A Phelon & Moore Red Panther 250cc single wins the coveted Maudes Trophy.
The Maudes Trophy is a motorcycle award established in 1923 by George Pettyt, owner of Maudes Motor Mart based in Great Portland Street, London who promoted an impartially-observed endurance test for motorcycles. A different system of tests are used each year.
Phelon & Moore manufactured a range of lightweight motorcycles, most carrying the name Panther or Red Panther, using their own four-stroke single engines and Villiers two-strokes. Opting to use their own four-stroke for their 250cc Red Panther, figuring they had nothing to lose and everything to gain, they entered the Red Panther in the 1934 Maudes Trophy endurance/performance race. They capture the Silver Trophy with the 250's performance in the Land's End Run: average speed greater than 35 mph, fuel efficiency of 96.3 mpg and it's "hands-off" stability at and over 50 mph.
The Red Panther was famous for being the cheapest complete bike available in Britain in the 1930's, priced under 30 pounds.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
