Derek Sowton

by Derek Sowton
(Birmingham UK)

As a youngster, 60s / early 70's I regularly visited my cousins house and watch as his dad fettled a motorbike or two. As i grew into a teenager and my interest in motocycles progressed into owning one, i came to realise that the quiet unassuming fixer of bikes was Doug Hele, and that the Factory Loan bike in the garage was non other than the experimental 'Quadrant'
Brendan, Dougs son, rode a Rocket three (that was once a marshalls bike on the Isle of Man) in club and national races and before that a daytona.
Doug had a respect for the japanese bikes i rode, and would often look at them and ponder.. so thats why they have done so and so.
Many years on and i am now the delighted owner of a Hinckley T100, bought to replace my aged xs 650.