Frank had a relatively short career of 6 years1964 -1970 but packed more successes into that time than some riders do in a lifetime. He made his first MGP appearance in 1964 on a Tiger cub which resulted in a DNF. Undeterred he returned the following year with a Greeves gaining another DNF.
At that time his boss Eddie Crooks had competed in the ISDT on the new TC250 Suzuki trials machine. Frank soon saw the potential of converting one of these 6 speed twins into a race machine. Eddie went along with it entered Frank in the 1966 MGP Lightweight race in which he finished 11th gaining a Silver rep. Suzuki Japan took a keen interest and as a result the very successful TR250 race model was born
Frank rode that in the 1967 Lightweight MGP finishing 2nd to Stan Woods on a Yamaha. The following year Frank won the 1968 Lightweight MGP on the same machine. Moving up to the TT in 1969 he made his debut in the 250 lightweight races finishing a creditable 5th following up with a 2nd place in the 250 Production race again on Crooks Suzuki’s
In 1970 he lined up for the 500 Production race on one of the new 500 Suzuki twins and won it comfortably. That machine is now housed in the Manx museum. At the time Suzuki wanted him to ride the new 500 Suzuki GP machine which handled like a camel with a built-in hinge. He wisely declined and promptly announced his retirement from racing.
Away from the IOM he had some great results on the UK circuits too. Suzuki had provided Frank with an ex works 50cc machine which a then slimline Frank wrapped around quite well finishing runner up in the ACU Championship in 1969 and winning it outright in 1970 alongside many short circuit successes on the Crooks TR250
In 1969 he contested the Ulster Grand Prix on the 50cc machine. In his haste to get to the line he hadn`t zipped up his right boot which fell off during the push start. Undaunted he propped he bike up against a hedge, hopped back, picked it up refit it and went after the pack. The red mist came out and he finished in a well-deserved 3rd place in a World Championship round.
1n 1968 Suzuki GB attempted to take two world records at Monza with two Suzuki’s, a 250cc T20 and an over bored 256 cc T20 for the 350-class ridden by Frank, Eddie Crooks, George Anscheidt and Brian Ball. Unfortunately, the Suzuki GB prepared bike expired with a minor fault after 18 hrs but the 256 prepared by Frank lasted the pace to create a new world 24hr record that still stands to this day, testament to Franks incredible engineering skills.
His engineering skills came to the fore again when he contested the gruelling 500 miler at Thruxton on the 250 Crooks Suzuki with Malcom Uphill winning their class in 1969. He returned armed with a 500 Crooks Suzuki in 1970 with Stan Woods and won the 500 class that year too.
Frank was in that small elite group of motorcycle racers who could fine tune a bike and ride it to the limit too. His name will always be synonymous with Suzuki`s racing achievements.
RIP Frank