User:Blackjacob

Elwyn Rees was born in Ammanford on the 3rd of August 1915. The son of a coal miner he quickly found himself working in the mines following the premature death of his mother at the age of 12. This enabled him to support his younger brother and father during this time. Throughout this time he had developed a love of motorcycles and motorcycle racing. With the onset of the second world War his skills as a mechanic were utilised first at Bristol Aircraft then most notably at Gloster Aircraft company where he worked on the development of the Whittle Jet engines and in particular the Meteor prototype jet. Throughout this time he was actively racing in races up and down the United Kingdom with frequent visits back to race in his native Wales. He was regarded as one of the finest non works riders of the time and became known as "Rees of Gloucester". Rees quickly established his reputation with notable performances at the Epynt, Black Mountain Trials, Pendine Sands and the Isle of Man TT. Indeed it was here that he broke his leg on the "windy corner", which would later prove to be the inspiration for the Windy Corner Garage he opened in Alltwalis 1952. Rees' background in engineering saw him customising his own motorcycles with his own innovation and modifications. Indeed he patented the rear plunger suspension on his then Indian, which the company then bought and introduced to their models, which then became commonplace on all motorcycles of the period. Rees also represented England post war in Motorcycle football with tours to Sweden and Holland. Rees' did not officially retire from competitive racing but moved to vintage races in his latter years. He established a motorcycle selling business in Lampeter as well as the Windy Corner garage in Alltwalis. His son Rody Rees would go on to develop the motorcycle business himself in subsequent in years.