Derek “Crazy Horse” Jones and Brian Ayres back on a roll again
They never won a world title, but Derek Jones and Brian Ayres were amongst the most popular and successful sidecar duos in the Eighties.
At this year’s Bikers Classics in Spa Francorchamps the two will be reunited. Jones and Ayres not only thanked their claim to fame to their regular podium finishes, their typical British humour turned them into people’s favourites. Driver Jones once told a journalist that all the stickers on his van were not really signs of a well sponsored outfit; the stickers mainly served to keep the van from falling into pieces!
Jones was a spectacular driver, but he mainly got his nickname “Crazy Horse” thanks to his remarkable set of teeth. Thanks to his full beard and spectacles Ayres was not one to forget lightly either. Jones and Ayres won the British sidecar title in 1978 and subsequently tried their luck in Grands Prix. Two years later they won their home race in Silverstone in front of a supportive crowd. Although the duo achieved rostrum finishes after that, they never won a race again. Their last top 3 was at Spa Francorchamps, when they followed sidecar legends Rolf Biland and Steve Webster. So what better venue than the Belgian track for Jones and Ayres to rejoin forces from June 11th to 13th! After his Grand Prix career never lost touch with the racing scene. Even at 66 he is still a regular competitor at sand track races in Great Britain.
