We felt honoured today to welcome Stan Dibben to the Norton factory.

Stuart Garner, Peter Scatchard, Ex President Norton Owners Club and Stan Dibben

Stan was asked to ‘ballast’ assist Eric Oliver at the testing facility MIRA in 1952 and found himself more or less hijacked into his sidecar for the 1953 season. The British duo went on to win the FIM Sidecar World Championship and still remain the last Englishmen to become World Champions on a British bike – a Norton Manx.

Stan Dibbens in his day racing as passenger on a sidecar

This wasn’t the first time Stan had crossed paths with Norton. In 1949 he assisted the development of the infamous featherbeds and also competed in the Manx Grand Prix on a 350 Manx which he built himself. He also built the first ever Dominator racer and went on to race it in 1952.

Click here to find out more about Stan.