Well-known local personality and old friend of Rob Mawbey’s family, John Cooper has had a book about his racing career published by Mortons Media Group. The softback book is based on interviews by motorcycling journalist Chris Carter with ‘Moon Eyes’.
Derbyshire born Motorcycle racer John ‘Moon Eyes’ Cooper found fame and success during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This was an amazing period for road racing, with meetings on virtually every weekend and huge numbers of spectators.
John’s early years were spent entering off-road trials on a rigid-framed 197cc James in 1954 at the age of 16. He progressed to a plunger-sprung James track race bike tuned by Harry Lomas (father of racer Bill Lomas) entering informal events organised by his local club at Osmaston Manor. For 1958 Cooper had a different James, one powered by a tuned Triumph Tiger Cub engine.
Next came the start of John’s road racing career, with a long-standing association with motorcycle dealer Wraggs and by 1960 he was riding their BSA Gold Star for the 500cc class and later a 350cc Gold Star engined Norton.
By the early 70s John graduated to grand prix racing and riding in the Isle of Man TT – recording his greatest moment in 1971 when he beat Giacomo Agostini in the Race of the Year at Mallory Park in his by now, easily spotted ‘moon eyes’ helmet, watched by thousands of fans cheering him to victory.
The book is packed with photographs and names from the past, such as Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Bill Ivy and Barry Sheene. And if you have ever wondered where those distinctive moon eyes came from, this is what John relayed to Chris Carter:
“There was a lad who used to come into Minions when I was there who was a bit of an artist and he painted Jiminy Cricket on a couple of my crash helmets, JC being my initials. But when I had an accident and needed another helmet doing in a hurry, he was ill and couldn’t do it. So, I put some Moon Eyes stickers on instead and ended up sticking with them. The name Moon Eyes came originally from Dean Moon, a California hot-rod builder and speed shop owner. From a commentating and spectating point of view they were highly distinctive and made it easy for people to spot me. Nowadays the riders all have fancy and elaborate designs but from a distance, at the speed they’re travelling, you often can’t tell one from another and they don’t really mean anything.”
The book is available from Racing Lines and would make a great pressie…. or a treat for yourself!