John Britten

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  • Born 1 August 1950 in Christchurch.
  • Trained in mechanical engineering, and worked as a design engineer.
  • Established own business making stained glass and lights.
  • Married Kirsteen Price and had three children - Sam, Isabelle and Jessica.
  • Began designing motorcycles and developed the Britten V1000 using his own design and construction techniques to make a faster, lighter "superbike".
  • After years of mixed success Andrew Stroud won the world individual BEARS championship in 1995 riding a Britten bike.
  • Died on 5 September 1995 from a malignant melanoma.