In his book on Johnie Johnson, Dilp Sarkar recounts that Johnie flew the squadron Auster down to Rearsby on a day off in order to participate in a test of the latest Auster IV conducted by the Chief test pilot, Mr Waite.
The both got in and Waite lined it up on the runway. He announced he would demonstrate a short take off and promptly opened the throttle while standing on the brakes until the tail assumed the level for flight. Waite then released the brakes and "we were off in a very short distance indeed."
In the Auster book there is another story about the doings of Mr Waite. Apparently he did a similar demo in an AOP5 in front of the "brass"...except he announced he would take off over the manager's little Standard 10 parked ridiculously close down the runway. He almost cleared it!
But he subsequently gave a very good demo of how to land an Auster on one gear leg only toppling at the end of the landing run.
I gather the tradespeople at Rearsby had panel eating skills as well.
Kaz