At the 1969 Isle of Man TT, Malcolm Uphill from Caerphilly won the Production race on a Triumph Bonneville 750cc, and became the first person to lap the TT course at 100mph on a production machine.
The TT had always been his ambition. In 1962 he’d entered his Norton in the Manx GP, finishing a credible 14th place. In 1963 he finished seventh and entered again in 1964 – this time in both the 350cc and 500cc races. He finished second in the 350cc race, but had to retire on the last lap of the 500cc due to a leaking fuel tank.
In 1965, Uphill finally had won his first TT. He won both the 350cc and 500cc races to establish himself as one of the top riders of the sport.
A year later he had to retire from the race, suffering trouble with his engine while in third place behind Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini.
The Wetherspoon pub on Cardiff Road, Caerphilly, is named in his honour.
