Given the numerous apocryphal tales that abound regarding the British motorcycle industry, it seems sensible to pay more attention to the stories that come from the people who actually worked in the industry rather than self-proclaimed experts who were never actually there.
Not only did Hughie Hancox start work at Meriden in 1954, he stayed with the company for a further 20 years, barring a short break for national service, although even that had an element of Triumph work, for he spent it with the White Helmets motorcycle display team!
While, latterly, Hughie was a Triumph restorer and vice-chairman of the Triumph Owners Club, he’s well-placed to write a book about all the goings-on inside the Triumph factory, given that he spent time as a customer service relations officer, a road tester, and in the tool room, on final assembly, in service repair and even the experimental department.
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Well written and entertaining, the book contains not only anecdotes that apply to motorcycling during the Fifties and Sixties, but also interesting comments on how working practices in the Meriden factory – much like in industry throughout the country – changed over that time.
With numerous photographs, and some fascinating line drawings, this is a book that is well worth its cost (£19.99) to any classic motorcycle fanatic, especially a Triumph one!
More details from www.velocebooks.com and www.veloce.co.uk
Read more News and Features in the September 2019 issue of OBM – on sale now!
