Val Page
Encyclopedia
Valentine Page was a British
motorcycle
designer born in 1892. Described as Britain's greatest motorcycle designer, he worked for most of the leading marques, including Ariel
, Triumph, and BSA. He died in 1978.
Val Page served his apprenticeship as a motorcycle engineer and designer with J.A. Prestwich and developed the racing motorcycles which made riders such as Bert le Vack
famous. Page designed engines used in the Brough Superior SS100
and SS80 luxury motorcycles
Most of his career was spent with Ariel Motorcycles
, who he joined in 1925 where he became chief designer and began by developing a new range of motorcycles for the 1926 season. Starting with an advanced engine, Page had to wait until 1927 before a suitable frame and cycle parts were designed. These formed the basis for what was to be the Ariel Red Hunter
, which continued successfully until Ariel ceased production of four strokes in 1959. Page was an innovator and his radical designs included the Ariel Leader
.
Page developed the high performance production BSA Gold Star
, named in celebration of Wal L. Handley’s lap times, the Gold Star model was considered a revolutionary design and featured a single cylinder 500cc engine with twin pushrods in a cast-in-place tapered pushrod tube which operated double-coil springs and overhead valves. Page also designed the reliable wartime BSA M20
motorcycle.
After the war he returned to Ariel.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
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...
designer born in 1892. Described as Britain's greatest motorcycle designer, he worked for most of the leading marques, including Ariel
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970...
, Triumph, and BSA. He died in 1978.
J.A Prestwich
Bert le Vack
Herbert 'Bert' le Vack was a motorcycle world speed record holder throughout the 1920s and earned the nickname the 'Wizard of Brooklands' for his exploits at the Brooklands Track. An expert racing engine tuner, le Vack worked for some of the great marques and in the late 1920s joined Motosacoche...
famous. Page designed engines used in the Brough Superior SS100
Brough Superior SS100
The Brough Superior SS 100 was designed and built by George Brough in Nottingham, England in 1924. Although every bike was designed to meet specific customer requirements—even the handlebars were individually shaped—sixty-nine SS100s were produced in 1925 and at £170 were advertised by Brough as...
and SS80 luxury motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970...
, who he joined in 1925 where he became chief designer and began by developing a new range of motorcycles for the 1926 season. Starting with an advanced engine, Page had to wait until 1927 before a suitable frame and cycle parts were designed. These formed the basis for what was to be the Ariel Red Hunter
Ariel Red Hunter
The Ariel Red Hunter was the name used for a range of Ariel single-cylinder motorcycles. They were designed by the firm's chief designer Val Page in 1932 around an overhead-valve single-cylinder engine he developed six years earlier...
, which continued successfully until Ariel ceased production of four strokes in 1959. Page was an innovator and his radical designs included the Ariel Leader
Ariel Leader
The Leader was an Ariel motorcycle made from 1958 and 1965. A radical design, the Leader was fully enclosed with an integral windscreen and was the first British motorcycle to have flashing indicators...
.
Triumph
He left Ariel in 1932 to become Chief Designer at rival motorcycle producers Triumph Motorcycles where he developed the vertical twin and a range of singles, including a 150cc two-stroke and 250, 350 and 500cc four-strokes, with Edward TurnerEdward Turner
Edward Turner was a British motorcycle designer. He was born in Camberwell in the London Borough of Southwark, on the day King Edward VII was proclaimed King....
BSA
Moving on to BSA just before 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...
Page developed the high performance production BSA Gold Star
BSA Gold Star
The Gold Star is a motorcycle made by BSA from 1938–1963. They were 350 cc and 500 cc single-cylinder four-stroke production motorcycle known for being among the fastest bikes of the 1950s...
, named in celebration of Wal L. Handley’s lap times, the Gold Star model was considered a revolutionary design and featured a single cylinder 500cc engine with twin pushrods in a cast-in-place tapered pushrod tube which operated double-coil springs and overhead valves. Page also designed the reliable wartime BSA M20
BSA M20
The BSA M20 was a British motorcycle made by Birmingham Small Arms Company at their factory in Small Heath, Birmingham. Initially viewed as a near failure by the War Office in 1936, the M20 evolved into one of the longest serving motorcycles in the history of British military motorcycling, as well...
motorcycle.
After the war he returned to Ariel.