GINGER MOLLOY, NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST 500CC RUNNER-UP, DIES AGED 88

Ginger Molloy—born William Garth Molloy—has died at the age of 88, according to Speedweek. A nickname born from his red hair, “Ginger” became synonymous in New Zealand with one of the country’s earliest stars to make a mark on Grand Prix racing.

Molloy grew up in a rugby culture where the sport was the national obsession, and he first became involved locally in the late 1950s with Huntly United in rugby league. One of his teammates there was Hugh Anderson, who would later rise quickly in Europe and become a leading rider. Anderson’s breakthrough came in 1963, when the New Zealander—then a Suzuki works rider—won double world titles in the 50cc and 125cc classes. He added further championship success in the “snaps glass” category in 1963 and again in the 1965 eighth-liter class.

Inspired by Anderson’s progress, Molloy also pursued racing in Europe. After a series of promising results, he made his Grand Prix debut at the Ulster Grand Prix on a Bultaco 250. He not only started in the world championship but finished sixth, earning his first championship point.

Ireland proved a particularly strong setting for Molloy. Speedweek reports that only a year after his debut, he won the quarter-liter race at the Dundrod Circuit. He finished the season with eight points and placed tenth in the overall world championship standings.

His 1967 campaign was described as mixed, but 1968 brought a clear improvement. Molloy recorded second places in Spain and the Netherlands and added a fourth in Ireland. In the 125cc world championship, he ended the year third behind Yamaha works riders Phil Read and Bill Ivy. In the 250cc and 350cc categories, he finished fifth in both final standings.

After another difficult year, Molloy’s best season followed. Riding a Kawasaki H1R in 1970, he was forced to settle for second place in the 500cc class behind Giacomo Agostini, the dominant Italian on his MV Agusta. Speedweek notes that this achievement made Molloy a legend in New Zealand: he was the first rider from the country to become runner-up in the premier class. Later, Keith Turner matched the feat in 1971, and in 1973 Kim Newcombe finished second in the championship on a home-built machine with a König engine.

Following eight years abroad, Molloy returned to New Zealand with his wife, whom he had met in Europe. He continued racing in his home country until the age of 71, when a serious head injury forced him to step back. Speedweek reports that he died in mid-September.