Kim Newcombe

2nd January 1944 – 14thAugust 1973  

 

Without this talented individual, the Konig engine may never have been in the spotlight. A precision engineer and an exceptional irreplaceable racer.

Tim Hanna

Taken from ‘The Kiwi on the Konig’ by Tim Hanna

‘In 1969 Kim, a talented scrambles rider, travelled to Berlin where he teamed up with Dieter Konig, a daredevil German hydroplane racer whose family company manufactured outboard motors. The Konig producer line-up included a lightweight but powerful four-cylinder, water-cooled, two-stroke engine that became the heart of the bike Kim designed, built, developed and raced.

He launched his one-man assault on the championship against established stars like Giacomo Agostini and Phil Read, and the might of the MV Agusta, learning to race on the road and learning the tracks as he went. Incredibly, he achieved second place in just his first full season of Grand Prix racing, on circuits that were bt then extremely dangerous.

A large part of the drama and tragedy of racing at the time was caused by the appalling indifference of promoters and organisers to riders safety. Nevertheless, the fraternity of riders, known collectively ans the Continental Circus, carried on. For most, it was a struggle just to find the money to put fuel in their vans and food in their bellies, and many fell by the wayside. However, Kim and his wife Janeen, married since they were teenagers, found the grit to make their mark and make history.

Kim’s achievements were singular and remarkable, truly worth celebrating. This book takes he reader on an intimate voyage through the times and places Kim lived and raced, offering a unique insight into the world of Grand Prix racing in the early seventies and the men and women who travelled with the Continental Circus. It is a time remembered by many, in spite of the dangers, as the golden age.’

This is a superb book on Kim’s life, from his early years learning to ride a scrambles bike in a unique way, through his introduction to Dieter Konig and onto his career in Grand Prix racing. It is a great read (one that I can vouch for) that will help you understand the brilliance of this man.