The story of Tommy Bullus is often told through his later exploits with NSU in Germany, but it was on the concrete banking of Brooklands that the Yorkshireman first forged his reputation.
Words: Rich Orriss
Photos: Susanne Schartel
The great concrete bowl in Surrey was unlike any other race circuit in the world. Its steep banking, rough surface and relentless speeds rewarded bravery and punished mistakes. During the 1920s it became the proving ground for Britain’s fastest riders, and among the young talents making a name for themselves there was a Yorkshireman named Tommy Bullus.
The first photograph in this feature captures a significant moment. Taken after the British Motor Cycle Racing Club’s Grand Prix meeting at Brooklands in 1926, it shows Bullus sitting proudly on his New Hudson following victory in the 500cc class. Hair slicked back and looking scarcely old enough to shave, he was just nineteen years old. Yet even then he had begun to demonstrate the speed and determination that would make him one of the most accomplished riders of his generation.
Brooklands was the ideal stage for both rider and machine. New Hudson was eager to establish itself among Britain’s leading manufacturers and Bullus proved an excellent ambassador for the Birmingham firm. Success at Brooklands carried considerable prestige, with race victories serving as proof of performance and reliability.
The following season brought an achievement every Brooklands rider coveted. In 1927 Bullus earned his Brooklands Gold Star, awarded to riders who lapped the circuit at more than 100mph. Today that figure may seem modest, but on a rigid-framed motorcycle bouncing across Brooklands’ notorious concrete joints, with little in the way of brakes, suspension or protection, it demanded extraordinary courage. The Gold Star was a badge of honour worn only by a select few and confirmed Bullus as one of the fastest men on two wheels.
Another photograph records Bullus competing in the famous 200-Mile Sidecar Race. Particularly intriguing is the note on the reverse identifying the passenger as Bert Le Vack.
Known as the “Wizard of Brooklands”, Le Vack was already a legendary figure whose record-breaking exploits had helped define the circuit’s golden age. If the identification is correct, the image captures two of Brooklands’ most talented racers sharing the same machine – a remarkable snapshot from one of British motorcycling’s most colourful eras. It would seem that Bullus worked alongside Le Tommy for 1 1/2 years, and mentions him in his notes:
These Brooklands years laid the foundations for everything that followed. Bullus would go on to achieve international fame with NSU in Germany, win Grands Prix across Europe and become one of the sport’s leading figures. Yet long before the continental successes and factory contracts, he was a young rider from Yorkshire learning his trade on the banking at Brooklands, where speed was measured not only by the stopwatch but by the size of a rider’s nerve.
For anyone wishing to discover more about the man behind the racing legend, a new book by his great-niece, Susanne Schartel, tells the remarkable story of his life.
Hilde & Tommy: How the English Motorcycle Racer Tom Bullus Became a Legend in Germany Riding for NSU But Then Put Love Before Laurels explores not only Bullus’s racing career but also the personal story that unfolded alongside it.
Susanne was at Brooklands Relived this year promoting the book, which draws upon family archives, previously unpublished photographs and documents to bring Tommy Bullus’s extraordinary story back to life.
This is a video from Brooklands Museum TV where Martin Gegg talks with the author Susanne and her cousin Sam Bullus about the Hilde and Tommy story, and the inspiration behind the book.
If you would like a copy of the book please click here for more information.
an article by The Girder Club
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