Derek Minter

The early days Minter was born in the small village of Ickham and attended Littlebourne Primary School, followed by Sturry Central secondary school in Sturry village. He learned to grow fruit and vegetables on the school allotments, and also worked on a local fruit farm during his school holidays.

Minter raced the Gold Star in 1955, initially entering non-expert races then progressing to expert races where the competition rode Manx Nortons and Matchless G45s. His performances in 1956 impressed Ron Harris, MV Agusta importer and proprietor of Wincheap Garages, who employed Minter as a car mechanic, and created a team providing Minter with 350 cc and 500 cc Manx Nortons. This led to other rides with Bianchi, Moto Morini and MZ. Over the years, he realised that riding in local events as a 'guest' rider for several teams earned him more money than being tied to a factory team.

In May 1963, whilst riding a 500 cc Manx Norton at Brands Hatch, Kent, Minter was involved in a battle for the lead with Dunstall Norton rider Dave Downer on a 650 cc Norton Dominator twin. During a last lap accident, Minter suffered serious injuries and Downer died. At the Dutch TT at Assen they took first (Hartle) and second (Read), with Hailwood's MV retiring.

Minter soon recovered from his injuries, riding at Oulton Park then reclaiming his team place for the Dundrod Ulster GP in August, In the East German GP Minter was second to Hailwood. The Scuderia Duke team was disbanded at the end of 1963

Minter retired as a professional road-racer in 1967. After retirement from racing, he was involved in road transport industry, operating as an owner/driver of an articulated unit, often delivering unaccompanied trailers from the Europe routed through the Dover ferry terminal, near his home in Kent, to destinations throughout the UK.

In the 1990s, Minter returned to the tracks to ride Summerfield Manx machines in leisure classic events until an accident at Darley Moor in 2000 finally ended his sport-riding career. He died in 2015.

Legacy Minter was one of the first riders to wear coloured racing leathers, using a green suit during the 1966 season, and he regularly featured in Lewis Leathers advertising during the 1960s.

At Brands Hatch racing circuit, the Portobello Straight was renamed Derek Minter Straight. So successful and popular was Minter at Brands Hatch that commentator Murray Walker referred to him as "The King of Brands", an unofficial title which later became the name of an actual competitive meeting at the circuit.