The contents of the Phil Morris Road Racing Museum, one of the world’s largest collections of motorcycle racing memorabilia and motorcycle spares founded by leading figure of the paddock, Phil Morris, is to be offered by Bonhams in a dedicated online auction which opens on 18 April.
The Phil Morris collection is one of the world’s largest arrays of rare sets of spares, matching helmets and leathers for the GP bikes, Moto 2 and Moto 3 motorcycles, raced, worn and won by some of the most famous names on two wheels, such as Phil Read, Mike Hailwood and Kenny Roberts.
More than 330 lots are offered in the online sale, running from 18 April to 3 May, direct from Phil’s Museum in Oswestry, dubbed ‘The Church’ by Isle of Man TT rider Rob Barber.
The auction follows the successful sale of racing motorcycles in Phil’s collection in the 2021 Autumn Stafford Sale led by the ex-Steve Hislop, Naill Mackenzie, James Whitham, Cadbury’s Boost c. 1995 Yamaha YZF750 Superbike Racing Motorcycle which sold for £35,640, double its pre-sale estimate.
Phil, a schoolboy trials racer who graduated to four-wheels competing in the RAC Rally, is well-known in racing circles as a sponsor and team owner. He started collecting motorcycle memorabilia in the 1970s and in 2001 added machines to the mix when he bought back his first Ariel.
Phil set up a dedicated space for the collection in 2007 when it had outgrown his home and his then wife’s patience. Forty to sixty people would visit every Thursday until the doors closed with the first lockdown last year.
Highlights of the sale include:
• Joey Dunlop full-face helmet by Boerisport, 1976/77, estimate £1,200 – 1,500. In the trademark yellow and black worn by the ‘King of the Roads’.
• Mike Hailwood: A Cromwell pudding basin helmet, estimate £700 – 1,000. Painted in white with red and gold design, with the nine times Grand Prix World Champion’s trademark two flag decals applied to front, together with a pair of Stadium goggles.
• Marco Simoncelli: a signed full-face helmet by Dainese, estimate £500 – 700. In leopard head design, worn by the former Moto GP rider.
• Bill Smith, 1983 set of racing leathers by Manx Leathers, estimate £800 – 1,200. Used and ‘battle-scarred’ when cut-off the rider after his high-speed 110mph crash at Ballaugh Bridge.
• Frank Perris: A set of black racing leathers, estimate £500 – 700.
Featuring a green and white bib ’25’, offered together with a signed pair of black leather race boots and a 1st All Japan Road Race meeting winner’s scarf.
• Ian Hutchinson: A signed set of Yamaha racing leathers by RST, 2014, £400 – 600. Used by the Isle of Man TT competitor.
Ben Walker, Global Head of Bonhams Motorcycles, said: “This is an extraordinary collection representing Phil Morris’ lifelong work which truly reflects his passion for motorcycle racing.
“We are very excited to be staging this sale, which is our first motorcycle memorabilia online auction. Together with the Stafford Sale, Bonhams Motorcycles will offer more than 850 lots on offer this Spring. “
The full catalogue for the Phil Morris Road Racing Collection of Memorabilia and Motorcycle Spares sale is online now. For further details, contact [email protected].
