George Costain

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Mounts: Junior – Norton
Senior – Norton

Age 28, George Costain will be remembered as the winner of the 1954 Senior Manx Grand Prix – the second half of a Manx “double”, for his club-mate Ennett had already won the Junior race. A butcher from Castletown, Isle of Man, George first took part in local trials and speed events. He then tried his hand at road racing by entering for the 1953 Manx races; riding a Norton, he was 12th, at 80.66 m.p.h. in the Junior M.G.P., which was quite a promising start to a career!

In the 1954 Junior Manx, George held a steady tenth place right through the race and since he carried an early number (8) he was, in fact, first man to finish the event. Then came the dramatic Senior event; fifth on the opening lap, Costain worked his way up the Leader Board – fourth, then third – and when the last lap began he was second place, nearly five minutes behind the leader, John Hartle. Then Hartle ran out of petrol and a most surprised Manxman found himself receiving the winner’s laurels.

In the 1955 T.T., his first “International” meeting, he won two Silver Replicas, being 26th and 21st in the Junior and Senior races respectively.

George showed substantial improvement the following season – especially in the Senior event where he finished 13th at 89.37 m.p.h. His final placing in the Junior was 24th at a speed fractionally higher than 80 m.p.h.
(TT Special, 5 June 1957, p.7.)

Age 29, George Costain will be remembered as the winner of the second half of the Manx 'double', 1954 Senior Manx Grand Prix - for his club mate Ennett had already won the Junior race. A butcher from Castletown, Isle of Man, George first took part in local trials and speed events. He then tried his hand at road racing by entering for the 1953 Manx races; riding a Norton, he was 12th, at 80.66 mph in the Junior MGP, which was quite a promising start to a career!

In the 1954 Junior Manx, George held a steady tenth place right through the race and since he carried an early number (8) he was, in fact, first man to finish the event. Then came the dramatic Senior event; fifth on the opening lap, Costain worked his way up the Leader Board - fourth, then third - and when the last lap began he was in second place, nearly five minutes behind the leader, John Hartle. Then Hartle ran out of petrol and a most surpised Manx man found himself receiving the winner's laurels.

In the 1955 TT his first 'International' meeting, he won two Silver Replicas, being 26th and 21st in the Junior and Senior races respectively. George showed substantial improvement in the following season - especially in the Senior event where he finished 13th at 89.37 mph. His final placing in the Junior was 24th at a speed fractionally higher than 80 mph. Last year he won 'Silvers' in both Junior and Senior races, finishing 16th in the Junior and 17th in the Senior. He is entered for this year's races by Reg Dearden.
(TT Special, 4 June, 1958 p.6.)

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Nationality: Manx

Name Variant: George *Costain

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