▁ 3 5 0   cc ▁European ▁Champion ▁and ▁held ▁the ▁title ▁throughout ▁the ▁second ▁World ▁War , ▁until ▁racing ▁started ▁again ▁when ▁pet rol ▁was ▁no ▁longer ▁r ation ed . ▁ ▁M ell ors ▁was ▁one ▁of ▁a ▁few ▁pre - World ▁War ▁II ▁British ▁rid ers ▁who ▁real ised ▁that ▁they ▁could ▁probably ▁make ▁more ▁money ▁by ▁racing ▁regularly ▁in ▁Grand ▁Prix ▁motor cycle ▁racing ▁events ▁on ▁the ▁Cont inent . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 7 ▁Ben elli ▁had ▁a ▁g ear ▁drive ▁SO HC ▁ 1 7 5   cc ▁model . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 0 ▁this ▁became ▁DO HC , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁the ▁capacity ▁was ▁increased ▁to ▁ 2 5 0   cc . ▁With ▁this ▁machine ▁M ell ors ▁won ▁the ▁Light weight ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁Is le ▁of ▁Man ▁T T . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁During ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁M ell ors ▁worked ▁in ▁m un itions ▁and ▁was ▁with ▁the ▁volunte er ▁fire ▁service . ▁He ▁applied , ▁but ▁was ▁not ▁accepted ▁for ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁due ▁to ▁slightly ▁defect ive ▁eyes ight , ▁despite ▁already ▁having ▁a ▁private ▁air ▁pilot ’ s ▁lic ence . ▁ ▁M ell ors ▁designed ▁and ▁pat ented ▁a ▁rot ary ▁val ve ▁system ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 4 0 s , ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁He ▁was ▁issued ▁Pat ent ▁ 5 5 9 8 3 0 , ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9