Eric Hinton

International Motorcycle GP winner/ 8x Australian Champion

With an outstanding Australian and international record, Eric Hinton was amongst the vanguard of Australian riders who hit the headlines at home and in Europe in the 1950s.

It was the era of the famed Continental Circus with Hinton part of that travelling troupe that included world champion Mike Hailwood for nine seasons.

A toolmaker by trade, Hinton was renowned for his technical innovation and his Manx Nortons were amongst the fastest in racing.

As a 21-year-old Hinton won his debut European race in Germany.

And then, in 1959, Hinton scored arguably his most notable victory in the 500cc Czechoslovakian Grand Prix.

Hinton was at his best on the fast and fearsome public road course at Brno and averaged an astonishing 144km/h for the win.

In a career spanning two decades, Hinton assembled an imposing record at home win eight Australian Road Race Championships including three 500cc titles in 1955, ’57, and ’59.

His smooth and precise style produced championships race wins at Mt Panorama, Longford, Southport and Phillip Island.

Motorcycle racing was Hinton’s destiny. His father Harry was a star rider as were his brothers, Harry Junior and Robert.