Eugene Goodman
Encyclopedia
Eugene Goodman, was the co founder of the Velocette
motorcycle company with his father John Goodman.
Eugene was born in Birmingham
. His father had a small shop in Great Hampton street in Birmingham selling and making bicycle
s and fittings.
His brother Percy had left to seek his fortune in India and Eugene began working as an apprentice making motorcycles at New Hudson
. Inspired by their father, the brothers set up New Veloce Motors Limited at Spring Hill
in Birmingham and began making motor cars in 1908. Their father was experimenting with a new motorcycle engine design and commissioned the engines to be made by his sons, while he went on to develop the frames and cycle parts at his works in Fleet Street, Birmingham. In 1909 they had a working prototype 276cc four stroke which had many innovative design features. The motorcycle market was very much in its infancy, however and sales were poor so he decided to produce a 499cc belt drive model to bring in some much needed cash.
In 1916 Eugene's car making business failed and he joined Veloce, the family firm.
In 1913, the company first used the trade name
Velocette for a small two stroke motorcycle invented by Percy, and the name was then used for many later cycles as well. Production was halted by the outbreak of the First World War and the factory was turned over to the production of munitions for the war effort.
After the war the company name was changes to Velocette as this had become a recognised brand. In 1925 Goodman had a breakthrough when his 348cc overhead cam prototype was entered in the Isle of Man TT
which was one of the most famous road races of the time and a great 'proving ground' for motorcycle manufacturers. In 1926 Alec Bennet won the TT on a Velocette KTT
for the next forty five years a series of very successful motorcycles followed. In 1971 rising development costs and the owners' racing expenses took their toll on the company's bottom line and they went into voluntary liquidation.
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...
motorcycle company with his father John Goodman.
Eugene was born in 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...
. His father had a small shop in Great Hampton street in Birmingham selling and making bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s and fittings.
His brother Percy had left to seek his fortune in India and Eugene began working as an apprentice making motorcycles at New Hudson
New Hudson Motorcycles
New Hudson Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in 1903 by George Patterson in Birmingham, their first motorcycle was produced in 1902 but was unsuccessful. The New Hudson range expanded between 1910 and 1915 using JAP engines, then the factory joined the war effort until 1919...
. Inspired by their father, the brothers set up New Veloce Motors Limited at Spring Hill
Spring Hill
-Australia:*Spring Hill, New South Wales , a small town near the city of Orange*Spring Hill, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane*Spring Hill, New South Wales , a suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales-United States:* Spring Hill, California...
in Birmingham and began making motor cars in 1908. Their father was experimenting with a new motorcycle engine design and commissioned the engines to be made by his sons, while he went on to develop the frames and cycle parts at his works in Fleet Street, Birmingham. In 1909 they had a working prototype 276cc four stroke which had many innovative design features. The motorcycle market was very much in its infancy, however and sales were poor so he decided to produce a 499cc belt drive model to bring in some much needed cash.
In 1916 Eugene's car making business failed and he joined Veloce, the family firm.
In 1913, the company first used the trade name
Trade name
A trade name, also known as a trading name or a business name, is the name which a business trades under for commercial purposes, although its registered, legal name, used for contracts and other formal situations, may be another....
Velocette for a small two stroke motorcycle invented by Percy, and the name was then used for many later cycles as well. Production was halted by the outbreak of the First World War and the factory was turned over to the production of munitions for the war effort.
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...
which was one of the most famous road races of the time and a great 'proving ground' for motorcycle manufacturers. In 1926 Alec Bennet won the TT on a Velocette KTT
Velocette KTT
The Velocette KTT is a racing British motorcycle made by Velocette. The most significant of the K series the TT designation indicated that it was a TT production racing replica. The Velocette KTT was notable for having the first positive-stop foot gear change on a motorcycle...
for the next forty five years a series of very successful motorcycles followed. In 1971 rising development costs and the owners' racing expenses took their toll on the company's bottom line and they went into voluntary liquidation.