Local Motorcycle Riders at the Grand Prix 
Local riders Lau Kam Chai (77), Looi Beng Hoe (101) and Tommy Fang (50) in a straight line, taking on the Circus Hairpin on Upper Thomson Road during the annual Motorcycle Grand Prix. 

Before Formula One, Singapore hosted an annual Grand Prix on a street circuit made up of Upper Thomson Road and Old Upper Thomson Road. Between 1963 and 1971, riders from across the region would compete alongside local riders in both cars and motorcycle grand prix races. Looi Beng Hoe is a former veteran Singaporean local motorsports athlete who participated in these races.

Looi Beng Hoe at the Circus Hairpin

Popular local rider and resident of the circuit Looi Beng Hoe (21) expertly takes on Circus Hairpin on his Yamaha during the 1972 Singapore Grand Prix on the Upper Thomson Circuit. 

Looi Beng Hoe came from one of Singapore's racing families. His uncle, Looi Im Heok, owned Looi's Motor, an iconic motorcycle shop on Upper Thomson Road, and was himself a pioneer local motorcycle racer. Looi Im Heok was the father of Tommy Fang and uncle to Gerry Looi, Fabian Looi and Looi Beng Hoe.

As residents of Upper Thomson Road, they were all top motorcycle racers who raced the circuit with more familiarity than any of their competitors. They went on to represent Singapore locally and abroad. Other notable local talents included Lee Chiu San, Lee Han Seng, Tham Bing Kwan, Rodney Seow and Sonny Rajah. 

Mr Looi posing with a 1973 photo of himself featured in our book

We were fortunate to have met Mr Looi Beng Hoe, one of the top competitive motorcycle riders of the early Grand Prix days. Having retired from racing early, he is now in his 80s, he lives quietly, much like any other Singaporean senior.

Sitting down with our team, Mr Looi generously shared his story and brought those glory days on the Thomson Road circuit vividly back to life. The track ran right beside his family's home and workshop, and he fondly remembers watching the early races from outside the venue, long before he was old enough to compete himself.

His recollections of life as a racer and his enduring passion for motorsports were invaluable to our research. Thank you, Mr Looi, for helping keep this chapter of Singapore's history alive.