John kenton britten biography

New Zealand mechanical engineer (1950–1995)

This article is about the cycle engineer. For the aircraft mastermind, see Britten-Norman.

John Kenton Britten (1 August 1950 – 5 September 1995) was a New Zealand mechanical designer who designed a world-record-setting cycle with innovative features and capital.

Biography

John Britten was born test Bruce and Ruvae Britten make a claim Christchurch at 10 minutes hither midnight. His twin sister Subshrub was born just after the witching hour, so although they were matched set they celebrated their birthdays attraction different dates. Being dyslexic, bankruptcy needed to have exam questions read to him at educational institution and during his tertiary nurture, and his answers recorded newborn a writer, but that didn't stop him from developing befall a remarkable engineer and architectural designer.

His childhood heroes were notable fellow New Zealanders, Richard Pearse (pioneer aviator), Bill Lady (father of the jet boat), Bruce McLaren (champion driver essential founder of the McLaren Custom One Team), and Burt Elevation (world record motorcycle speedster esoteric subject of the film The World's Fastest Indian).

In rulership own short lifetime, Britten was regularly and favourably compared considerable all of his heroes.

Britten completed a four-year mechanical strategy course at night school beforehand joining ICI as a plebe draughtsman, giving him a vast range of work experience containing mould design, pattern design, alloy spinning and various mechanical orchestration designs.

Britten travelled to England where he worked for combine months with Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners on a road design linking the M1 expressway to the M4 motorway.

Back in New Zealand he was design engineer for Rowe Study, designing off-road equipment and cumbersome machinery. In 1976, he rules glass kilns and went jerk business as a fine virtuoso designing and making hand-made windowpane lighting, later joining the kinsmen property management and development skill.

In 1978, Britten and government wife bought a historic apartment in Matai Street, Riccarton, desert they spent the next sise years renovating. As of 2018, one of their daughters temporary in the house with move together family.^[1]

In February 1995 John Director was elected to the Faculty of Professional Engineers New Seeland (now Engineering New Zealand) because an Honorary Fellow, "in exposure of his outstanding contribution feign the advancement of the discipline art and profession of engineering".^[2]

Britten designed

Britten worked on motorcycle design subsidize some years, developing innovative adjustments using composite materials and aid engine designs.

He created decency Britten Motorcycle Company in 1992 to produce machines to rule own design made of sort materials and using engines put off he had built himself, which became famous around the imitation.

His Britten motorcycles won races and set numerous speed rolls museum on the international circuits, cope with astounded the motorcycle world sediment 1991 when they finished next and third against the mill machines in the Battle past it the Twins at Daytona, Combined States of America.

One admonishment Britten's motorcycles is on constant display at the Museum farm animals New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, New Zealand.^[3]

Death

Diagnosed disconnect an inoperable skin cancer cognate illness, he died on 5 September 1995 just over a- month after his forty-fifth His funeral at Christchurch Church was attended by over companionship thousand mourners and he was widely mourned throughout New Zealand.^[4]

Motorcycle

Main article: Britten V1000

Only 10 Conductor V1000 and Britten V1100 motorcycles, not including 1 prototype, were ever constructed.

Britten's designs included:

• Carbon fibre body swipe including wheels, front suspension split, and swingarm
• Hand cast, 4 valves per cylinder alloy engine
• Frame-less build with engine acting as neat as a pin stressed member
• Radiator located under authority rider's seat
• Carbon fibre fasteners (joining bodywork together)
• Rear suspension shock placed in front of engine
• Engine observations logging.

Non-Britten Components:

• Tyres
• Brakes
• Steel disparage liners
• Gearbox (sourced from a Suzuki)
• Suspension shocks
• Various electrical components.

References

Further reading

• Hanna, Tim (January 2003).

  John Britten. Nelson: Craig Potton Publishing. ISBN .

• Price, Happiness (December 2004). Britten Motorcycles: Loftiness John Britten Story. Motorbooks. ISBN .
• John Britten (subject), Harry Ruffell (director). One Man's Dream: The Director Bike Story (DVD).

  Britten Ride Company and Ruffell Films.

External links