Former World Champion Kel Carruthers set to do some welding at the 1977 Transatlantic Match Races, probably on Kenny Roberts’ bike. (The Jim Greening Collection)

During the days that Kel Carruthers raced in Grand Prix most riders not only had to know how to ride a motorcycle exceedingly well, but they also had to be proficient at working on the bikes.

Carruthers won the FIM 250cc Grand Prix Road Race World Champion in 1969. His mechanical skills served him well after he retired from racing. Kel became one of the most successful team managers and racing engineers in the history of the sport – heading both national and world championship teams during the 1970s and ‘80s. Carruthers ran the teams on which Kenny Roberts won his three consecutive 500cc World Championships.

This photo from the classic Jim Greening Collection shows Carruthers set to do some welding at the 1977 Transatlantic Match Races (probably on Kenny Roberts’ bike). Today Carruthers is retired, hanging out with his grandkids and working on various restoration projects, including a Daytona 200 winning ex-Roberts Yamaha. Carruthers is also an inductee of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.