Photo: Raimund Kommer / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Bill Ivy is a name that still stings a little. A diminutive Grand Prix motorcycle racer from Maidstone, he threw himself fully into the most dangerous corners of 1960s motorsport, racing bikes and cars and even doing stunt work. His death during practice in East Germany at just 26 robbed the sport of a genuine talent far too soon. But I keep coming back to the idea that anyone who loved speed enough to risk everything leaves a glow that outlasts them. More than half a century on, his brief, fierce career still commands my respect.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bill Ivy
- Name (Japanese)
- ビル・アイビー
- Reading
- びる・あいびー
- Born
- August 27, 1942 – July 12, 1969
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Horse
- Origin
- Maidstone, United Kingdom
- Occupation
- motorcycle racer / racing automobile driver / stunt performer
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Bill Ivy born?
August 27, 1942 – July 12, 1969.
Where is Bill Ivy from?
Bill Ivy is from Maidstone, United Kingdom.
What does Bill Ivy do?
Bill Ivy works as motorcycle racer, racing automobile driver, stunt performer.
Motorcycle racer — see all → · Racing automobile driver — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.