Raymond Amm
Southern Rhodesia Motorcyclist.
Raymond Amm was a Southern Rhodesian motorcycle racer and trader. He started grass track racing in Salisbury, Rhodesia, at the age of 17 years soon after purchasing a 500cc AJS motorcycle. The AJS was soon replaced by a Triumph motorcycle so that he could improve and win races on the track.
In 1949 Ray entered the Port Elizabeth 200 motor cycle race after purchasing a Norton motorcycle and finished 17th. He re-entered the same competition the following year in 1950 and this time around finished first and won in the 500cc race with a new record. The following year 1951 saw Ray entering the Port Elizabeth 200 motor cycle race and winning the top prize again in the 500cc class.
After these successes and support from the Salisbury Motor Cycle Club he moved to compete in Europe. Raymond raced in Europe as a full member for the Norton team and found success with the team in the 1954 Isle of Man Senior TT 500cc Final where he came in first, the 1954 German Grand Prix at the end of the motorcycle racing season were he finished 2nd in both the 350cc and 500cc classes.
He left the Norton motorcycle team to join the MV Augusta team and his debut for the team was to be at easter in 1955 at Imola, Italy. Amm crashed on 11 April 1955 while riding a 350cc four cylinder MV Augusta in the Coppa d’Oro Shell Race, after losing control in pursuance of Australian racer Ken Kanavagh.
He died on the way to the hospital from the injuries he had sustained from the crash on the 11th of April 1955
