We are saddened to report the passing of John Raymond ‘Ray’ Sayer at the ripe old age of 90 who went to sleep surrounded by his wife Carol and family members. The son of a farmer John Raymond ‘Ray’ Sayer was born in November 1935 and was to make a name for himself on the national trials scene in a riding career that spanned three decades which started in the early fifties. The eldest of three children Ray Sayer effectively put the Richmond area on the trials map by his name regularly featuring in the motorcycle press which followed his entire career in the sport of trials. Ray who was a national trials winner and ISDT team rider rode factory Triumph supplied motorcycles for most of his riding career which spanned almost three decades. He would also compete on the Gaunt Suzuki, AJS, Dalesman and Ossa machinery in his long and rewarding trials career.
The full article on Ray Sayer can be found in print in Classic Trial Magazine issue number 34: www.trialmaguk.com
1964 – Allan Jefferies Trial: In 1960 Ray Sayer won the trial outright, beating the legendary Sammy Miller (Ariel) by 13 marks.
1967 – SSDT: On his way to ninth position and the best Triumph rider, under the watchful eye of fellow team rider Roy Peplow.
1968 – SSDT: For this event, the British Suzuki concessionaires had entered Ray with his close friend Blackie Holden along with Peter Gaunt as a manufacturer’s team on the 128cc machines.
Thank you to Brian Holder, Harold Wilson and the Yoomee Archive for the use of the pictures.
