The Benn brothers were Sam and Mole - never knew what his real name was - characters in every sense of the word. Mole, I think it was, used to compete at Bisley each year in the "Black Bess" rifle category if I remember correctly, the sort of gun in pirate movies with powder and a flint, as well as racing an old MV. Both Benns were very rapid Bantam racers, and like all the top people in that class and era, brilliant experimental engineers. There is a story about Fred, Sam, a Honda 4, a topless model, and dawn on Wimbledon Common floating around in my memory banks, but best left to stay there!
Fred had I think several greyhounds in succession - "rescue dogs" from the tracks, and on one occassion gave one exercise by driving his VW van down the Norwich Straight at Snetterton with the hound keeping pace just behind!
I don't think anyone will ever persuade me that the modern form of TT bike, as a tarted-up road bike, has an ounce of character compared to the wide range of "proper" racing machines up to the 70s or possibly 80s.
Racing should be the testbed of engineering, with the minimum of restrictions on what you can do, and I count myself very lucky that I was around when there were Honda 6s, MV 3s & 4s, the Paton, MZ strokers, the extraordinary Kreidler 12-speed 50s...............don't tell me that there is the slightest interest in going round the paddock nowadays, when the only thing to admire is a different paint job!