Very
Original "B" Rapide in Australia. Mercifully, no one has "restored"
this yet. (Paul Zahra photo)
Vincent
Video - 'Chasing
Shadows'. The video is available in NTSC
/ VHS format and costs $35 including shipping to USA. At the moment we
can only accept payment by personal checks ( in Dollars ). Mail checks
to 'Grasshopper Films' at - 5B North Street, THAME, Oxfordshire, OX9 3BH,
UK. Please check out video details at ( http://www.btinternet.com/~grasshopperfilms)
other formats available , PAL. E-Mail address for
info: grasshopperfilms@btinternet.com (Pip Whiteman)
Russell
Wright Reunion at Lake Arrowhead by Bill Hoddinott
Vincent
Black Lightning #F10AB/1C/4439 and Black Lightning Data
Black
Lightning Special Parts List (items, part numbers, some
photos)
Grey Flash
Information
Grey
Flash Ad 1949( 394k
file - very large for detail)
Vincent
Rapide Drawing(143k file)
Drag
Racing at Night - Auger (129k)
Vincent
Rapide Article with specs and photo (1951)
Letters
From Home (not motorcycle related...late night musings)
Phil Vincent: The years after 1959. Historical note by Robin Vincent-Day.
Russell Wright Interview by Bill Hoddinott
"McDouglator" generator for Vincent motorcyles
Nigerian Internet Scammers
Other recommended websites:
Vincent
Motorcycle Build/Date information (VOC) (revised
3/25/07) (This link is curretnly not operating - 4-16-07)
Vincent
Owners Club Home Site
Vincent
Motorcycle Links #1
Vincent
Motorcycle Links #2
thevincent.co.uk
(Graham Carey)
General Motorcycle Links
The Husqvarna Motorcycle Club
(huskyclub.com)
Packard 120
Page
Shaking
Forces of Twin Engines
Walt Lund Carb Restoration
Bob
Kizer's Magneto Information
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
(Engine Break-in Secrets)
Hunter S. Thompson's
Writings on Vincents
History
of Cooper Cars
http://www.huskyclub.com/P400partslist.html
- (Craig's new Lamborghini Muira Website)
Working
on Motorcycles - article by Paul Zell
Cooper car History: http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/638/cooperstory4tn.jpg
Video/audio clip of Irving Vincent Racer being
air-started: http://www.irvingvincent.com/video/classic_racer.mpg
www.myvincent.co.uk/parts/parts.php (Vincent Spares List)
http://www.vincentstreamliner.com
(Various photos and videos of the Lambky Vincent
Streamliner, Burns & Wright Lightning, Dave Matson, and other LSR Vincents)
How to read Spark Plugs by Gordon Jennings: http://www.strappe.com/plugs.html
NGK Sparkplug information: http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinfo/spark_plugs/techtips.asp?nav=31000&country=US
The Story of the Black Shadow by Phil Irving : http://www.vincent-hrd.co.uk/story.html
Video of David Jefferies riding flat out at IOM with personal commentary. Great Fun. Be sure to go to Full Screen. I can only watch it for a couple minutes before I have to stop to breathe.... http://kapitalmoto.co.uk/node/235
Recommended Vincent road test video. http://youtube.com/watch?v=mPZjk4AIBdU
The story of Crazy George Disteel and his 19 Vincents as posted by Paul Zell. http://www.velocette.org/html/crazy%20george%20disteel.htm
There are a whole series of "On Any Sunday" video sections on Youtube.com. Still magical 36 years later. Start with Bart, Malcolm and Steve at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRJK02uV_oE&NR=1
Vincent motorcycles in the Movies:
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Vincent.html
Story of the Vincent "Black Widow" .... bogus but fun: http://www.angelfire.com/wi/VinWidow/index.html
Richard Thompson's version of Vincent Black Lightning: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AxKTzwaEa2o
Phil Davies sent in instructions for using thevincent.com as your Home Page or as your desktop Background !!
Scandinavian Vincent Club: http://vincenthrd.se
Steve Hamel's 153mph/100hp Bonneville Vincent on the Dyno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6SpCobouDc&feature=related
Interesting video of Jay Leno testing out his
Vincent Black Shadow:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/#mea=167040
Great solution to Speeding: www.speedbandits.dk/
Interesting website for renting videos if you really want to Learn a Skill.... welding, lathe operation..etc..: http://smartflix.com
Burman BAP drawngs: http://vincenthrd.se/skisser.php
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,3908.0.html ( Link to Max's Vincent Streamliner website )
Tony Cording's interesting historical photos of
the Dearden Black Lightning as it appeared in 1977 at the SLR. Also,
David Bowen's Factory photos and the History of the Dearden Black Lightning.
Click
Here.
The story telling is not limited to Vincent motorcycles... indeed, there is extensive coverage of Rollie making his early mark racing Indian motorcycles. 46 years and 80 pages go by before the first mention of a Vincent motorcycle. However, to truly understand the role of the Spitfire airplane in the Battle of Britain, you have to go back at least to the Schneider Air Races of the 1930's. So it is with a man in his bathing shorts and bath slippers balanced precariously on the rear fender of a Vincent setting the American Motorcycle Speed Record at Bonneville....you need to go back to the beginnings. Phil Irving's autobiography gives you historical perspective on the design, production and special magic of the Vincent motorcycle. "Flat Out" gives you the essence of the man/tuner/rider and further details of that eventful day and the special machine. A serious book for a serious reader...and Christmas and long winter nights are fast approaching, just like that Vincent.
Sources for "Flat
Out"
The Richard Thompson Song about a '52 Vincent Black Lightning clearly conveys the passionate feelings that are generated by beautiful women and powerful motorcycles. Those of us who have experienced both admire Richard's ability of communicating to others the stories of our wildest and deepest loves. Richard carries us away on a vivid adventure in song where others have been left standing at the curb. By the end of his story we feel our tourguide on this enjoyable journey has shown us that Red-haired women and Vincent Black Lightnings can be both our salvation and our ruin. What is powerful enough to carry us to the heavens can also crash us to earth. His gift of the Black Lightning may not be a reward for what she gave him, but rather a realization that he must free himself from the steel bonds of both of his deepest loves. Only then can he escape the forces that gave him life and controlled his destiny.
For those of us who own a Vincent motorcycle, nothing else comes remotely close to the feelings of riding a quiet Dinosaur that suddenly transforms into a Fierce Dragon that bellows fire and takes flight..except a loving beautiful woman.
Richard understands.
To listen to the song....paste and scroll down
and play. Compliments of Red Molly. ( http://www.rtlist.net/listen.htm
)
Thoughts about Ebay:
Xxxxxxxxx,
Thanks for your note.. Yes, ads are thin right now with people putting their spares on Evil Bay clawing for absolutely the top dollar...although they may appropriately end up with the parts gone and a bogus cashiers check or claims of non-receipt of goods.. I don't link to or generally even mention Evil Bay. When asked about Evil Bay, I tell Vin owners to try to borrow some Vin parts from Ebay, ask about their next Vincent social event, try to get help setting up your timing chest, ask them a tech question about carbs, stop over for a free beer and chat...ask to see their Vincent model photo galleries and engine diagrams, let them help you with identifying models, serial numbers and sources of parts, call them up to share the excitement and joy of your first Spring ride, ask them to drive out with a van to pick you and your Vincent up when your magneto quits.....There is NOTHING at Ebay but a @^%$&#* computer...
Well... you get the point... people may get a fistful of dollars and certainly will get precious little else. Then... and this is Classic... in a later conversation they complain about the high price of some Vin parts they really need. Bitten by their own snake. I guess that's what they deserve. The rest of us will post our Vincents and parts on thevincent.com. and receive the rewards of lasting friendships and an honest amount of money.
Jim Baltusnik
thevincent.com
Favorite episode involving a motorcycle:
In 1972 an old Chinese man in Takoma Park, MD asked me to look at this
strange motorcycle in the cellar of the house he inherited from his brother.
It was a rough Velocette Venom that had been sitting for years and was
missing the muffler. We worked for over an hour in the dim light
before I could finally kick the reluctant dragon to life. It responded
by filling the cellar with thick blue smoke, flashes of light from the
backfires, and roars from the open exhaust. I’ll never forget his
wide open eyes and the dancing smile on his face. He was 9 again
and it was the Fourth of July. Also noted was the torrent of Chinese
shouts from his wife at the top of the stairs which were totally ineffective
at quenching our Celebration. To this day, the key ingredients of
vintage motorcycling still are - mystery, frustration, sweat, loud noises,
smoke, camaraderie, celebration, and contentment.
A
man can ride a Vincent Motorcycle in the daytime and sleep under a city
bridge at night covered only by cardboard and his life will be rich and
complete.
James Baltusnik - please e-mail: jim@thevincent.com
Vincent owner/enthusiast since 1971. I love AHRMA Vintage
Motocross Racing, tube hi-fi equipment, Pinot Noir, working on British
bikes and European sports cars, photography, and riding and working
on ratty Vincents. I have 2 Great children - Sarah (Applebee's staff
- Oregon) and Dr. Pete Baltusnik ( Eastern USA Hospital ).
Craig Comontofski
- please e-mail: husky@intrepid.net
Craig
leads the pack..
The
racing battle of the Century...!! Craig hopelessly chasing your editor
at the AHRMA Mid-Ohio Vintage Motocross Nationals.
(Our
Office Staff)
(The Office Cat .."Lucky")
Donated Commision Policy:
We do accept donations of Vincent parts or money
if you use the site and are successful in selling your Vincent parts or
motorcycle. The reason is that over the years several successful
sellers and buyers have sent me free Vincent parts (our basket case is
getting more complete !), one person sent several nice pieces of original
Vin literature which they held onto when they sold their Vin through the
website, and one East Coast Vincent owner routinely sends me 5% on every
item he sells through the site ! Several of the above have asked
me to post this policy of "unsolicited commisions" as they believe it to
be fair to all concerned... and we certainly can use the support.
In return you receive No Special Favors but probrably sleep a little better
and will certainly help to return another Vin to the road.