Blue plaque honour for motorcycle pioneer
Inventor: Richard McCandless A CO Down inventor who revolutionised the motorcycle world is to be honoured with a blue plaque.
Hillsborough man Richard ‘Rex’ McCandless (1915-1992) was an avid racer and created the game-changing featherbed motorcycle frame in 1949.
With many pre-war machines ruined by rough Irish roads, the self-taught engineer realised smoother handling was more effective than simply increasing speed.
His permanent memorial will be unveiled by Northern Ireland race ace Jeremy McWilliams on Thursday morning at WAC McCandless Engineering Ltd on the Limestone Road in north Belfast.
Fascinated by motorbikes, Rex already owned several machines by the 1930s when he set up an excavator and heavy repair business in the city with his brother Cromie.
They had the chance to indulge their passion during a motorcycle revival after the end of the Second World War.
The inspiration for the featherbed is said to have come when Rex lost control of his Triumph Tiger 100 during a wartime hill climb.
“It was forcibly imparted that it was a struggle between the bike and me as to who was in charge,” he would later recall.
First turned down by Triumph, he threatened to resign from Norton Works if it wouldn’t give his signature invention a chance.
Following a test on the Isle of Mann TT course in January 1950, Norton increased its previous high speeds by 10mph. Norton’s top riders were promptly equipped with the new chassis and left the competition in the dust that year.
One rider even prompted the name, commenting the new frame was so comfortable he could sleep on it.
Chairman of the Ulster History Circle Chris Spurr said it was delighted to honour a “remarkable inventor” with a blue plaque.