshafts with their inherant stiffness. Wonderful days that we'll never see again. Thanks for the memories.

I was at the TT in 68, 69, 70, and Peter Williams had the fastest approach and braking of anyone at Sulby Bridge.

Great film, thanks! Very much looking forward to meeting Peter this weekend at Ardingly.

Beautiful bikes

Many thanks for this wee production, Jack. Your 'old man' was an immensely talented rider; and - indeed - still is an immensely talented & influential engineer. I've just finished reading 'Designed to Race' and can't recommend it highly enough. Regards & thanks to yourself &, of course, your remarkable Dad.

Had not heard, RIP.

❤❤

Great to see this! But what year was it that Peter led the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on the monocoque and then ran out of petrol?! And were the conditions wet or dry?!

Remember when the Norton fell apart with you on it.

Is it possible to find out what steering geometry and wheelbase was used on the monocoque Norton ?

Ist das der Peter willjams der 1971 auf mz einen GP gewonnen hat?