Derek Vaux

'all that jazz'

                      

                                 

 

Aintree fans will recognise the Travelling Marshall pictured above and have envied both the machinery  (SPRMV Agusta) and the task of belting round the circuit acting as first on-the-spot incident man and general sweeper-upper. What will not be known quite so well is the history of a club rider whose story goes back to 1954 and whose racing career ended around 1980. Starting with a plus-8 Douglas, Derek raced a number of Gold Stars and eventually a 7R AJS which is pictured at an Aintree meeting somewhere in the 70s.In all that time not a road race was won...a second in a 350 final at Aintree was the best result....He has ridden on most circuits in the North, including Altcar, Wallasey and Rhydymwyn (where? where? where?) There was one notable Championship; Liverpool MCC's 350 4 stroke Trials Championship, won on a Matchless. Along the way there were the inevitable injuries...including two broken wrists from Darley Moor, sustained on a 125 Yamaha. All this is the true stuff of clubmen racing and makes the sport what it is. After his racing days he was a founder member of the present Aintree Motor Cycle Racing Club, acting as commentator for some time and President until Dave Edwards took over. If that were not all, Derek is a double bass player with the Merseysippi Jazz Band and leads a full career in this pursuit as well. In common with many of the Aintree Club officials,Derek Vaux is a friendly and extremely amusing guy who makes newcomers welcome and goes about his business with a quiet modesty which belies his actual achievements. The flying MV will once again grace the Aintree circuit in 2005. Fastrackimages hopes that onlookers will now have a greater appreciation of its rider and his services to the sport we all love.