Tuesday 8 November 2011

JACK GOW AD / BIKE AD - 1970'S


Here's an ad for Jack Gow's shop in Glenagnes Road dated 1979.
Jack was not only a dealer in bikes - he was a racer too, and in fact, it was a crash during a practice session for the Manx Grand Prix in 1996 that ended his life.
On a similar subject, below is a Public Information film that was also on the go in the 70's instructing motorists to pay more attention to bikers at junctions.
Remember - HINK BIKE!!



14 comments:

  1. Jack Gows, better service than Andy Harts

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    1. Andy harts come back next week.......

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  2. He had a place at the bottom of Strathmore Avenue....I still refer to the building as Jack Gow's.
    That is where my dad got his Esso Blue/Pink Paraffin!

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  3. I delivered his newspaper when he lived in Durham Street in Monifieth in the early 70's

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  4. When I was struggling with a new family during the recession in the early 80's he gave me a job painting the new place (as then) in Strathmore Ave... He was just a basic nice guy, then I came to realize what a legend this guy was and still is... The typical unassuming, quiet, family guy but a demon on the race track...
    Very much missed..

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  5. True Bridie, it doesn't seem that long ago the forecourt was full of motorbikes. I remember when the Japanese bikes were begining to emerge, i could stand for hours looking at all these futuristic bikes. Bye Bye Honda Superdream, or was that "Silverdream" ? :)

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  6. Jack Gow, excellent racer; sadly missed. Lost his life at the 32nd Milestone (on the T.T. Circuit) during practise for the 1996 Manx Grand Prix whilst riding his 350 Norton classic bike.

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    1. Remember those bikes at strathmore road....

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  7. Gilbert Grossett,Jack was a great friend of mine and helped me a lot when i was motocrossing and when i started road racing.he was team manager for Scotland road racing team for the annual celtic racing event and he picked me twice to ride for Scotland it was a great honour .hes very sadly missed a true gentleman !!

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  8. I started working with Jack when I left school at his garage in Session Street Dundee.
    Although I did not work on the bikes I started as an apprentice motor mechanic.
    Jack was a dealer for reliant and I can still remember when we got the first bond bug delivered to the showroom.
    Jack also had the contract for repairing the hydro board vehicles and Largs and Watts vans.
    I did enjoy my time there and my journeyman was a guy called George Greig and another named James Dolan.
    I never knew untill a few years ago that Jack had died doing what he loved.
    RIP Jack you gave me my first break ......Jack.

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  9. I also worked as an apprentice at Session St. I remember George, from St andrews he used to give me a lift to work.
    I recently found out Jack was killed on the island from a helicopter pilot I work with who told me about it. Turns out he was the emergency medical helicopter pilot at the time.
    RIP Jack, I remember you as a fair and honest man.

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  10. My mum Fran (a keen bike enthusiast)worked in the parts dept part time and i used to help her after school and holidays. It was a great shop..

    My mum had a Superdream, then a reliant robin too..

    Great days in the shop and going to Knockhill in the early 80's going to watch Jack race..

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  11. I remember Jack well and I looked on him as a friend. I worked on his house in Errol and did extensive work at Gleneagles Road. He sold me a couple of cars, one of which was an orange Capri Reg. number HKE239N. loved that car.
    I was in the garage when the first Honda Acti van was delivered and remember him taking the circle at Strathmartine Road on two wheels. Scary stuff as a passenger. He was also a scary pilot. I was a pillion passenger at a demo on Knockhill Racing circuit. Never been so scared!!. He was a true Gentleman and a great guy

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