Click here to view a video of tube sections being bent for the Angelic Bulldog project at Unison

Scarborough-based Unison (www.unisonltd.com) is helping the Angelic Bulldog project — an attempt on the world motorcycle land speed record — by creating the ‘streamliner’ bike’s roll cage. This involved producing custom tooling as well as bending various tube sections.

The project was started in 1996 by Gabriel Uttley — a former Manx GP racer. It now involves a team of over 65 volunteers and a large number of supporters. Mr Uttley says: “We knew of Unison’s excellent reputation and initially asked the company’s MD — Alan Pickering — for advice about the fabrication of the roll cage, because some of the bends are very application-specific. Alan decided that the simplest way was for Unison to maker the necessary tools and bend the cage components on one of its electric tube benders.”

Although the roll cage was designed with standard bends of 5in and 6in centre-line radius, the need to allow for spring-back meant that off-the-shelf tooling could not be used. Furthermore, the roll cage was needed as soon as possible by volunteer team members, so Unison personnel worked through the night to create the custom tooling (pictured). The T45 steel tubing was then bent on a Breeze 90 machine.

Mr Pickering says: “We are delighted to be involved with this project. Apart from attempting to return the two-wheel land speed record to Britain, it aims to promote British design and engineering skills.”