127.63mph.... In the fast paced world of motorcycle racing, a relatively unremarkable statistic. But when used in the context of an average lap speed, achieved over 30 years ago on a closed public roads circuit, then we are truly looking at something quite remarkable. It was speed racing at its finest and propelled the North-West 200 circuit to the status of being the fastest in the British Isles, a record only bettered some 24 years later when Ian Lougher lapped the Dundrod circuit at 127.820mph.
Tom Herron arrived at the 1978 North-West 200 after a four year absence, fresh his latest Grand Prix travels where he had got his season on track with top six finishes at the French Grand Prix at Nogaro and the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello respectively. He was the big attraction at the meeting and got his day off to a great start when he won the six lap 750cc race. Mick Grant was the early leader but 'dropped' it at Metropole Corner, with oil on the rear tyre cited as the cause.
Ron Haslam then took over the lead, but his Yamaha seized, again at the
Metropole, on the second lap and Tom moved into first place. He was riding
well, and within his limits, but still increased his lead every lap over
Rutter and Charlie Williams. He also upped the lap record with a
speed of 124.14 mph (198.62 km/h). At the finish it was Herron, Rutter and Williams. Tom then came to the line for the 500cc race, but
he was forced to retire with mechanical trouble whilst in with a great chance of winning. The 250cc race gave Tom his second win of the day as he took 6.4 seconds
off Derek Chatterton's 1975 lap record, with a speed of 113.81 mph (182.10
km/h). 
Then came the second 750cc race, and with it, Tom's name in the history books. The organisers had decided to reduce the race distance to five laps after the tyre problems in the first race. Tom took the lead
at the start, with Mick Grant and Tony Rutter in close proximity. By the
end of the lap he had a two second lead over them and he further
extended it on the next lap. He also broke the lap record on the second
lap with a speed of 126.65 mph (202.64 km/h). Then on the third lap Tom took a full 8.2 seconds off the old lap record as he recorded an astonishing lap of 127.63 mph.
However, on the fourth lap Rutter
closed up on Tom and pointed to his tyres. Tom eased up and Rutter
took the lead. Grant meanwhile had stopped to check his tyres and couldn't get going again. Rutter was also experiencing tyre problems
but held on for the win. Tom had continued at a slower
pace and came home in sixth place. The 1978 North-West 200 saw an alarming wear on the rear tyres of some competitor's superbikes, especially those of Tom and Tony Rutter. The problem was investigated by the tyre company involved and diagnosed as 'the travel on the rear suspension allowing the tyre to lift off the ground at over 185mph and when it made contact with the road again, chunks of rubber were being brought off with the snatching action.'
Could Tom have lapped the circuit at 130mph that day in 1978, well that's a question that can never fully be answered, but he certainly could have. Two things conspired to possibly prevent him from doing so.
Firstly the deterioration of his rear tyre due to the speed he was lapping at, and secondly, the introduction two years previously of Ballysally Roundabout on the high speed run between Shell Hill Bridge and Metropole Corner.
As the spectators gathered round his blistered rear tyre, Tom would only comment by saying:
"It's a good job they don't make contraceptives!"
Tom at his brilliant best, on and off the track.
Stephen McKeown