Record-smashing motorcycle ‘the star’ of exhibition

0Super Nero’s exhibition launch reunited the iconic motorbike with George Brown’s son Tony (L) and his great-grandson Jordan (middle)The motorcycle will be telling the story of racer George Brown at the place where he made history."After 60 years, Super Nero is going home."

In 1966, motorcycle racer George Brown set 11 world and 16 national speed records at former RAF station Greenham Common near Newbury, Berkshire.

Now his motorcycle Super Nero is "the star" of an exhibition at Greenham Common Control Tower until 17 December, loaned to the charity by the National Motorcycle Museum.

Tower volunteer Steve Gouldstone said they wanted to tell the story of Brown's achievements because "nobody really knew anything about it" locally.

He said the story had come through research he had been doing about speed records in general on the common.

"To our surprise we found a very small entry about George Brown's exploits which just snowballed into exhibitions and all sorts of things."

Gouldstone said the racer had come to Greenham Common as part of a small team who "were out to smash as many records as they could".

But at the age of 55, he was deemed "too old to ride a motorbike fast" by the sports regulating body at the time.

After his remarkable achievements, however, he proved there was "no real barrier to him competing in the sport that he loved and was at the peak of his capability".

"That's why we wanted to tell the story and because it was forgotten locally," Gouldstone said.

Among the guest at the launch on 2 October were Brown's son Tony, his great – grandson Jordan and top racing car designer Adrian Reynard, who was Brown's apprentice when he was just 15.

"He came and started talking about how the bike was made, repaired and how they made it go faster and faster on each improvement," Gouldstone said.

"Other visitors were just amazed at these guys that … were still recalling the repairs they'd made to the bike back in 1966, so it was quite surreal."

He describes the Super Nero as "one of the most iconic sprint machines probably in the world".

"It's a very special bike, based on a very old British engine," Gouldstone said.

"It was then completely rebuilt by George and his brother Cliff, plus his son and his apprentice to go as fast as possible.

"It's a pleasure to have it back in Greenham where 60 years ago it ruled the world, really."

Peter Evans, a long-standing Tower guide volunteer said: "Every day we open it's great to see our visitors spend time reading our exhibitions content and having conversations about their recollections – sometimes sharing their stories with people they have only just met."

Gouldstone added several other local voluntary organisations and businesses had "all helped make this exhibition for the charity a reality".

Two plays by Newbury historian and playwright Andy Kempe – What We Had and When Nero Burned Down the Common – will be staged at the Tower between 15-17 October.

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