Bert Hopwood

Bert Hopwood (born 1908) was a British motorcycle designer. He worked for Ariel under Val Page. Following Jack Sangster's purchase of Triumph in 1936 he moved there under Edward Turner. From April 1947 there followed 18 months at Norton Motorcycle Company when he designed the Dominator engine. This came to a somewhat acrimonious end when the Technical Director refused to release the complete machine for production, despite Norton's dire financial situation. This was based on the allegation that the engine lacked power and the performance was below par as a result. It was subsequently produced with no alterations to the engine, after Hopwood had left the company. In May 1948 he joined BSA, which subsequently purchased Triumph in 1951. April 1955 found him at Norton once more, still with Gilbert Smith as MD, but now under the aegis of AMC at Woolwich. When GS retired in 1958 he and the financial director at Bracebridge Street, Alec Skinner, were allowed to get on with taking this part of AMC forward with much improved results. Together with Doug Hele, as Chief Engineer, good results were achieved. Sadly this was to no avail, as the parent company was in a situation which absorbed all the modest profits made by Norton & Francis-Barnett, the only really profitable members. With the AMC implosion imminent both Hopwood and Hele left for pastures new.... or not so new! Recruited by Edward Turner in May 1961, supposedly as his successor! Installed as Triumph Director and general Manager.

Well-known machines he designed include the Norton Dominator, BSA A10 and the BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident.

Bibliography

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External links

* [http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/britbikes/britbikes_index.html Comments from his book on the collapse of the British motorcycle industry]
* [http://www.mcnews.com.au/Features/2003/Norton_Dominator/Dominator.htm Bert Hopwood and the Norton Dominator]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2001/12/06/emfdoug01.xml Doug Hele on Bert Hopwood]