Burning bright


On the front page of your December 2019 issue you carry a picture of Fred Whittle on the big ‘pussy cat’ Panther sidecar in the ’48 Colmore Cup Trial.

Fred was a regular campaigner of the works-entered Panther sidecar both prior and following World War Two in one-day trials, SSDT and the ISDT.

He won a number of sidecar class premiers in his career, but his main job for his Cleckheaton masters was to bring home the bacon in the over 500cc sidecar class. This he did regularly.

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1948 Colmore Cup Trial – Whittle on his Panther. He and his passenger claimed a second class award.

He was still riding when I first started out passengering in the 350 BSA outfit driven by Bill Howard. It was our equivalent job to do the business in the 350 sidecar class.

Fred always had a pleasant word for this young sidecar passenger. A really nice guy.

Michael Martin

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