Edward Ambrose Mellors
Encyclopedia
Edward Ambrose Mellors (1907-1946), born in Chesterfield
, Derbyshire
, England, was an international motorcycle
road racer
who rode in the Manx Grand Prix
in 1927 and the Isle of Man TT
from 1928 to 1939. He was the 350 cc European Champion in 1938, but died in 1946, overcome by exhaust fumes while working in a new home's poorly ventilated garage.
and a clergyman’s daughter. Two of his brothers drowned in a local canal as children. He wanted to be an International motorcycle racer and spent a lot of time riding in the Derbyshire hills. Ted met his future wife when he was still 15. She was 21, so he lied about his age. After 7 months they got married. In 1936, when Ted became a works rider for Velocette
, they moved south to Shirley near Birmingham. They had two daughters Gladys and Joan.
on a P&M
Panther.
In 1930 Ted had a French Grand Prix
250 cc win.
In 1936 Ted won the French Grand Prix 350 cc class.
In 1937 Ted won the French Grand Prix 350 cc and 500 cc classes
After initially riding in the TT races he started riding in Continental events, and in 1938 won the title of 350 cc European Champion and held the title throughout the second World War, until racing started again when petrol was no longer rationed.
Ted was one of a few pre-WWII British riders who realised that they could probably make more money by racing regularly in Grand Prix motorcycle racing
events on the Continent.
In 1927 Benelli
had a gear drive SOHC 175 cc model. In 1930 this became DOHC, and in 1935 the capacity was increased to 250 cc. With this machine Ted Mellors won the Lightweight 1939 Isle of Man TT
.
he worked in munitions and was with the volunteer fire service. He applied, but was not accepted for the Air Force due to slightly defective eyesight, despite already having a private air pilot’s licence.
He designed and patented a rotary valve system in the early 1940s, during WW2. He was issued Patent 559830, in March 1944.
He also wrote magazine articles and had an unpublished fictionalised biography.
, he was overcome by exhaust fumes while working on a car, and it was his daughter Joan, arriving home from school, who found him. The Birmingham Coroner’s Court recorded a verdict of Accidental Death.
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England, was an international 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...
road racer
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...
who rode in the Manx Grand Prix
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
in 1927 and the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
from 1928 to 1939. He was the 350 cc European Champion in 1938, but died in 1946, overcome by exhaust fumes while working in a new home's poorly ventilated garage.
Youth
Ted was one of five sons of a wheelwrightWheelwright
A wheelwright is a person who builds or repairs wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the archaic word "wright", which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or maker...
and a clergyman’s daughter. Two of his brothers drowned in a local canal as children. He wanted to be an International motorcycle racer and spent a lot of time riding in the Derbyshire hills. Ted met his future wife when he was still 15. She was 21, so he lied about his age. After 7 months they got married. In 1936, when Ted became a works rider for Velocette
Velocette
Velocette is the name given to motorcycles that were made by Veloce Ltd, in Hall Green, Birmingham, England. One of several motorcycle manufacturers in Birmingham, Velocette was a small, family-owned firm, selling far fewer hand-built motorcycles than the giant BSA, Norton or Triumph concerns...
, they moved south to Shirley near Birmingham. They had two daughters Gladys and Joan.
Racing
In 1927 Ted came 10th in the Manx Grand PrixManx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
on a P&M
Phelon & Moore
Phelon & Moore manufactured motorcycles in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, England from 1904 to 1967 particularly those under the Panther marque. They became identified with one particular design of motorcycle which had a large sloping 40-degree single-cylinder engine as a stressed front frame member...
Panther.
In 1930 Ted had a French Grand Prix
French motorcycle Grand Prix
The Grand Prix Monster Energy de France is a motorcycling event that is part of the World Motorcycle Racing season.-Winners of the French motorcycle Grand Prix:...
250 cc win.
In 1936 Ted won the French Grand Prix 350 cc class.
In 1937 Ted won the French Grand Prix 350 cc and 500 cc classes
After initially riding in the TT races he started riding in Continental events, and in 1938 won the title of 350 cc European Champion and held the title throughout the second World War, until racing started again when petrol was no longer rationed.
Ted was one of a few pre-WWII British riders who realised that they could probably make more money by racing regularly in Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
events on the Continent.
In 1927 Benelli
Benelli (motorcycles)
Benelli is an Italian Motorcycle manufacturer owned by Chinese company Qianjiang Group. It once manufactured shotguns, although this part of the business is now a separate company.-Early history:...
had a gear drive SOHC 175 cc model. In 1930 this became DOHC, and in 1935 the capacity was increased to 250 cc. With this machine Ted Mellors won the Lightweight 1939 Isle of Man TT
1939 Isle of Man TT
The 1939 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy was the last race festival until 1947 due to the interruption of World War II. It was the last of ten TT victories for the 34 year old Stanley Woods in which he won the Junior TT on a Velocette at 83.19 mph and came 4th in the Senior TT race...
.
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 worked in munitions and was with the volunteer fire service. He applied, but was not accepted for the Air Force due to slightly defective eyesight, despite already having a private air pilot’s licence.
He designed and patented a rotary valve system in the early 1940s, during WW2. He was issued Patent 559830, in March 1944.
He also wrote magazine articles and had an unpublished fictionalised biography.
Accidental Death
In 1946, two days after moving into a new home in Etwall Road, Hall Green, BirminghamBirmingham
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...
, he was overcome by exhaust fumes while working on a car, and it was his daughter Joan, arriving home from school, who found him. The Birmingham Coroner’s Court recorded a verdict of Accidental Death.