Dickie Dale

Richard H. Dale, known as Dickie Dale, was a Grand Prix [motorcycle racing|Grand Prix] motorcycle road racer born in Wyberton near Boston, Lincolnshire, England. In 1945, he was drafted into the RAF and served as a flight mechanic, and bought his first motorcycle, a 1939 AJS Silver Streak, while stationed at RAF Cranwell.
He competed in the inaugural 1949 [Grand Prix motorcycle racing season]. Dale was a victor in the 1951 North West 200. His best seasons were 1955 [Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1955] and Grand Prix [motorcycle racing">Grand Prix motorcycle racing">Grand Prix [motorcycle racing season|1956] when he finished in second place in the 350cc world championship, both times behind his Moto Guzzi teammate Bill Lomas. He was also a two-time winner of the prestigious pre-season Mettet Grand Prix invitational race.
Dale also competed in the 500cc class aboard Moto Guzzi's famous V8 Grand Prix bike. He died on the way to hospital in a helicopter, after crashing during the 1961 Eifelrennen race at the Nürburgring in West Germany.