It's a 1947 - vintage bike built in 1947 engine
number F10AB/1/3xx.The original owner was Doug McPherson of
Rockwood Ontario, just west of Toronto. Doug had Akront rims laced
onto the Rapide hubs, and added longer seat stays that led to the
seat being fully sprung. Doug told me that he showed the
seat arrangement to Phil Irving many years ago, when the bikes
were still in production, and that his arrangement is what
inspired the fully sprung Series D types. When I bought the
bike it was absolutely clapped- out, having been raced and driven
hard by Doug and one of his sons, who inherited it on his passing
in 1992. Mike White did the engine and rebushed the
Bramptons. The list of items replaced and/ or refurbished is
too long to include in an email. Suffice it to say it is virtually
a new engine. Hot cams and 8:1 pistons make for a strong
runner with tons of torque. The bike took an award for
Best Series 'B' at the 2007 rally in Vermont. Phil Mahood is
fettling it at the moment and a new BTH mag is in the
offing. Mike , Toronto
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( 394kfile - 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:
Good card to carry in your wallet:
http://www.medids.com/free-id.php
Interesting website about
Coburn Benson, his shop and Grey Flash:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dannysoar/3356953327/in/pool-vincentmotorcycle/
2 interesting videos about Sid Biberman and Bonneville....videos
developed by the TV show Cafe
Racer.
Riding a Series "C"
Comet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3jBGTc3Ycg&feature=related
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)
Amandaa water scooter video ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfTgYKoa-P4
General Motorcycle
Links
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
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.
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/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UdLaf276-I
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 )
Interesting photos and stories about olde motorcycles. http://thevintagent.com
Top Gear video: Race between a Steam Train, an XK 120 and a Vincent Black Shadow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBZVPsfCxjI
Irving-Vincent Engine:Photos, history, and
infomation in Special
Report. Australia
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 )
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
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.

for classifieds and photos Craig
Comontofski - please e-mail: husky@huskyclub.com
Craig leads the pack..
(Our Office Staff)
(The Office Cat .."Lucky")