Vincent Part 2. February 2008
Argentina, Australia, Canada & the USA were among many other countries that not only wanted Vincent's, but had enough cashed-up buyers to make exports worthwhile. Racers and speed enthusiasts loved the Vincent's of the late 1940s as they were capable of winning races AND setting National speed records straight out of the box.Part of the reason for this is that most Vincent's of the time were made largely out of alloy metals because steel was at a premium after the war. A company had to accrue points to be allocated steel, while alloy was more freely available, most coming from derelict and surplus bombers & fighters. There are probably remnants of Spitfires & Lancaster's in the Vincent's in circulation today!The Series "B" Vincent was still fitted with pre-war style girder forks & only friction damping at each end, but it was very comfortable, very fast & had a unique clutch that was capable of handling the power but could be operated with one finger. Why one finger? Phil Vincent has said this was because ex-pilots would want them & many had damaged hands or arms from the war. Whatever the truth behind that, there were no more problems with clutch slip & the engine was more powerful & more oil tight than the pre-war Series "A" (aka the plumber's nightmare). By 1948 there was another upgrade - the Black Shadow - which caused a storm on its release and was the basis for the record-setter piloted by Rollie Free (see the 'Flat Out!' review from last issue).At least 125 mph was possible from a stock specification Black Shadow, making it the fastest road vehicle for sale anywhere in the world. Track & speed records were set all around the world on these bikes, including Australia. In sidecar competition, they were virtually unbeatable.But there was even greater things to come - in the form of the Black Lightning! Stripped down & purpose-built to race, these were 150 mph rockets. A small number of these high-performance machines were actually ordered with battery, generator & lights so they could be ridden on the road - the police wouldn't have had a hope of catching them! Concluding next month
Vincent in print
Like the Triumph bikes (and cars) of the pre and post WWII period, Vincent was similarly popular in this country. In fact, Australia was one of Vincent's most successful export markets.Brian Greenfield has chronicled much of that success in The Vincent H.R.D. in Australia.With an impressive level of detail, as well as access to import numbers, racing photos, brochures and advertisements, Greenfield has compiled a thorough history of the Vincent H.R.D. and its impact in Australia.The "two way street" of this exchange is also covered, with two separate chapters devoted to Phil Irving, the Australian engineer who was a key to Vincent's success.Beyond the mere facts and figures, there's a wealth of interesting points to be uncovered in this book. For instance, did you know that Vincent H.R.D.'s were re-branded simply as Vincent's for the US market due to American buyers confusing the H.R.D. moniker for Harley Davidson? Or that the legendary John Surtees served as an apprentice at the Vincent works?It's this level of detail and research that make this book a worthwhile read, not just for the Vincent H.R.D. fanatic, but also for the general enthusiast of motorcycle history.Greenfield lists the handful of H.R.D.s that came to Australia prior to WW II, along with details on the agents who sold them.Vincent's impressive record in the Australian TT is covered, where the marque racked up an impressive amount of victories.Similarly, in GP and TT sidecar competition, Vincent outfits were virtually unbeatable for close to thirty years. Greenfield also covers Vincent record-setters, where names like Col Crothers, Jack Ehret, Les Warton and Jack Carruthers feature prominently. The racing careers of these personalities are also profiled.A chapter is devoted to Vincent's ultimate racer, the Black Lightning, of which a third of the 34 (alleged) produced found their way down under.The chapter on Vincent's in speedway sidecar competition is peppered with action photos, adverts and race programs.Following a history of Vincent-powered four-wheelers, the book concludes with a tribute to Phil Irving, followed by a comprehensive table on every known Vincent H.R.D imported into Australia and New Zealand.While the research and writing is first class, photo reproduction is disappointingly poor in some sections. Understandably, the originals may not be great either, but one suspects an improvement in image quality and overall layout could make what's already a good book so much better.The Vincent H.R.D. in Australia by Brian Greenfield, published by Bookworks, Pty Ltd.$49.95 RRP from specialist motoring bookstores.
Similarly, in GP and TT sidecar competition, Vincent outfits were virtually unbeatable for close to thirty years. Greenfield also covers Vincent record-setters, where names like Col Crothers, Jack Ehret, Les Warton and Jack Carruthers feature prominently. The racing careers of each of these personalities are also profiled in detail. A chapter is devoted to Vincent's ultimate racer, the Black Lightning, including the history on the first five imported into Australia. Of the 34 (alleged) Black Lightnings produced, a third eventually found their way down under, with most of that total still in complete condition. The chapter on Vincent's in speedway sidecar competition is peppered with photos, adverts and race programs. Many JUST BIKES readers will no doubt have fond memories of seeing these awesome outfits 'in the metal' in the 1950s & 60s. Following the history of Vincent-powered four-wheelers, the book concludes with a tribute to Phil Irving, followed by a comprehensive table on every known Vincent H.R.D imported into Australia and New Zealand.While the research and writing is first class, photo reproduction is disappointingly poor in some sections. Understandably, the originals may not be in great condition either, but one suspects that improvement to the image quality and overall layout could make what is already a good book so much better.The Vincent H.R.D. in Australia by Brian Greenfield, published by Bookworks, Pty Ltd.$49.95 RRP from specialist motoring bookstores.
Vincent gear
Vincent may be long gone, but if the response to last issue's Vincent history and book review is anything to go by, the passion for the marque is just as strong as in its heyday.In celebration of that passion, Motociclo has a range of Vincent-branded merchandise items available, from t-shirts and singlets to scale models, videos, badges and sew-on patches.Vincent t-shirts &singlets - $35 each. These authentic, traditional fit "Fruit of the Loom" motorcycle t-shirts & singlets are individually hand screen-printed on top quality 100% cotton in The Netherlands. As well as Vincent, t-shirts and singlets on a wide range of British or European marques are also available. Vincent VHS - $39.95 Part of the Duke Video Best of British series and subtitled "the full and in-depth history of a magnificent bike", this title covers the history of one of the best British motorcycles of all time.Over 70 minutes, the remarkable story and fascinating facts of the Vincent marque are uncovered - from the first HRD racers of 1925 through to the final streamlined 'Black Prince' models that heralded the marque's demise 30 years later.Note: currently available on VHS only.
Vincent Cloth Patch $8 and Pin $9
Both feature the classic scroll-style Vincent logo. Cloth patch is 140mm wide with black text and outline on a white patch. Badge is 30mm wide in polished bare metal finish with black embossed 'Vincent' text.
Minichamps Model – VINCENT HRD Series C Black Shadow 1950 - $146
About the only Vincent most of us will be able to afford! This finely crafted 1:12 model is of exceptional quality and manufactured by the acclaimed German "Minichamps" brand.All these products are available now through MOTOCICLO, 95-97 Princes Hwy, St Peters 2044.Ph: (02) 9557 7234 email: [email protected] www.motociclo.com.au
