Arthur Wheeler

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Age 44, Epsom motor-cycle agent Arthur Wheeler is best known for his successes in the 250 c.c. field, on a Guzzi with home-built streamlining closely resembling the 1953 factory models.

He made his debut on the T.T. course in 1948, finishing seventh in the Junior Clubman's race and following up with ninth place in the Junior Manx and fifth in the Senior Manx of that same year.

He rode in the International T.T. for the first time in 1949, finishing 20th in the Junior race after successes at Ansty, Blandford, etc; the following year he was 12th in the Junior T.T. and second in the 350 c.c. North-West 200, these results being gained with a Velocette.

In 1951, on a Guzzi, he was fifth in the Lightweight T.T.—and began a run of "wins" in the Leinster and North-West "200's" that lasted tarough '52, '53, and '54.

Arthur was ninth in the 1952 Lightweight T.T., fourth in the 1953 event and seventh in 1956. He also collected tenth place in the 1954 Junior T.T., on an A.J.S., and was 28th, with the same machine in the Senior race.

He had a most successful 1954 season on the classic circuits, ending with a brilliant win in the Grand Prix des Nations at Monza.

In 1955 Arthur rode in most of the World Championship meetings, and on many of the British circuits, successes including the 250 c.c. Championship at the Hutchinson 100 meeting.

In the T.T. Races he was 12th on an A.J.S. in the Junior, fourth on his Guzzi in the Lightweight, and 17th on a Matchless in the Senior, so earning a trio of silver replicas.

He finished sixth in the 1956 250 c.c. T.T. and 18th in the Junior —two more Silver Replicas—but retired in the 125 c.c. race. In 1957, he rode in all four solo T.T. races and finished in three of them—Junior, 19th (Silver Replica)' Lightweight, 8th (Silver) and Senior, 23rd and first "350" to finish (Bronze).

In 1958 he retired in the Junior and Lightweight, but finished 9th in the "125" and 35th in the Senior, with a couple of "Bronzes," his Senior placing was particularly noteworthy, for he was riding his 350 A.J.S. and was the first 350 home. In 1959 he was 21st in the Junior (Silver) and seventh in the Lightweight (Bronze) and two months after the T.T. he won the 125 c.c. race at Thruxton on his Ducati and the 250 race on his Guzzi.

Arthur had a crash before last year's T.T. which put him out of voting for the whole season. He's at it again now, and last month was third on his Guzzi, in the 250 c.c. class of the North-West "200". He was third again in both 125 and 250 c.c. races at Thruxton on Whit Monday.

He is entered for all four races by his own firm, Arthur Wheeler Ltd., of Epsom. (TT Special, 16 June 1961, p19)

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