Hughie Hancox worked for Triumph Motorcycles from 1953 until the factory closed in 1973, with a time out for military service riding motorcycles with the Royal Corps of Signals Motorcycle Display Team. To say he knew Triumph Motorcycles would be an understatement. Triumph Production Tester’s Tales is Hughie’s second book on working for Triumph. He focuses on the model years 1960 to 1962 “considered by many to be the finest machines Meriden ever made.” He rode them daily at work, and right off the production line.
“To say that this was the most glamorous job at Meriden is something of an understatement. On a fine summers day, motorcyclists from miles around would congregate on the grass verge opposite the main factory gate, just to sit and watch the black suited riders come and go on a variety of exotic American variants of the Bonneville and Trophy Models.”
Production Tester’s Tales is written in a chatty informal style, just like Hughie is sitting there telling you about checking out a brand new Triumph fresh off the production line then suiting up and test riding in the snow and rain. Along the way he throws in details about the factory and his fellow test riders, faults and service bulletin rectification procedures, and he also details some previously unreleased factory fixes. He gives advice on setting carbs, where to set magnetos, why a certain bike will run a certain way and why. After his retirement Hughie went on to restoring old Triumphs and became an internationally recognized expert in the field.
Production Tester’s Tales is a must have for the serious Triumph collector, builder or fan. Unfortunately Hughie Hancox passed away on August 18th, 2011 following a long battle with cancer, but he left a great legacy with his books and DVD’s about the machines he loved.
Triumph Production Testers’ Tales – from the Meriden Factory By Hughie Hancox Veloce Publishing Paperback • 25×20.7cm • 160 pages • 183 color and b&w pictures ISBN: 978-1-845844-41-7
vintage images courtesy of the Bob T. collection
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