Very sad news indeed. Ken was active on the forum and a good guy. He will be missed.
Kens number 87 is the Bike on the cover of Tuning for SpeedEver the engineer which he was, when Ken was here it was only fitting that as a RAAF trained engineer I take him to Biggin Hill where he got to sit in a Spitfire he was so happy and a little surprised that he got to sit in a Spitfire, he thought the mirror the pilot had a little small for the job. He had barely got into the hanger when he was discussing the finer points of an engine with staff engineers.
Ken once said to me when we got divorced the wife cleaned me out all I got was the bikes he added about this Norvin that he could not afford to race it any more so it lives in the lounge.
Oh! the other photo is Ken outside the historic Wiltons music hall in Londons east end off Wellclose Square.
Ken was indeed the real deal if ever there was one his interests spread way beyond motorcycles anything technical that was his bag, yes the real deal.So true about the deer in the UK. Unfortunately a friend 'collected' one in broad daylight earlier this year, totaled her machine , modern Triumph Tiger, she fortunately survived but with cracked ribs and lacerated internal organ ?. Also, bumped into my machinist a couple of weeks ago and he was considering knocking biking on the head as these deer incidents were giving him the yips.
The deer issue here in the SE is getting as bad as the cattle, roos and brumbies in Oz .
Just sayin', take care out there.
ps Ken Phelps seemed like the real deal, Godspeed. Condolences to family and friends.