Online fundraiser set up for fire-damaged Dudley race bike business
An online GoFundMe page has been set up in support of historic race bike business Trident MCS, after it was left devastated by an electrical fire.
The Dudley-based firm manufactures Rob North Trident and Rocket Three race bikes and was left badly damaged by the blaze on Friday, March 14.
Over £200,000 worth of bikes were destroyed, plus vital tools, and equipment – leaving their future in doubt.
“The tube bender, the CNC machines, it’s all destroyed – the electrics are all gone,” business owner, Les Whiston, 74, told MCN shortly after the incident. “The manual lathes, all the grinders, everything that we used to make the frames is just gone. It’s going to be hard to replace it.”
Unfortunately, the business had no insurance in place to cover the damage, after the policy lapsed whilst Les recovered from a near fatal motorcycle accident sustained at a race meeting last August.
“When the medics got to me at the circuit, I’d actually stopped breathing, and I was in intensive care for a fortnight,” Les explained – having built the building himself a number of years prior.
Following the news of the damage, Mallory Park-based motorcycle dealership Huggys Speed Shop set up an online fundraiser to help Les and wife Denise Whiston get back on their feet.
“Come on everyone let’s all get together and show what the friends and followers can do,” the webpage reads. “Please give what you can to help Les and family and make life a bit easier for them at this awful time.”
Put live on Friday, March 21, the initial goal of £2000 has already been surpassed, with £2555 generated through 55 donations at the time of writing. Those wanting to support further able to do so by visiting the GoFundMe website.
The incident has also now been reported on ITV news, prompting some local people to get in touch and offer a helping hand.
“We have had a lot of support,” Les continued. “I’ve never seen motorbikes burned like these. The fire was just so intense inside.
“I haven’t had a single customer be negative, they’ve all been good.”
