Post by Administrator on May 22, 2009 16:47:07 GMT
Does anyone have any knowledge of claims by pioneer Crystal Palace and Stamford Bridge rider Bill Bragg into the early development of the JAP speedway bike engine? The period obviously would have been the early 1930s.
Does anyone have any knowledge of claims by pioneer Crystal Palace and Stamford Bridge rider Bill Bragg into the early development of the JAP speedway bike engine? The period obviously would have been the early 1930s.
I think an injury ended Bill Bragg's racing career. He later had a garage somewhere in south London. Don't know anything about him other than that.
I couldnt find any mention in Stenners write-up on the history of the J A P engine by Stanley M Greening but as others have said on forums the write-up I referred to was by an employee of J A P so that would have meant "do not mention Bill Bragg at any cost". "Just because he is not mentioned doesn't mean he wasn't involved in some way" as the old saying has it.
Norwich Stars 1930-1964. The memories burn brightly If the Lord invented anything better than Speedway He kept it to Himself
As a youngster I briefly met Bill Bragg in 1956 in Surbiton whilst he was working for a guy involved in London/Brighton vintage Bike Runs.
Bill was resident mechanic maintaining two bikes, one of which I recall being a belt driven Sunbeam.
He chatted about his involvement with designing the "Speedway Bike" with JAP, backing his story up with newspaper cuttings he had saved over the years.
Bill was well into retirement age when I met him and struck me as a proud man who didn't get thedeserved credit in thedevelopment of this engine
Post by Administrator on Feb 28, 2013 22:45:26 GMT
Yes, it was disgraceful the way Bill Bragg was treated originally in regard to his involvement with the design of the JAP speedway engine. More recent historians though have started to place credit on him for his work. There's quite a lot of comments that can be found by doing a Google search - try Bill Bragg JAP engine. That might produce some sites to have a look at.
As a youngster I briefly met Bill Bragg in 1956 in Surbiton whilst he was working for a guy involved in London/Brighton vintage Bike Runs.
Bill was resident mechanic maintaining two bikes, one of which I recall being a belt driven Sunbeam.
He chatted about his involvement with designing the "Speedway Bike" with JAP, backing his story up with newspaper cuttings he had saved over the years.
Bill was well into retirement age when I met him and struck me as a proud man who didn't get thedeserved credit in thedevelopment of this engine
Post by 2crossedhammers on Mar 12, 2013 10:55:07 GMT
I think that Bill Bragg had a garage in Brixton, South London, before and after the 1939-40 war years. Looking at the early years speedway results he seems to have been a fairly good rider. It is indeed a shame how badly appears to have been treated in regard to the development of the JAP speedway engine. perhaps he was too trusting of others?
Last Edit: Jan 30, 2016 14:36:38 GMT by Administrator
I think that Bill Bragg had a graage in Brixton, South London, before and after the 1939-40 war years. Looking at the early years speedway results he seems to have been a fairly rider. It is indeed a shame how badly appears to have been treated in regard to the development of the JAP speedway engine. perhaps he was too trusting of others?
This link gives comment on Stamford Bridge and Crystal Palace 1929 rider Bill Bragg's initial involvement with the development of the JAP speedway engine. www.500race.org/Marques/JAP.htm