Stephen, this is my favourite website simply because Tom Herron was a very special road racer and I saw him in action a few times and boy what a lethal weapon he was on the track. One of my early memories was the day when he rode over the top of his Uncle Wilfie during a short circuit race at Maghaberry. Wilfie had slid off and Tom had no other alternative but to ride over him!!
My last memory of Tom was a few hours before the North West 200, Tom was sitting on a seat at the little harbour in Portstewart talking to Mal Carter - I wanted to take a picture of him but I had my wife and baby son in a buggy with me and did not want to keep them standing too long.
Finally Tom was sitting on his own and just as I made my move he jumped up and got into his Ford Cortina GT and roared off - that was the last I would ever see him apart from on the track during that awful 1979 race day.
Tom Herron was as hard as nails, a man from the Mourne country, a pure road racer who was about to reap all his hard work as a privateer, only to lose his life when he finally got that full factory ride for Suzuki.
His death has had a deep effect, even today, to his family, friends and race fans around the world.
Regards
Gavan Caldwell
Stephen, I found your Tom Herron tribute site a poignant mixture of sadness and celebration. I recall driving to Brands Hatch on Sunday morning 27th May 1979 listening to the radio only to hear of Tom's untimely fatal accident in Ireland on the news. I was expecting to be with Tom and the rest of the Texaco Heron Suzuki team within a few minutes. I cannot recall the event, but it was not to be..... A Wonderful Man.
Ray Battersby - Heron Suzuki GB
He was a class act. Brian - N. Ireland
Great tribute to a true great. John - N. Ireland
Wonderful photos. Very much appreciated. One of the late greats. Jason - N. Ireland
Brings back some great memories of a brilliant era in roadracing. Tom Herron and John Williams two of my all time favourites, and I feel privileged to have met them and seen them race the TT. Thanks. Chas - Isle of Man
I was there in 78 when Tom won the Senior as it was then called on the Monday. I will never forget the celebrations in the Villa Marina when Tom took the stage with the chorus of (when irish eye's are smiling). Had to sneak in as i was only 15. That was my first TT and i think i remember every second of it for an unforgettable week. I've been to the island ever since that but that year always stands out. He was and still is the man. Shuffler - N. Ireland
Fantastic. Very fitting. The days before digital. Great action shots. Herron was before my time sadly even though the family in conversations will always get to a Herron topic when bikes are ever discussed. Clearly a man in a class of his very own. My brother has snaps of Herron from 1976 or 1977 with me on his bike and Tom Herron holding me upright. I was around 5 years of age. Yellow wellington boots and biege polar neck with brown flared cords was me. All I can recall was being picked up and lifted onto the bike and me holding onto the tank with grim fear with my deep sea diver kitted out Action Man. Dont know were they were taken though. Aaran - N. Ireland
Lovely tribute of my all time hero, Stephen. They say never meet your heroes because you will only be disappointed, it wasn't the case with Tom. Noel - N. Ireland
I remember watching Tom winning the 1978 Senior TT. He was one of the best riders this tiny part of the world has ever produced. Bill - N. Ireland
What a fitting tribute for a rider I have always admired. I remember feeling particularly excited (and proud for him) when Tom was given a 500cc Suzuki and seeing him right away completely at ease (so to speak) among the greats. I always felt he belonged in that category. As you rightly say, he didn't disappoint. Not a surprise really, considering how enormously talented he was.
Regards,
Olivier Koning
France
A great tribute to a great rider who gave everything. Pykey - England
A simply brilliant tribute to a simply brilliant rider. Stephen - Ireland
Some wonderful memories. Thank-you. William - England
A magical rider from a magical era. James - N. Ireland
Enjoyed the tribute to Tom immensely, thank-you. Greg - N. Ireland
Really enjoyed looking through that, brings back some memories, Thanks. Baylon - N. Ireland
Super stuff. Mark- England
As you said, one of Britain's (and indeed the world's finest). Jack - N. Ireland
He was a great hero and not forgotten for ever. Rolf - Germany
I am very pleased if more people can see the photos of that great rider. Frits - Holland
One of the world's greatest for sure. Connie - Germany
A real superstar who never lost sight of his roots. Jack - Ireland
Thank-you Stephen. It's really only after reading through your tribute site that I have truly appreciated just how big in the sport Tom was back then.
Margaret - England
One of my heroes then and still one of my heroes. Rick - England
Tom was 'the man'. Brilliant tribute, thanks for the memories. Adam - N. Ireland
I saw Tom on that 127.63mph lap and to repeat what you have already said, an awesome display! Barbara - N.Ireland
For sure, Tom was a super rider. Stefan - Germany
I still have my old photos and your tribute has brought the memories flooding back. Rick - England
Bonjour Stephen. Tom was one of the great riders, a privateer for almost his entire career who could mix things with the factory boys. Jacques E - France
A real talent on a motorcycle. 26th May 1979, one of the sport's blackest days. Stephen - Ireland
Even today I often think of what might have been. Would Tom have won the world championship, without a doubt. Ciaran - Ireland
A fantastic rider, in many respects he was well on his way to being number one in the Suzuki team. Early 1979 results were simply superb. Richard - England
Stephen, I check on a regular basis your tribute to the GREAT TOM HERRON how fitting to a fantastic, driven and dedicated individual. I worked in W.J. Chambers in Belfast with Raymond McCullough and got to meet Tom there when he would come into visit. I remember when Tom got his first break it was riding a 350 Aermacchi for the late Ronnie Conn and the rumour was that he got that ride because Ronnie wanted to sell trucks to Tom's dad F.S.
Raymond debunked that rumour by saying" watch him go". Let me finish by saying amongst many talented ambassadors of sport from our great country Tom is deserving of every accolade bestowed on him.
Tom Marshall - Ontario Canada
Great to see a tribute to one of the all time greats Tom Herron. Was in the IOM in 76, 77, 78 so saw all his wins. Brendan - Perth Western Australia
Surfing on the web I came across your Tom Herron tribute. Great to see, the 70s were a very different time to MotoGP where a privateer like Tom made a much larger difference - Fedor
My last memory of Tom was a few hours before the North West 200, Tom was sitting on a seat at the little harbour in Portstewart talking to Mal Carter - I wanted to take a picture of him but I had my wife and baby son in a buggy with me and did not want to keep them standing too long.
Finally Tom was sitting on his own and just as I made my move he jumped up and got into his Ford Cortina GT and roared off - that was the last I would ever see him apart from on the track during that awful 1979 race day.
Tom Herron was as hard as nails, a man from the Mourne country, a pure road racer who was about to reap all his hard work as a privateer, only to lose his life when he finally got that full factory ride for Suzuki.
His death has had a deep effect, even today, to his family, friends and race fans around the world.
Regards
Gavan Caldwell
Stephen, I found your Tom Herron tribute site a poignant mixture of sadness and celebration. I recall driving to Brands Hatch on Sunday morning 27th May 1979 listening to the radio only to hear of Tom's untimely fatal accident in Ireland on the news. I was expecting to be with Tom and the rest of the Texaco Heron Suzuki team within a few minutes. I cannot recall the event, but it was not to be..... A Wonderful Man.
Ray Battersby - Heron Suzuki GB
He was a class act. Brian - N. Ireland
Great tribute to a true great. John - N. Ireland
Wonderful photos. Very much appreciated. One of the late greats. Jason - N. Ireland
Brings back some great memories of a brilliant era in roadracing. Tom Herron and John Williams two of my all time favourites, and I feel privileged to have met them and seen them race the TT. Thanks. Chas - Isle of Man
I was there in 78 when Tom won the Senior as it was then called on the Monday. I will never forget the celebrations in the Villa Marina when Tom took the stage with the chorus of (when irish eye's are smiling). Had to sneak in as i was only 15. That was my first TT and i think i remember every second of it for an unforgettable week. I've been to the island ever since that but that year always stands out. He was and still is the man. Shuffler - N. Ireland
Fantastic. Very fitting. The days before digital. Great action shots. Herron was before my time sadly even though the family in conversations will always get to a Herron topic when bikes are ever discussed. Clearly a man in a class of his very own. My brother has snaps of Herron from 1976 or 1977 with me on his bike and Tom Herron holding me upright. I was around 5 years of age. Yellow wellington boots and biege polar neck with brown flared cords was me. All I can recall was being picked up and lifted onto the bike and me holding onto the tank with grim fear with my deep sea diver kitted out Action Man. Dont know were they were taken though. Aaran - N. Ireland
Lovely tribute of my all time hero, Stephen. They say never meet your heroes because you will only be disappointed, it wasn't the case with Tom. Noel - N. Ireland
I remember watching Tom winning the 1978 Senior TT. He was one of the best riders this tiny part of the world has ever produced. Bill - N. Ireland
What a fitting tribute for a rider I have always admired. I remember feeling particularly excited (and proud for him) when Tom was given a 500cc Suzuki and seeing him right away completely at ease (so to speak) among the greats. I always felt he belonged in that category. As you rightly say, he didn't disappoint. Not a surprise really, considering how enormously talented he was.
Regards,
Olivier Koning
France
A great tribute to a great rider who gave everything. Pykey - England
A simply brilliant tribute to a simply brilliant rider. Stephen - Ireland
Some wonderful memories. Thank-you. William - England
A magical rider from a magical era. James - N. Ireland
Enjoyed the tribute to Tom immensely, thank-you. Greg - N. Ireland
Really enjoyed looking through that, brings back some memories, Thanks. Baylon - N. Ireland
Super stuff. Mark- England
As you said, one of Britain's (and indeed the world's finest). Jack - N. Ireland
He was a great hero and not forgotten for ever. Rolf - Germany
I am very pleased if more people can see the photos of that great rider. Frits - Holland
One of the world's greatest for sure. Connie - Germany
A real superstar who never lost sight of his roots. Jack - Ireland
Thank-you Stephen. It's really only after reading through your tribute site that I have truly appreciated just how big in the sport Tom was back then.
Margaret - England
One of my heroes then and still one of my heroes. Rick - England
Tom was 'the man'. Brilliant tribute, thanks for the memories. Adam - N. Ireland
I saw Tom on that 127.63mph lap and to repeat what you have already said, an awesome display! Barbara - N.Ireland
For sure, Tom was a super rider. Stefan - Germany
I still have my old photos and your tribute has brought the memories flooding back. Rick - England
Bonjour Stephen. Tom was one of the great riders, a privateer for almost his entire career who could mix things with the factory boys. Jacques E - France
A real talent on a motorcycle. 26th May 1979, one of the sport's blackest days. Stephen - Ireland
Even today I often think of what might have been. Would Tom have won the world championship, without a doubt. Ciaran - Ireland
A fantastic rider, in many respects he was well on his way to being number one in the Suzuki team. Early 1979 results were simply superb. Richard - England
Stephen, I check on a regular basis your tribute to the GREAT TOM HERRON how fitting to a fantastic, driven and dedicated individual. I worked in W.J. Chambers in Belfast with Raymond McCullough and got to meet Tom there when he would come into visit. I remember when Tom got his first break it was riding a 350 Aermacchi for the late Ronnie Conn and the rumour was that he got that ride because Ronnie wanted to sell trucks to Tom's dad F.S.
Raymond debunked that rumour by saying" watch him go". Let me finish by saying amongst many talented ambassadors of sport from our great country Tom is deserving of every accolade bestowed on him.
Tom Marshall - Ontario Canada
Great to see a tribute to one of the all time greats Tom Herron. Was in the IOM in 76, 77, 78 so saw all his wins. Brendan - Perth Western Australia
Surfing on the web I came across your Tom Herron tribute. Great to see, the 70s were a very different time to MotoGP where a privateer like Tom made a much larger difference - Fedor