I’ve met Alan a couple of times, a proper, decent humble guy. All his early stuff was made with only hand tools. amazing chap.
Pointless & impractical vehicles
- Thread starter PeteXXX
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I’ve met Alan a couple of times, a proper, decent humble guy. All his early stuff was made with only hand tools. amazing chap.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
He is indeed a really nice feller, happy to chat for ages.
Indeed, most of Henry Cole's chums/employees seem intresting chaps. Skid knows his stuff for sure, and Sam Lovegrove is particularly interesting - he reckons at school he would sit out PE and hide in the caretakers shed and amongst the vintage British lawnmowers is where he first became interested in old engines. I think Lovegrove lives under the radar in Cornwall these days.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
He took the viper engined bike to the IOM, some say the ferry developed a distinct list when he parked it up.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
We saw him with the Flying Millyard the year we went. As well as riding it round Jurby track as a kind of demo, he was riding it round the roads too and it was parked up by a cafe in Douglas one day. He came over on the same ferry as us - on the bike which he'd evidently ridden up from Reading or wherever he lives.
The big v twin is made from two cylinders from a radial aero engine, each of 2.5 litres capacity.
Not had the privilege of meeting the guy, but he is an extremely impressive practical engineer
View: https://youtu.be/I-Xr1bmbZ_s?feature=shared
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
The 'Flying Millyard' came about from a random chat with Steve Parrish at a bike show when he won a prize for the worlds smallest V-twin made from 2 Honda SS50 engines welded together, he said "i've made the smallest V-twin now I'll make the biggest"
Oh and the Velocette ' V' is another home made engine
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I love the Velocette V. That's perhaps my favourite of all his wonderful creation.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Aye it looks 'factory' dunnit, two 350 cylinders on a welded crankcase.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Thet said, it might only be the joint biggest V twin.
Some Oz chap lopped two cylinders off a Merlin to make a 5 litre supercharged V twin.
And then added nitrous just to make a point.
Last edited:
Profpointy
Legendary Member
I think that was his intention; that is to create something that Velo themselves might have made
His other rather impressive creation is his V12 Kawasaki made from two z1300 sixes
Probably the most fragile V8 ever produced. When I sold my business 6 years ago I nearly bought a used R8, following some due diligence and further research I dodged bullet not buying one. My friend bought one 2 years ago and the engine completely failed even though it had full Audi service history. The bill was the size of a small mortgage.
Adam4868
Legendary Member
He's a mechanic so I'm not sure he's that worried,he'll have got it at the right price...it's a 59 plate so lasted so far.
He’s a very brave man buying a 15 year old BYH Audi V8
Last edited:
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Good God, my hips creak at the mere though of something like that.
