Ken Blake

In the small rural community of Strathalbyn, 60 kilometres from Adelaide, a statue made from mechanical parts honours the town’s favourite son.

Ken Blake, born 1949, was 11-times Australian Motorcycle Champion, three times winner of the Castrol Six Hour production race, and importantly the local rider who beat world champion Giacomo Agostini in the infamous Australian 500 TT at Laverton Air Base.

Blake, died, in 1981, in the Isle of Man TT. He was just 32.

Ken Blake was a member of Strathalbyn’s Phoenix Motorcycle Club, formed with a group of friends when he was just 15. They spent their weekends racing over a three hundred kilometre course they’d mapped out on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Local brothers Les and Dean Jesser built him a real race bike to get him off the street.

Kawasaki race boss Neville Doyle promoted him to the big time. On Doyle’s 900 he was the only rider ever to win the Castrol Six Hour solo. Blake, called the Snake – just because it rhymed – took his talent offshore in 1975, racing at the fearsome Daytona speedbowl on his Yamaha TZ750, then in Europe.

His success as a privateer won him a works ride with the endurance team of Honda France. He was winding up to be one of the world’s best when he aquaplaned off the road at the treacherous Isle of Man.

His contribution, and his potential, is recognised by his induction into the Australian Motorsport Hall of Fame.