FAREWELL, FRAME MAN!

Ken Sprayson passed away recently, aged 94. For many, Ken will be remembered by TT competitors and road racers as the ‘go-to' man when it came to welding.

Any job big or small – Ken would do it. From the late 1950s into the 1990s, Ken was your man, often carrying out a free welding service on the Island during TT fortnight helping fix tanks, frames, exhausts – anything!

It wasn't just practical assistance – Ken knew his stuff on chassis design, too. He helped Geoff Duke, when he signed for Gilera, going to the factory to help produce a new frame for their 500/four.

Ken also was part of the British bike industry, designing frames for a number of manufacturers. Outside of motorcycling, Ken was also part of the famed Thrust2 team which – with driver Richard Noble – took the land speed record for a car to 650.88mph in 1983.

Ken continued his love for the TT and was a keen supporter of the TT Riders' Association. We feel that his 2012 book ‘The Frame Man' is essential reading.