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Negative Gravity -A Life of Beatrice Shilling Book| This is a comprehensive biography of a mighty lady who raced motorbikes and became the Royal Aircraft Establishment leading expert on aircraft carburettors. After an apprenticeship with a small company she went to Manchester University to study engineering which was an unexpected career path for a girl at the time the late 1920s. A passion for motorcycles took her to Brooklands – where she obtained success in front of leading riders of the time. She rebuilt and tuned her own Norton and became the fastest woman on two wheels, clocking a lap time of 106mph. She also became the leading specialist in aircraft carburettors in the RAE, and during WW2 rectified a problem with fighter planes that would make combat more controlled for the pilots. Her wartime letters to her husband, a bomber pilot with 625 Squadron, evoke the atmosphere of the time while her lengthy career at Farnborough is covered in detail. This account of her life and achievements has been created by Matthew Freudenburg, a dedicated follower and lover of motorsport. |
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