RON WILLIAMS

A life of chassis

RON AND CHARLIE

Ron and Charlie Williams lived nearby (they still do) and were a good team, with Ron building frames for Charlie’s TZS . Above, Charlie is starting the Lightweight TT in 1975 on the Dugdale Yamaha. The late Tony Rutter is #9, behind.

SMARTY AND SUZUKI

Suzuki took notice of Ron’s success at the TT with Charlie Williams and asked him to build a frame for Paul Smart’s G-54 prototype RG500 (above). Ron made the frame for the factory bike in the workshop in his parents’ garage.

THE NR PROJECT

Ron enjoyed working with Ron Haslam (that’s him on the NR at Donington Park in 1982): “He was a lovely bloke. He gave 100% and when he came in, he’d give you the first three things that needed to change. What more can you ask?”

ROTHMANS HONDA

After the NR project, Ron worked for Honda Britain in 1983. He found Wayne Gardner (right) quite difficult: “What he says after he gets off the bike is different to later on. It makes it difficult for me to find out what’s actually going on.”

OVER TO NORTON

Ron poses with Steve Spray’s JPS Norton in 1990. Despite race success, it was a tricky time for the team as rotary engine genius Brian Crighton and new team manager Barry Symmonds fell out in a big way. Crighton ended up leaving.

BACK TO BUSINESS

Ron’s stint with Norton in the early ’90s was his last full-time foray with a race team. Since then he’s concentrated on Maxton, which now makes suspension for all manner of classics, such as the 1978 Honda CB400 above.

STILL WORKING

Walk into Maxton and Ron’s work station is the first thing you see, often with Ron at the controls. “I still do a bit of designing,” the 79-year-old says. “But the business is run by my stepson Richard, so he does all the hard work!”