Bert Perrigo
Encyclopedia
Albert Perrigo was a British
engineer who was a successful motorcycle trials
rider before becoming Competition Manager for BSA motorcycles where his ideas influenced the design of many of their best selling motorcycles.
, Birmingham
, Bert Perrigo's father was a baker but instead of following into the family bakery Bert got a job driving vans for a local motorcycle company. Bordesley Engineering Co of New Bond Street Birmingham had been producing motorcycles under the Connaught brand name since 1912. While he was working for Bordesley Engineering Perrigo persuaded them to enter him in the London
to Edinburgh
24-hour trial, which he won, securing the first of many gold medals.
success was important to BSA and they developed the BSA Blue Star
range with help from Perrigo, who was paid one-half-penny royalty for every Blue Star sold. His first major commercial success was in 1937 when Walter Handley was presented with a Brooklands
Gold Star for lapping the circuit at over 100 mph (160.9 km/h) on a 500 cc BSA Empire Star
. Any rider who achieved a 100 mph (160.9 km/h) lap during a race was awarded a "Gold Star", which was a 1 inches (2.5 cm) enamel badge a small square on the bottom of it which said "100", but Perrigo saw a good marketing opportunity and persuaded BSA bosses to invest in the development of the 350 cc and 500 cc BSA Gold Star
which became a top seller for BSA for the next two decades until 1963. Perrigo was rewarded with promotion to become the Chief Engineer and Works Manager of the BSA Motor Cycle team.
Perrigo also led the BSA Maudes Trophy
when three BSA Stars successfully completed the round Europe tour. As well as entering the International Six Days Trial, Bert's team completed 4500 miles (7,242 km) with no mechanical problems — a major selling point for BSA at time when reliability was a key factor.
and represented Britain in the International Six Days Trial and won a gold medal at the ISDT in Merano, Italy in 1931. In 1937 Perrigo rode a B25 Empire Star
to success in both the Colmore Cup and Victory Cup trials.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
engineer who was a successful motorcycle trials
Motorcycle trials
Motorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe....
rider before becoming Competition Manager for BSA motorcycles where his ideas influenced the design of many of their best selling motorcycles.
Early life
Born in 1902 in Small HeathSmall Heath
Small Heath can refer to:* Small Heath, Birmingham, an area of Birmingham, England** Birmingham Small Heath ** Small Heath or Small Heath Alliance, former names of Birmingham City F.C....
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Bert Perrigo's father was a baker but instead of following into the family bakery Bert got a job driving vans for a local motorcycle company. Bordesley Engineering Co of New Bond Street Birmingham had been producing motorcycles under the Connaught brand name since 1912. While he was working for Bordesley Engineering Perrigo persuaded them to enter him in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
24-hour trial, which he won, securing the first of many gold medals.
Motorcycle designer
When Bordesley Engineering closed in 1926 Bert Perrigo moved to BSA and joined the competitions department. His motorcycle trialsMotorcycle trials
Motorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe....
success was important to BSA and they developed the BSA Blue Star
BSA Blue Star
The BSA Blue Star is a British motorcycle made by BSA at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. The Blue Star range was produced between 1932 and 1936. In 1936 a slightly uprated sports version called the BSA Empire Star was launched with the Blue Star remaining in the model range...
range with help from Perrigo, who was paid one-half-penny royalty for every Blue Star sold. His first major commercial success was in 1937 when Walter Handley was presented with a Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
Gold Star for lapping the circuit at over 100 mph (160.9 km/h) on a 500 cc BSA Empire Star
BSA Empire Star
The Empire Star was a standard motorcycle made by BSA at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. Named to commemorate the Siver Jubilee of King George V of the United Kingdom and advertised as The Masterpiece of the Industry, the Empire Star range was produced between 1936 and 1939, when it was...
. Any rider who achieved a 100 mph (160.9 km/h) lap during a race was awarded a "Gold Star", which was a 1 inches (2.5 cm) enamel badge a small square on the bottom of it which said "100", but Perrigo saw a good marketing opportunity and persuaded BSA bosses to invest in the development of the 350 cc and 500 cc BSA Gold Star
BSA Gold Star
The Gold Star is a motorcycle made by BSA from 1938–1963. They were 350 cc and 500 cc single-cylinder four-stroke production motorcycle known for being among the fastest bikes of the 1950s...
which became a top seller for BSA for the next two decades until 1963. Perrigo was rewarded with promotion to become the Chief Engineer and Works Manager of the BSA Motor Cycle team.
Perrigo also led the BSA Maudes Trophy
Maudes Trophy
The Maudes Trophy is a motorcycle endurance award established in 1923 by George Pettyt, owner of the manager of the Exeter branch of Maudes Motor Mart to promote an impartially observed test for motorcycles. Pettyt donated a silver trophy for the Auto-Cycle Union to award annually.-Winners:...
when three BSA Stars successfully completed the round Europe tour. As well as entering the International Six Days Trial, Bert's team completed 4500 miles (7,242 km) with no mechanical problems — a major selling point for BSA at time when reliability was a key factor.
Racing career
Perrigo won the inaugural British Experts Trial in 1929 and went on to become a leading trials riderMotorcycle trials
Motorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe....
and represented Britain in the International Six Days Trial and won a gold medal at the ISDT in Merano, Italy in 1931. In 1937 Perrigo rode a B25 Empire Star
BSA Empire Star
The Empire Star was a standard motorcycle made by BSA at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. Named to commemorate the Siver Jubilee of King George V of the United Kingdom and advertised as The Masterpiece of the Industry, the Empire Star range was produced between 1936 and 1939, when it was...
to success in both the Colmore Cup and Victory Cup trials.
