British bike industry legend Norman Hyde gave an illustrated talk at the National Motorcycle Museum last month to launch his latest book, Winning Ideas, which reveals ideas and drawings generated during his time as a development engineer working in Triumph’s Experimental Dept from 1968 to 1975.
Concentrating purely on development for production and racing, the department was constantly innovating and problem-solving. Concerned that the many drawings and parts involved were not recorded in Triumph’s main numbering series, Hyde initiated the department’s own special numbering system, keeping track of everything in a dedicated ledger.
Their work resulted in numerous prestigious wins by Triumph factory machines, including nine Isle of Man TT races, three Daytona 200 races, two Bol d’Or and Thruxton 500 endurance events, and in 1971 the Race of the Year and MCN Superbike Championship.
More than a thousand projects are recorded in this unique 50-year-old ledger and can now be found listed, along with many illustrations, in Winning Ideas.
The standard book comes with a free video of Hyde’s talk and costs £40. An enthusiast’s copy, with a nine-foot-long print of a 1969 T150 engine layout, is £65. For orders and more information, email [email protected].