Brian Setchell

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Age 31, Brian Setchell is in the timber trade, and comes from Luton, Beds. Before the 1955 T.T. this (his first) he said, "I have to choose between George Brown's advice - that a bronze can be won on a push-bike - and the advice of others that I can't expect to get anywhere for the first three years!"

Well, he did win a bronze for his 48th place in the Junior race—but on an A.J.S., not a push-bike. On a 1952 version of the same machine he had quite a respectable season in 1954. He competed at Silverstone, Crystal Palace, Brand's Hatch, OuIton Park, Thruxton, and Castle Combe, his best placings being second in the non-experts race at Castle Combe (and tenth in the experts class) and fourth in the non-experts at Thruxton. He was a last lap retirement in the 1956 Senior T.T. on his A.J.S., and he was similarly unfortunate in the Junior event. In 1957. however. he finished 25th in the Junior at 84.93 m.p.h. and collected a Silver Replica, whilst in 1958 he won two Silvers, for 22nd in the Junior and 26th in the Senior. In 1959 he won two Silvers again, for 19th in the Junior and 11th in the Senior. Last year he collected anothei Silver for ninth place in Junior, at 91.10 m.p.h., but had to retire on the second lap of the Senior. (TT Special, 16 June 1961, p. 16.)

Mounts: Junior – A.J.S.
Senior – A.J.S.*

Age 26, Brian Setchell is in the timber trade, and comes from Luton, Beds. Before last year’s T.T. (his first) he said, “I have to choose between George Brown’s advice – that a bronze can be won on a push-bike – and the advice of others that I can’t expect to get anywhere for the first three years!”

Well, he did win a bronze for his 48th place in the Junior race – but on an A.J.S., not a push-bike. On a 1952 version of the same machine he had quite a respectable season in 1954. He competed at Silverstone, Crystal Palace, Brand’s Hatch, Oulton Park, Thruxton, and Castle Combe, his best placings being second in the non-experts race at Castle Combe (and tenth in the experts class) and fourth in the non-experts at Thruxton. He is his own entrant.
(TT Special, 8 June 1956, pp.9,11.)

Junior - A.J.S.
Age 25, Brian Setchell is in the timber trade, and comes from Luton, Beds. This is his first Island ride, and he says “I have to choose between George Brown’s advice - that a bronze can be won on a push-bike and the advise of others that I can’t expect to get anywhere for the first three years!”

However he has - or hopes to have! - a brand-new A.J.S. for the Junior race; on a 1952 version of the same machine he had quite a respectable season last year. He competed at Silverstone, Crystal Palace, Brand’s Hatch, Oulton Park, Thruxton and Castle Combe, his best placings being second in the non-expects race at Castle Combe (and tenth in the experts class) and fourth in the non-experts at Thruxton. He is his own entrant.
(TT Special, 10 June 1955, p.20.)

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