Mototcycle Specials E.A. Barret's PHOENIX J.A.P

In the beginning

My investigation into the story of one of .TAP's last racing engines and an engineer's efforts to build and race competitive British motorc ycles started when I saw Ewan Cameron's 5oocc Phoenix- .TAP. After asking Ewan for more information, he sem through a scan of a Vic Willoughby article published in The Motor Cycle, April 2, 1952. From here thcsror y unravelled and with further research, this is what I have so far..

Precision engineer and keen weightlifter Ernie A BaiTctt, from I !arrow , Middlesex , started grass track racing in 1946, attending meetings at Folkstone, Lyddcn Hill and Favcrsharn among others. Ernie ended his first season by winning the Nov ice Cup at the final meeting of the season , at Brands I latch.

The following year, Barrett started road racing. As Britain recovered from the war , venues for racing were in constam flux, with airfields co111111oplaying host to road racingevems due to the lack of dedicated circuits. Barrett would attend meetings on the airfields of Ansry, Dunholrne and his more local venue of Abridge. As many an ambitious road racer made their annual pilgrimage to compete