Ted Frend
Encyclopedia
Edward Frend (November 3, 1916 - September 6, 2006), born in South London
, was a British
motorcycle
sports competitor from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, road racing
with the AJS
works team from 1948 to 1954.
, he bought his first motorcycle, a 250 cc Dunelt. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1936, he found employment with General Aircraft in Feltham
, and bought a 350 cc Ariel Red Hunter motorcycle for competition. Soon after attending the 1936 Olympia motorcycle show he part exchanged his Ariel Square Four
for the just released new Vincent
1000 cc V Twin Rapide for £138 to use on the roads. In 1937 he joined the Streatham
District MCC, and competed in trials. (He later became the Club President.)
In 1938 he competed in the South Eastern Centre Championship meeting Unlimited class, and might have won if his exhaust had not fallen off.
In 1939 he lapped Brooklands' outer circuit at 110 mph on his 1937 Vincent HRD Rapide winning the three lap race and earning the acclaimed Brooklands GoldStar for lapping over the ton. He also joined the British Motorcycle Racing Club.
he was in a reserved occupation, an engineer manufacturing aircraft parts.
, and AMC offered Frend a place in the 1948 AJS
works team. He proved an all-rounder, not just competing in road racing, but also in grass track, hill climbs, trials, and scrambles. His business, Paramount Sheet Metal, in Kingston
providing aircraft and motor cycle parts was more important to him than racing, and when it grew, demanding more of his time, he cut back on racing.
Frend came eighth in the Junior on an AJS 350 at the 1949 Isle of Man TT
, and came fifth in the Junior, and fifteenth in the Senior at the 1950 Isle of Man TT
. In the 1953 Isle of Man TT
he rode a Norton to seventh.
In 1954 he rode his last TT. He continued to ride motorcycles after, in the end riding a Honda
550 until he no longer could.
Ted was a member of the Brooklands Society, president of the Streatham & District Motor-Cycle Club, and a member of West Byfleet
Golf Club.
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
sports competitor from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, road racing
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
with the AJS
AJS
AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on...
works team from 1948 to 1954.
Early years
In 1932, employed as an apprentice sheet-metal worker at Hawker AircraftHawker Aircraft
Hawker Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer responsible for some of the most famous products in British aviation history.-History:...
, he bought his first motorcycle, a 250 cc Dunelt. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1936, he found employment with General Aircraft in Feltham
Feltham
Feltham is a town in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is located about west south west of central London at Charing Cross and from Heathrow Airport Central...
, and bought a 350 cc Ariel Red Hunter motorcycle for competition. Soon after attending the 1936 Olympia motorcycle show he part exchanged his Ariel Square Four
Ariel Square Four
The Square Four was an Ariel motorcycle designed by Edward Turner, who devised the Square Four engine in 1928. At this time he was looking for work, showing drawings of his engine design to motorcycle manufacturers. The engine was essentially a pair of 'across frame' OHC parallel twins joined by...
for the just released new Vincent
Vincent Motorcycles
Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. Their 1948 Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle...
1000 cc V Twin Rapide for £138 to use on the roads. In 1937 he joined the Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
District MCC, and competed in trials. (He later became the Club President.)
In 1938 he competed in the South Eastern Centre Championship meeting Unlimited class, and might have won if his exhaust had not fallen off.
In 1939 he lapped Brooklands' outer circuit at 110 mph on his 1937 Vincent HRD Rapide winning the three lap race and earning the acclaimed Brooklands GoldStar for lapping over the ton. He also joined the British Motorcycle Racing Club.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was in a reserved occupation, an engineer manufacturing aircraft parts.
Post War competition
In 1947 Frend came fourth in the 1947 Isle of Man TT1947 Isle of Man TT
After an eight year absence the 1947 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the first race festival since 1939 due to the interruption of World War II. With the restart of racing the ACU decided to add three Clubman class races for production machines and introduced these races for Lightweight, Junior and...
, and AMC offered Frend a place in the 1948 AJS
AJS
AJS was the name used for cars and motorcycles made by the Wolverhampton, England, company A. J. Stevens & Co. Ltd, from 1909 to 1931, by then holding 117 motorcycle world records, and after the firm was sold the name continued to be used by Matchless, Associated Motorcycles and Norton-Villiers on...
works team. He proved an all-rounder, not just competing in road racing, but also in grass track, hill climbs, trials, and scrambles. His business, Paramount Sheet Metal, in Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
providing aircraft and motor cycle parts was more important to him than racing, and when it grew, demanding more of his time, he cut back on racing.
Frend came eighth in the Junior on an AJS 350 at the 1949 Isle of Man TT
1949 Isle of Man TT
The 1949 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy or I British Motorcyle Grand Prix festival were the first races of Grand Prix World Championship that were held in the Isle of Man....
, and came fifth in the Junior, and fifteenth in the Senior at the 1950 Isle of Man TT
1950 Isle of Man TT
The 1950 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy festival was the second year the Isle of Man TT races were part of the Grand Prix World Championship.After his win in the 1949 Isle of Man Clubman event, Geoff Duke entered the 1950 Isle of Man TT only to find himself racing against formidable opposition in his...
. In the 1953 Isle of Man TT
1953 Isle of Man TT
The 1953 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy saw Ray Amm win both Senior and Junior TT races. Bob McIntyre retired for his first TT, the Junior.-Senior TT :-Junior TT :-Lightweight TT :-Ultra Lightweight TT :...
he rode a Norton to seventh.
In 1954 he rode his last TT. He continued to ride motorcycles after, in the end riding a Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
550 until he no longer could.
Ted was a member of the Brooklands Society, president of the Streatham & District Motor-Cycle Club, and a member of West Byfleet
West Byfleet
West Byfleet is a village in Surrey. Forming part of the Greater London Urban Area it lies in the stockbroker belt just outside the M25 motorway, 19 miles from Charing Cross, 8 miles from London Heathrow. The village grew up around the station on the London & South Western Railway. The...
Golf Club.