Thankyou. He was also in the first world final race finishing third off gate four, and I am told he broke his leg in aussie which ended his riding days.
The thing that has made me start to have a look was the article in the speedway star that showed the 'Wal Phillips JAP'. I read a bit about his time testing at the jap factory, he said all the power he could get out of the engines was at the top end of the rev range. A speedway engine needs the tourqe down at the lower end and the power needed to be put down on the surface as best as possible. This seemed to get him thinking and he produced a bike with a JAP engine situated in a lay down position as apposed to the upright.
This was in the forty's, the first 'lay down' I would like to find out why this did not work and did Vic Duggan use this bike (I know he tuned his championship winning bike, but was it a lay down?).
Any help, riding or after could help me. My Mum is helping out with contacting some members of my family who could help with storys and insight into him, but the more I can get, the better.
Tankyou.
