[Ducati] Got mail from a former Britten emploee...

[Peer Landa]

Boys and girls...
  ..a few days ago I got an email from a guy in New Zealand.  He had  
a few questions about some mods I did to my old bike -- he is  
currently working on his Supermono styled 944cc Vee Two Ducati.  As  
we continued our email exchange, he revealed that he actually had  
worked for John Britten!  Naturally I asked him how it was to work  
with the greatest moto innovator of all time, and how he was as a  
person.  With his consent (this bloke is certainly a cool fellow),  
I'll forward what he sent me.

-- peer



Hi Peer

John was a great guy, scarily brilliant, almost painfully shy and  
modest at times, but he had a great sense of humour and knew how to  
party. We had a lot of fun but it was frustrating in equal measure!  
He drove us all mad. John always had time for people who were  
interested in the bike. His passing was a huge loss.

If you ever get a chance to see a video called "One Mans Dream" do.  
You'll get a sense of what all that was about.

When the supermono came out in 1992 he was really pissed, as on first  
impression the design of the fairing aped the Britten.

It's a real shame he never got to see an Aprilia RSV1000, he would  
have loved it. I'm going to buy a new one soon. Love 60 degree V Twin  
blare. The sound is quite similar. Will keep my old girl though.  
She's too unique to sell.

I'm still in touch Rob Selby who was the fitter and turner (engine  
maker) for the Britten M/C Co. He still makes little bits and pieces  
for me. E.g. he's milled out my 900ss gear & footbrake levers! (you  
should do that, they look cool!) Also enclosed is a pic of a Head  
stock Nut I drew up (just in MS Publisher) which Rob then turned up  
for me. (He's got a big piece of billet alloy that was destined to be  
made into bits for a German FW190 that was being restored here.  
Depending on how you look at it (un)fortunately there was some  
insurance fraud so now it's destined to fly a bit lower!

Have you seen "The Worlds fastest Indian" yet? That took me back to  
when I worked for John. Similar, fun, crazy, disorganized, fly by the  
seat of your pants stuff. John would have been totally inspired! If  
you get a chance, read Tim Hanna's book "One Good Run, the legend of  
Burt Munro" It's a great read! Don't bother with Tim's book on John  
Britten though; it's depressing! The official book is much better.

I have a lot of great pics from way back then. One day when I get  
time I'll publish them on myspace or bebo or something.

Tomorrow I'm gonna pull that sprag clutch out and shorten that  
spring! Shouldn't take long. =)

Thanks again Peer.

Kind regards






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