Bernard Laurence Hieatt

Bernard Laurence Hieatt
Nationality	English
Born	1909 Reading
Died	3 May 1930 (aged 21) Brooklands, Surrey

Bernard Laurence Hiett (1909 – 3 May 1930) was an English air pilot who became famous for his exploits in motorcycle racing, where he achieved several world records in the sport. He has a memorial in Reading Old Cemetery which is Grade II listed.

Born in Reading, Berkshire, Hieatt, the son of a Reading butcher, was a member of the Reading and District Motorcycling Club, where he was captain. He was also an air pilot and had his own Moth aeroplane which he used to fly to racing venues.

He started in dirt track racing for a while, then went to Brooklands, the famous Surrey racetrack in 1927, to race for various engine manufacturers. Achieving distinction on the road and track, he competed on a Cotton in the 1928 TT Races on the Isle of Man when he finished 9th and in 1929 he started in three races but did not finish in any of these races. He was part of the British Motor Cycle team, touring Europe and Egypt and in 1929 won the ‘Sir Charles Wakefield Cup' at Brooklands.

He took several world records, creating two world records in the two hundred miles motorcycle and side car race and won races at Brooklands. He achieved a coveted BMCRC 'Gold Star' in 1929 for lapping the Brooklands track at over 100 mph.

On 3 May 1930 at Brooklands, Hieatt had broken the 100 miles record and the 2 hours record, covering 160 miles (260 km). This was achieved despite heavy rain and poor visibility. Hieatt's motorcycle had sufficient fuel for the race, but a leaking tank forced him into the pits 8 laps from the finish. During the refuelling pitstop, Hieatt also swapped his goggles for a new pair, as the ones he was wearing were covered in mud. After rejoining the race, Hieatt was leading by a lap and a half when an official went out on to the track with a large red disc, signalling Hieatt to slow down to 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h), although it seemed Hieatt did not see him.

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