In the early 1900's, George William Foster, Mike, Gord and Lori's great grandfather established G.W.Foster Co.Ltd in London, England. Here is the firm's catalogue cover from 1915 (Right)

Not only did Mr. Foster supply bicycles and bicycle parts, he also manufactured on the premises, the MAXIM motorcycle which his catalogue described as: " a well constructed Motor Cycle, fitted with 3 and 1/2 h.p. T.D.C. Engine, Adjustable Pulley,Bosch Magneto, B and B Carburetor with H.B.Control, Brass Tank, Lubricating Oil Pump, Dunlop V Belt, Brampton Motor saddle, Wide Mudguards with Registered Side Wings, Ideal Front Spring Fork, Dunlop Heavy Studded Tires on Plated Rims, Two Powerful Rim Brakes. Machines enameled in Best Black and Lined, or Dark Green and Gold Lined." All for £28-10 shillings!

Enthusiasm for the sport ran in the family! So much so that Mrs. Foster was one of the first women in England to be registered (you didn't need a licence at the time) to ride a motorcycle!

Frank Foster,George's son, served as a dispatch rider with the British Expeditionary Force in France during World War One. A letter to Britain's The Motor Cycle in December 1915 praised the Triumph motorcycle he rode: "Despatch riders D. Maple and F.N. Foster tells us that they are still riding 3 and 1/2 H.P.Triumphs that have been in constant use under most trying circumstances for some fourteen months. Both mounts are running splendidly, and the engine of each has only been taken down once; the only trouble experienced has been the occasional snapping of the front springs due to frequent night riding over shell holed roads." Following the war Frank set up his own motorcycle business in London selling war surplus machines and parts. He was also very active in motorcycle racing and testing. In the early 1930's Frank relocated his business to Jersey in the Channel Islands where he took up sailing.

During the evacuation of the Allied Expeditionary Forces trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940, Frank used his cabin cruiser to evacuate soldiers back to England. He made one trip too many and was captured by the Germans. He was deported,with his family,to the Wurzack work camp in Germany. Life in the camp took its toll. Shortly after the war ended he became seriously ill and died aged fifty one.

Alan G. Inglis, grandson of George Foster and father of the present day owners started in the motorcycle industry in England in the early 1940's as an assembler with the H.R. Nash company in Dorking, Surrey. During his spare time he raced motorcycles. In 1948, he immigrated to Canada where he worked as an automobile mechanic and again, in his spare time, raced motorcycles with the B.E.M.C. (British Empire Motorcycle Club). One of the favorite venues at the time was Wasaga Beach. Here's Alan in May 1949 at Wasaga Beach with an Ariel Red Hunter. In 1950, Alan returned to the U.K.to compete in a race in Dumfries, Scotland. He is seen below at Dumfries on a 348 cc OHV Velocette.

In 1978 Alan and his family returned to Canada and settled in London,Ontario,where he subsequently opened Inglis Cycle Center on Osler St selling Yamaha bikes. A short time later, a second store was established on McGregor Avenue. In 1985, both stores were amalgamated at the present location on McCormick Blvd. What started out as a single line Yamaha dealership has now grown into a seven line dealership; Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Triumph, Ducati and KTM.

Alan Inglis is now retired and lives in Florida but still keeps an interest in the family business. Back in London, Gord, Mike and Lori Inglis continue the family tradition of providing first class sales and service to the motorcycle community. In 2000, Alan and David Inglis, sons of Mike and Gord, began working part time at the business thus beginning the fifth generation of involvement that started almost 100 years ago.

A message from Mike,Gord and Lori

"Our family passion for motorcycling is now entering its fifth generation. It's our hope that we will see other families gain as much fun from the sport (whether it be on the street, trail or track)as our family has. We look forward to passing on our knowledge and expertise to our customers and friends for many years to come"