THE PINK SMOKER
It was Alfred Angus Scott, one of the great innovators of early motorcycling history, who patented the first form of caliper brakes (1897), a fully triangulated frame, rotary induction valves, unit construction, the first motorcycle kick-start and much more. In short, Mr Scott was prolifically innovative when it came to motorcycle advancement. What also made him a true champion was his headstrong dislike for four-stroke side-valve technology at a time when there was really nothing else; this placed him on the edge of decent society during the early 1900s. However, what he built were fast and light two-strokes which ensured him victory in the Senior TT in 1912 and 1913, much to the chagrin of the rest of the (four-stroke-obsessed) industry.

Up until Ernst Degner invented the disc valve in the 1950s, the Squirrel in many ways encapsulated all that is worth knowing about two-stroke technology. With simplicity at the fore, it was not until 1926 that the legendary Squirrel gained a third gear. It was in this 600cc configuration that Scott succeeded at the 1929 Isle of Man.
Unfortunately, Alfred Angus Scott was not there to see the +90mph two-stroke take the four-strokes as he died about a year earlier on a potholing trip (a recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems that the Yorkshireman apparently enjoyed).