Offered from The Forshaw Speedway Collection, 1933 Martin-Rudge JAP 500cc Speedway Racing Motorcycle

Engine no. JOS/232921

• A highly original and truly unique example of a Martin-Rudge
• Catalogue specification down to the original tyres
• An example of a JAP engine in a Rudge design frame and one of the most successful speedway machines of the pre-war years

Engines from the John A Prestwich factory in Tottenham, North London, were well established in motorcycle racing. Record breaking and general motorcycle engine production by the time the 'dirt track' (initially referred to, pejoratively as 'dirt track' but later became recognised as 'speedway') racing phenomenon arrived in England in 1928. Although dubious at first about any possible future in the new sport it would appear that it was when Bill Bragg, captain of the financially successful Stamford Bridge Team, met one of the Prestwich brothers, Vivian at the 1929 MotorCycle Show at Olympia in November that attitudes changed. Vivian had been very interested in the series of special racing engines that Bert Le Vack had developed a few years earlier and was now shrewd enough to realise that 'dirt track' racing really did have a future and, as such, persuaded his doubting father to change his mind.

This led to Stan Greening, design engineer, working with Bill Bragg to produce an engine with suitable characteristics. A prototype engine was ready within three months but initial tests in early 1930 were not successful and further development followed.

At this time it would appear that the bench mark was moving towards Rudge, the compact lightweight 4 valve TT based engine ousting the Douglas monopoly. This is where Wal Phillips enters the story. Wal had worked at JAP with his uncle, Bert Le Vack on the experimental racing engines between 1922 and 1925, he was also an accomplished rider on the cinder tracks. By 1930 he had changed his allegiance from Douglas to Rudge. Wal still visited the JAP factory and Stan Greening, hearing about this latest news, asked Wal to lend him the Rudge engine. Whilst the new JAP engine was a rather different concept and without any intention of following the 4-valve route it was the concentration of port design with gas flow coupled with cam profiles that was the breakthrough that Greening was seeking with Wal working with him. The final contribution was made by Lodge producing a suitable range of racing plugs and finally Amal with their special twin float track carburettor. By August 1930 the revised engine was ready for testing at Bill Bragg's Stamford Bridge track.

George Wallis had heard about the proposed trial and persuaded Wal to use one of his frames. Wallis frames were showing some success and on that first trial Wal Phillips easily broke the track record. However, the handling was not at all satisfactory. George Wallis redesigned his frame more on the lines of Rudge geometry and finally the Wallis JAP was a resounding success. Over the years more developments took place but the Tottenham factory decided that with this highly specialised engine it would be advisable to set up a separate operation.

Victor Martin had been involved from the beginning with the development of the new JAP engine and was now entrusted to take over the project. Thus, in 1932, Victor Martin & Co was formed as an offshoot of the Prestwich factory in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. Frames, with the JAP engine, were made to the Rudge design under special license and the new machine was marked as the Martin-Rudge. This became one of the most successful speedway machines of the pre-war years.

This Martin-Rudge is truly unique. The name of the original owner is unknown but in 1935 the machine was tucked away into a cupboard under the stairs of his house in Fleetwood, Lancashire. It would appear that the machine was little used until it was enshrined in this blissful slumber for more than half a century when it was finally exhumed in 1989. This was when the house was cleared presumably on the death of the owner. By October 1989 Richard Forshaw had acquired it for his collection. This Martin Rudge is as perfect to catalogue specification as can be expected. Even the tyres appear to be original. Originality in any racing machine is very rare with all the stresses involved, repairs and replacements are inevitable. This machine has its originality endorsed by the extreme rarity of a remarkable provenance.

Accompanied with the receipt, two original Victor Martin catalogues, photographs and much Rudge and Victor Martin material. The mechanical condition is not known and therefore we recommend re-commissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent.
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