Don Chapman

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Mount: Junior – Norton
Senior – Norton

Age 30, Don Chapman is a traveller for a wholesale confectionery firm, and comes from Reading.

Until three years ago, when he acquired a 7R A.J.S., he has always been associated with Duggies, and first came into prominence in 1950 when he rode a 1949 sports Douglas into first place in a Silverstone “Clubman’s” race. For the following season he bought a “Plus 90” of the same make, and it was with this same machine that he raced during the next four years, scoring two “firsts” at Castle Combe, a “second” on Silverstone Trophy Day, 1952, and finishing 23rd in the 1954 Isle of Man Clubman’s Junior Trophy Race.

With his new A.J.S. Don crossed to Ireland to ride in the Carrowdore “100” in 1954, but was unlucky enough to run out of fuel when holding second place on the last lap; he finished the race by pushing for the last mile and a half.

He had a fifth place at Snetterton in 1955, while he collected a silver replica for 22nd place in the Junior T.T.

From his participation in last year’s races in the Island, Don was able to return home with a Silver Replica and a Bronze Replica. He had a much better ride in the Senior T.T. than in the Junior for at 90.71 m.p.h. he finished 10th. In the Junior on an “Ajay” he was 36th.
(TT Special, 5 June 1957, pp.6-7.)

Junior A.J.S.
Senior: Norton

Age 29, Don Chapman is a traveller for a wholesale confectionery firm and comes from Reading.

Until two years ago when he acquired a TR A.J.S. , he has always been associated with Duggies and first came into prominence in 1950 when he rode a 1949 Sports Douglas into first place in a Silverstone “Clubman’s” race. For the following season he bought a “Plus 90”of the same make and it was with this same machine that he raced during the next four years, scoring two “bests” at Castle Combe. A second on Silverstone Trophy Day, 1952 and finishing 23rd in the 1954 Isle of Man Clubman’s Junior Trophy race.

With his new A.J.S. Don crossed to Ireland to ride in the Carrowdore “100” in 1954 but was unlucky enough to run out of fuel when holding second place on the last lap. He finished the race by pushing for the last mile and a half.

He had a fifth place at Snetterton last year, while he collected a silver replica for 22nd place in the Junior T.T.

He has ridden in three scrambles but says that they are “hard work” and also a couple of trials. As to hobbies Don said he used to be interested in music and photography – but motorcycles now take up all his time. He is entered for this year’s races by L.J. French, himself a T.T. rider.
(TT Special, 4 June 1956, p.12.)

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