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George Brown: The Maestro of Speed and Fabrication

An in-depth exploration of the pioneering British motorcycle racer, fabricator, and record-breaker, renowned as "the father of British sprinting".

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Biography

Early Years

George Brown (1912–1979) was a distinguished British motorcycle racer, widely acclaimed as "the father of British sprinting." Born in Nottingham on February 22, 1912, and raised in Colwick, Nottinghamshire, Brown initially pursued a legal career, aspiring to become a solicitor. His early exposure to motorcycles came through his family's involvement in the cycle trade. He honed his mechanical skills working in his father's shop and later at Raleigh Bicycle Company. In 1933, he joined Vincent Motorcycles in Stevenage, beginning in the service department before transitioning to the Test and Special bike department, demonstrating an early aptitude for performance tuning and development.

WWII and Post-War

During World War II, Brown contributed to the war effort as an assembly foreman at Percival Aircraft, building De Havilland Mosquitos. His application to the RAF was deferred due to his reserved occupation. Post-war, he swiftly returned to Vincent Motorcycles. He also married in 1946. Brown's racing career continued, initially privately, and he was approached by prominent teams like Norton and AJS, though he declined their offers to remain loyal to the Vincent marque. He also spent time as a sales manager for Vincent before returning to Stevenage, further solidifying his deep connection with the company.

Post-Vincent Career

Brown departed Vincent in 1951 to establish his own motorcycle business. Initially operating within a Ford dealership, he became an agent for various marques and specialized in custom projects, including developing a trials bike. He soon expanded, taking over a shop opposite the original Vincent works. This period marked his dedicated focus on building high-performance sprint bikes. While he continued road racing with AJS and Norton, achieving respectable finishes, a severe crash in the 1953 Junior TT effectively ended his road racing career. He then concentrated on hill climbs and sprints, becoming a pivotal figure in the formation and leadership of the National Sprint Association.

Records Held

A Legacy of Speed

George Brown's dedication to pushing the boundaries of motorcycle speed culminated in his holding an impressive 30 national and world speed records. His expertise in fabricating and tuning specialized machines, particularly the "Nero" and "Super Nero" series, allowed him to achieve remarkable feats across various classes and distances. These records underscore his profound impact on the sport of motorcycle sprinting and his status as a true pioneer.

Title Class Date Speed Time Bike Location Previous Record
World standing-start kilometre Sidecar November 1960 Nero
World standing-start kilometre 1000 cc August 1961 108.73 mph (174.98 km/h) 20.573 s Nero Thurleigh 106.77 mph (171.83 km/h)
World standing-start kilometre 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc August 1961 77.5 mph (124.7 km/h) 28.863 s Ariel Arrow Thurleigh 65.16 mph (250 cc), 71.69 mph (350 cc), 76.68 mph (500 cc)
World flying-start kilometre 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc August 1961 106.69 mph (171.70 km/h) 20.966 s Ariel Arrow Thurleigh 88.77 mph (250 cc), 96.46 mph (350 cc), 104.57 mph (500 cc)
World standing-start kilometre
British standing-start kilometre
1000 cc June 1964 114.83 mph (184.80 km/h) 19.48 s Super Nero Chelveston
British flying-start kilometre 1000 cc June 1964 172.7 mph (277.9 km/h) 12.96 s Super Nero Chelveston
British flying-start quarter-mile 1000 cc June 1964 177.16 mph (285.11 km/h) 5.08 s Super Nero Chelveston
British flying-start quarter-mile 1000 cc August 1964 189.314 mph (304.671 km/h) (average) 4.374 s (mean) Super Nero Chelveston
British standing-start kilometre 1000 cc August 1964 10.283 s (mean) Super Nero Chelveston
World standing-start kilometre
British standing-start kilometre
Solo 1000 cc October 1966 116.79 mph (187.96 km/h) (average) 19.16s (mean) Greenham Common 114.83 mph (184.80 km/h)
World standing-start kilometre
British standing-start kilometre
Sidecar 1000 cc October 1966 102.01 mph (164.17 km/h) (average) 21.92 s (mean) Greenham Common
World standing-start ¼ mile
British standing-start ¼ mile
Sidecar 1000 cc October 1966 76.22 mph (122.66 km/h) (average) 11.80 s (mean) Greenham Common
British standing-start ¼ mile Solo 1300 cc October 1966 80.84 mph (130.10 km/h) (average) 11.13 s (mean) Greenham Common
British flying-start kilometre October 1966 122.45 mph (197.06 km/h) (average) 18.26 s (mean) 250 cc Royal Enfield Special Greenham Common 106.7 mph (171.72 km/h)
British standing-start kilometre October 1966 83.18 mph (133.87 km/h) (average) 26.89 s (mean) 250 cc Royal Enfield Special Greenham Common 77.5 mph (124.72 km/h)
World standing-start ¼ mile October 1966 62.63 mph (100.79 km/h) (average) 14.49 s (mean) Greenham Common 58.31 mph (93.84 km/h)
World standing-start mile
British standing-start mile
Solo 1300 November 1966 114 mph (183.47 km/h) (average) 31.366 s (mean) Super Nero Mark II Greenham Common 105.67 mph (170.06 km/h)
World standing-start mile
British standing-start mile
Solo 1000 November 1966 128.46 mph (206.74 km/h) (average) 28.032 s (mean) Super Nero Mark I Greenham Common 97.32 mph (156.62 km/h)
World standing-start mile
British standing-start mile
Sidecar 1000 November 1966 119.086 mph (191.650 km/h) (average) 30.446 s (mean) Super Nero Mark I Greenham Common 105.67 mph (170.06 km/h)
World flying-start kilometre
British flying-start kilometre
Sidecar 1000 November 1966 158.238 mph (254.659 km/h) (average) 14.112 s (mean) Super Nero Mark I Greenham Common
World standing-start mile
British standing-start mile
Sidecar 1300 November 1966 115.915 mph (186.547 km/h) (average) 31.057 s (mean) Super Nero Mark II Greenham Common
World flying-start kilometre
British flying-start kilometre
Sidecar 1300 November 1966 149.732 mph (240.970 km/h) (average) 14.939 s (mean) Super Nero Mark II Greenham Common
World standing-start kilometre
British standing-start kilometre
Sidecar 1300 November 1966 103.439 mph (166.469 km/h) (average) 21.625 s (mean) Super Nero Mark II Greenham Common 97.20 mph (156.43 km/h)
British flying-start ¼ mile Sidecar 1300 November 1966 152.840 mph (245.972 km/h) (average) 5.888 s (mean) Super Nero Mark II Greenham Common 128.72 mph (207.15 km/h)
British standing-start mile Sidecar 1300 November 1966 96.404 mph (155.147 km/h) (average) 37.392 s (mean) 250 cc Royal Enfield Special Greenham Common
British standing-start mile 1300 cc solo 1967 128.7 mph (207.12 km/h) 26.96 s Super Nero
British flying-start kilometre 1300 cc solo 1967 171.68 mph (276.29 km/h) 13.03 s Super Nero
British flying-start ¼ mile 1968 175 mph (281.6 km/h) (average) 5.209 s (mean) Super Nero Elvington
World flying-kilometre
British flying-kilometre
1968 182 mph (292.9 km/h) (average) 12.285 s (mean) Super Nero Elvington
World flying-mile
British flying-mile
Sidecar 1970 128.234 mph (206.373 km/h) (average) 28.074 s (mean) Super Nero Elvington

Significant Motorcycles

Cadwell Special

Developed in the winter of 1946/47 by Brown and Norman Brewster, the Cadwell Special was built using factory surplus parts from a Series A Vincent Comet. This machine, based on frame TTC17, was intended for short circuit racing. Brown and Brewster significantly reduced its weight to 290 lb. The bike earned its name from its debut location at Cadwell Park. Vincent's designer, Philip Edward Irving, later adapted its engine principles for speedway use, creating a modified engine for AJS, showcasing the Special's influence on performance development.

Gunga Din

The "Gunga Din" was a special racing model derived from a Vincent Rapide. Philip Conrad Vincent himself commissioned its creation from a rejected engine (F10AB/1A/71.1), which was extensively rebuilt and mounted in a frame. Motor journalist Charles Markham bestowed the evocative name "Gunga Din" upon this machine. It served as a factory racer and a crucial testbed for performance enhancements that would later be integrated into Vincent's production lines, highlighting Brown's role in pushing the marque's capabilities.

Nero

Driven by Brown's desire to race a machine akin to Gunga Din, the "Nero" was born from a salvaged, fire-damaged Rapide. Brown and his brother Cliff rebuilt it, incorporating custom camshafts and a raised compression ratio of 13:1. Initially conceived as a road-racing machine, Nero underwent significant modifications, including a fabricated swing-arm and an AJS Porcupine front fork. Its wheelbase was later extended to manage acceleration. By 1959, it boasted an 85 hp output. Notably, Brown introduced Avon's first slick tires in Britain on Nero, revolutionizing grip for high-speed runs.

Brown also constructed three replicas of Nero for private owners. One was built for Marc Bellon, featuring an AJS 7R fork and a Velocette-based swing arm. Another was sold to a Scottish physician for street and sprint use, while a third went to an Eastbourne shopkeeper. These conversions, priced at £450, demonstrated the demand for Brown's specialized fabrication skills.

Super Nero & Mark II

With the ambition to capture the World motorcycle land speed record, Brown developed "Super Nero," featuring a supercharged 998 cc Vincent V-twin engine fitted with two Shorrock superchargers. This machine, built with a revised frame and later a new chassis, achieved an estimated 120-130 hp. Brown's brother Cliff further enhanced the engine, creating an 1148 cc variant. The "Super Nero Mark II" was built for the 1966 season, continuing the pursuit of extreme speed. Both Nero and Super Nero are now preserved in the National Motorcycle Museum.

Memorials

Vintage Run

The George Brown Memorial Vintage Run is an annual event that commenced in 1979. Organized by the Stevenage and District Motorcycle Club, it serves as a tribute to Brown's enduring legacy and his contributions to the motorcycle community. This event celebrates vintage motorcycles and the spirit of camaraderie that Brown embodied.

Memorial Sprint

The National Sprint Association organizes the George Brown Memorial Sprint, first held in 1982 at Santa Pod Raceway. This event specifically honors Brown's achievements in sprint racing, continuing his tradition of speed and competition. It remains a significant fixture for enthusiasts and participants in the British sprinting scene.

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References

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