1963 Super Nero 1000cc Supercharged
Sprint Machine
Supercharged 'super Nero' was the natural successor
to 'Nero', George Brown's legendary Vincent
twin sprint record breaker. Nero has broken
vurtually every National course record and set
a World record for a standing kilometer at 108.73mph,
but after ten years was at the end ot its development.
Nero, buikt originally out of a written off
wrecked Vincent road machine though fitted with
telescopic front forks and twin shock rear suspension
to suit George's preference, but the new Super
Bero was much more radical, apart from the fitting
of a hige supercharger capable of supplying
a 1500 ec engine.
This time George and his brother Cliff built
a lightweight tubular frame to make the machine
longer and lower. This was to reduce the tendency
for the power to lift the front wheel, a tendency
from which Nero suffered. To save weight, front
forks frm a 70cc Honda stepthru were fitted
and the spare space in the gear box used as
an oil tank. Super Nero was soon breaking the
solo and sidecar records set by Nero. George,
now completely committed to sprinting, his road
racing career ended by serious crashes which
had scarred him for life, went faster and faster.
A big bore 1300cc engine was built and a spare
engine so that he could contest more classes
at the same event and at Greenham Common airfield
the Super Nero took seven World & Naional standing
start mile and flying kilometre records.
In the flying start kilometre runs, the 1000
ec machine was faster that the 1300 with 158.238
mph against 149.732mph. George had a secret
ambition to be the first British rider to top
200mph on British soil, over a measured distance.
He had already been docked on Super Nero over
a finish line at Elvington Speed Meeting at
236mph. The problem was there was nowhere in
the country where Super Nero could be safely
extended to its limit and various attempts on
aerodromes were often ruined by bad weather.
There was another, almost ridiculous problem.
The FIM, the international body governing record
attempts, has an arbitrary age limit for riders
fo 55. At 55, George Ccomplained bitterly to
the FIM that he was perfectly fit, probably
fitter that many riders who were younger. He
was allowed to go for National records and might
soon be going faster than world records. He
had made his point and in 1968 the ban was lifted.
George celebrated by setting a new National
& World record for the flying kilometre with
a two way mean average of 182mph. Super Nero's
rear tyre was worn down to the canvas after
those runs. His last chance of going for that
elusive 200mph was ruined by gusts of wind which
blew him 10ft off course, but with sidecar attached,
Super Nero set a new World & National records
for the flying half mile of 128.234mph. That
same year, 1970, he had his first heart attack
and his sprint days were over, but he had seen
his son Tony, show that he could handle Super
Nero by setting a National flying quarter record
at 146.7mph. George refused many tempting offers
for Super Nero, but did once say "I expect it
will end up in a museum". George died five days
later after his 67th birthday.
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