I marshalled during the 1994 IOM TT, I remember the first early morning practice and watching the two Brittens ridden by Nick Jefferies and Mark Farmer come through Glen Helen, what a sight, and sound, I will never forget it.
The Britten V1000 is the holy grail of motorcycles....a machine that made the biggest motorcycle manufacturers around the world sit up and take notes..... johns death was and still is a huge loss, not only to motorcycling but to the world in general....what a freaking legend!!
Two of John's collaborators could have continued developing the bike between them. However one of them had a helicopter and not long after John's death they volunteered for a dangerous rescue mission during which their helicopter crashed killing both.
@ Perhaps, but it is true so get over it they are all gone and the Possessed Devil's Dream bike is still here with us. See you at the cross roads 12.00 midnight sharp. Bring the Britten and a silver cross.
I built a go kart when I was a kid using plans that John drew up when he was young as a kiwi lad I always wanted to build something that like this bike shows the world what we kiwis are really made of. Kiwi ingenuity at its finest. RIP you legendary kiwi.
I have been watching guy's videos for the past few days and being a kiwi I thought I bet guy would really appreciate the work John britten did then this video popped up. Guy your an absolute legend.
John is not dead, he lives on in every one of us, it was my inspiration as a young apprentice, this bike adorned my wall , and serves a rightful reminder that one man's vision can create wonders Long may he inspire everyone : )
He nearly bought one .... but said it was just a bit to much..$$$ He's still keeping an eye out... I guarantee if he did get one... it would be RIDDEN!
I got to see this exact same bike go around Phillip Island a couple of years ago at The Island Classic. It had the whole track to itself & sounded bloody awesome!!! If you blokes from the northern hemisphere ever get the chance, come Down Under for the classic. My mates & I will be there later this month on Australia Day weekend!👍🏼😎
Love this Guy, he's my racing idol. When he went down Isle of Man (2010? I think) and only spent about a week in the hospital,I knew he was a god among men.
You know its gotta be a truly amazing machine, when the worlds fastest man Guy Martin looks like a kid on Christmas morning getting to have a go on it. Freakin awesome!
The Britten is to the '90s what the Vincent Black Shadow was to the '40s: The most advanced motorbike of its time, even today only the Ducati Panigale comes close. The difference is that the Britten was created by a crazy kiwi in his shed. Kiwi sheds are magical places, they also spawned the only functional 'jet' pack and jet boat racing.
He looked like one happy kid, who got to meet a childhood hero...and wasn't disappointed !! P.S., when you can understand 'im, Guy's a great guy. Just watched his Spitfire Restoration !!
Its still an amazing bike after all these years.If only he was still around,can you imagine what creations he would have come up with in the last 20 years.Sadly missed.
The Yellow/Black one was at Road America, WI this year. Was awesome to see up close!. Wheelies every lap. Watching and hearing it was an awesome experience
You lucky bastard Guy!! For me this is the ultimate motorcycle, if Vincent had survived they would have made something like this. The most incredible thing is though, how John Britten conceived and created it single handedly! Just an amazing achievement.
Guy Martin is no different to anybody else, he just does what he thinks & likes. All it is is honesty. Sadly, most people allow other peoples opinions to affect their choices in life. Guy just follows his heart & that is why he is happy & content. No mystery here folks.
not many people can haha, very fast northern accent. I was surprised to find out that Guy had Asperger's and when you think about it, when he talks it makes sense.
His Asperger's fits perfectly with his single-mindedness, diminished perception of danger, occasional TMI outbursts and being oblivious to women are hurling themselves at him :D
Guy was riding in Italy, not Spain. It's Valentino's own track near to his home at Tavullia, called 'Moto Ranch'. And I don't think that they are really friends. But they have the same sponsor (Dainese). That's why Guy was riding there.
@@fredygump5578his speech represents his thought process, like his riding, is brain is always scanning, even during mid sentence his Brain is always adjusting at a serious rate!, there's times he will give you 4-5 varients of a sentence,within that sentence, that's all subliminal, it's ad second nature to him as breathing it's what separates him from most,if he fully comitted to racing he would have being in a league of his own
I had the privilege of watching the Britten race at Dayton in 1994 - My wife & I won a free holiday to Dayton race track/hotel etc all thanks to MCN (Cheers Guys). This came about when I sold an F1 side car outfit (lowly privateer - too old & nackered in any case) in their classified ads section. I just advertised the redundant outfit - but unknowingly they ran a random 'prize' & unbelievably I won it! The v1000 was clearly awesome & did the business on the day. What a terrible shame it could not be progressed further since John's passing - he was a determined genius - RIP.
Imagine the Motorcycle we'd be drooling over today if it wasn't for the tragic loss of the man..... To be fair.. I doubt it would be much different .... just tweaked..a bit?
I've always known the Britton was an incredible machine, as well as the man and the backstory; but when Guy Martin says "That's as good as it gets!" -well, no more need be said.
That day was a Beaut at the track. Guy did a shake down on John Marsh's (Rip) Manx Norton after riding the Britten. I spent quite a bit of the day chatting with Ian Martin off and on. In my ignorance I didn't even know Ian's own racing history. Ian is one of the most genuine blokes I've ever had the privilege of meeting, a real good bugger. Didn't really chat with Guy at all apart from the necessary bike set up stuff.
The bike is amazing enough. The fact that Britten designed and built it from first principles is amazing enough. But the man himself was amazing- a polymath. Life was too small for him.
Britten part-financed his project by producing scale replica metal model kits. I have one currently on my top shelf awaiting construction for a friend. Time I started on it yet I still can't find that particular type of pink for my spray.
John Britten was brilliant. Life just isn't fare. What an absolute honor to ride that bike. I wish that Guy had an intelligible language so that he could tell us all about his ride.
shame it was a new motor and guy couldnt give it full snot! im glad he got the opportunity it was a leightweight on the front wheel....guy didtnt light her up. he had respect ! i can understand his speak totally! its just another box ticked off for Mr Martin...aspergers or not! NZ loves Guy Martin. Guy builds his own stuff, not quite on pa with John Britten, but JB inspired him, he won pikes peak! Guy still has a ways to go on bike building, but hes doing it!! pure graft & #8 wire,sheds etc. He has alot in common with kiwis!
This machine exemplifies all that it is to be a Kiwi, it used to be our remoteness, scale and isolation fostered a different mind set of inventiveness and can do, now not so much!
