This Catalogue is identified by the cover photograph of Paul Carbut in MAN VW Viking team colours. The MAN VW Viking team only existed for 1 season in 1980. The front page also mentions Paul Carbut’s record in riding from Lands End to John o’Groats, which he carried out in July 1979.
In July 1979, during a busy professional season, Carbutt attempted Dick Poole’s 1965 record from Lands End to John O’Groats. Carbutt made early inroads into Poole’s schedule, struggled in a Scottish heat wave, and set a record time of 1 day, 23 hours, 23 minutes and 1 second – just inside Poole’s mark.
Bernard Thompson said: “Paul Carbutt is probably the one and only rider ever to have covered such a wide variety of unpaced distances with such success… Carbutt turned professional for a successful career which included the Land’s End to John o’Groats record in 1d 23h 23m 1s, breaking Dick Poole’s 14-year-old record by 23m 34s. In the process, Carbutt lost five minutes in Cornwall when police accused him of speeding!”
This brochure was probably issued in late 1980 for the 1981 season. Viking Londonderry manufacturing finally ceased in 1981.
