COMMANDO CLEAR UP

I am writing to you after seeing a copy of an article in the February 2010 issue of The Classic MotorCycle on the Norton Commando. The article ‘The End of the Line’ states incorrectly that the Isolastic system was invented by Bob Trigg. This is not true it was in fact conceived by my late father Bernard Hooper.

I know Bob reasonably well, and he did of course work with my father in developing the system. However the truth of my father’s major effort in driving the Commando design through is almost completely overlooked in the article not least the glaring error in reference to the Isolastic system. My father did in fact bounce the initial idea for the Isolastic system off Bob when they travelled back from Woolwich on the train to Wolverhampton after looking at the ill fated P10 engine. If you look at the patents for the Isolastic system you will find my dad’s name is listed first as lead inventor. Dad insisted Bob was also listed as co-inventor as he greatly valued Bob’s input in the system’s development. Incidentally the ‘Vernier’ system was included in the original patent but was not implemented immediately on cost grounds!

As a point of further clarity my father was chief engineer (engineer one) at Norton Villiers, the whole team were answerable to him, who in turn was answerable to Dr Stefan Bauer (director of engineering) and Dennis Poore (chairman). Bob Trigg was engineer two, Tony Denniss engineer three and John Favill engineer four. I have copies of NV hierarchy trees that confirm this.

I also have a copy letter written by Bob Trigg to Mike Jackson of Norton Villiers Corporation, Long Beach, California, dated 1 May 1972 to clarify the situation regarding the Isolastic system, since at that time there was ambiguity over the true Inventors identity, and Bob was naturally embarrassed by the undue credit he received for what was essentially my father’s idea. In the letter he states that “...the Chief Engineer, Bernard Hooper, who not only instigated most of the design concepts, but solved most of the problems too.”

I hope you appreciate my reasons for responding to the article in The Classic MotorCycle.

Peter Hooper
Bernard Hooper Engineering Ltd
Shropshire

MORE MUNKS BUSINESS

Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy the magazine and to add a bit more on the Austin Munks story. He was a character and a gentleman.

I was born (71 years ago) and raised in Boston, Lincs. When us kids started out on motorbikes, Dickie Dale was one of the local heroes, as was Austin Munks.

On Sunday afternoons in the late 50s, there used be grass track racing at Witham Marsh Farm just outside Boston; I think a chap from the West Midlands, Bill Bridgett, did a lot of winning. Anyway, back to Austin. When you’ve had a bellyful of racing (as we’d had one Sunday afternoon) you tend to ‘help your bikes on a bit.’ A mate and me, on our way home, were going quite well when there was a roar alongside us, which made us sit up... it was Austin Munks on a Norton Dominator. When he was level with us he gave us a grin, changed up and was gone!

My grandfather had a milling business in Boston, with a pet shop-cum-office on Bargate End. Austin used to call in to buy his dog biscuits – I think he had spaniels. While my mum served, I would sit in awe... I don’t know if he remembered us from our previous brief encounter.

One more of Austin. We lived on the Wainfleet Road. One day there was a roar outside so I dashed out... it was Austin Munks in a D-type Jaguar, just clearing its throat. I don’t know if it was for my benefit but was most welcome! Happy days.

Oh and one other thing... Going on from Nigel Stennet-Cox’s comment, in the March issue, about Austin leaving his garage to his employees. It must be a Lincolnshire thing, as a pork butcher in Boston with no family left his business to his staff and it’s still going strong. The butcher is T Bycroft on Dolphin Lane – best sausage and pies for miles!

Now, I live in South Devon with my family, but do miss Cadwell... and those sausages.

Rex A Sylvester
via email

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