In 1950, Rollie Free returned to the Bonneville Salt Flats and broke his own record, averaging speeds of 156.58 mph (251.99 km/h) on the Vincent despite a high-speed crash during those speed trials. Innovative features of the bike included the first-ever Vincent rear shock absorber, the first Mk II racing cams and horizontally mounted racing carburettors. The American Motorcyclist Association certified Free's record. This led to one of the most famous photographs in motorcycle history, known as the "bathing suit bike". The stunt worked as Free covered the mile in 23.9 seconds, passing the 150 mph (240 km/h) barrier and on the return run he reached a record average speed of 150.313 mph (241.905 km/h). To reduce drag, Free stripped to his swimming shorts for the final run, which he made lying flat with his legs stretched out and his head low, guiding the Vincent by following a black stripe painted on the salt bed. During test runs Free reached average speeds of 148.6 mph (239.1 km/h). On 13 September 1948, Rollie Free achieved the US national motorcycle speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah riding the first Vincent Black Lightning.
The machine used by Rollie Free displayed at Pebble Beach in 2009
Only 31 Black Lightnings were ever built before production ended in 1952 because of Vincent's financial problems. This resulted in 70 bhp (52 kW) and a top speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). The Black Lightning had higher-strength connecting rods, larger inlet ports, polished rocker gear, steel idler gears, racing carburettors, and a manual-advance magneto, and was available with compression ratios between 6.8:1 and 12.5:1. The 998 cc (60.9 cu in) air-cooled OHV pushrod V-twin specifications were always based on standard parts but upgraded with higher-performance racing equipment. This reduced the Lightning's weight to 380 lb (170 kg). Īvailable to order, a standard Black Lightning was supplied in racing trim with magnesium alloy components, special racing tyres on alloy rims, rear-set foot controls, a solo seat and aluminium mudguards. This was a production version of the Black Lightning which held the motorcycle land-speed record, with a similar engine specification.
If you’d like to read more about this bike or register to bid you can click here to visit Bonhams.Vincent-HRD began motorcycle production in 1928 and were well established after World War II when they launched the 1,000 cc (61 cu in) Black Lightning. It was completed in the 1990s and last ridden in 2005 – it’s now presented in remarkably clean and complete condition, with an estimated hammer price of between £25,000 and £30,000 – an affordable price for anything with the word Vincent running along the side of the tank.
The 1937 Comet you see here has been in single family ownership since 1958, it underwent a 30 year restoration (albeit at a somewhat leisurely pace) that included a full engine and gearbox rebuild. Irving developed a backbone frame that used the engine as a stressed member, and unusually for the time – the Comet had both front and rear suspension. Australian engineer Phil Irving had designed the engine as a single-cylinder, high-camshaft, OHV, air-cooled unit with an alloy head, and an alloy barrel fitted with a cast cylinder liner. The Vincent-HRD Comet is an impressive motorcycle, even over 80 years since it was first released to the public. Long before the Black Shadow or Black Lightning were even a twinkle in Irving’s eye, his focus was on the Meteor and the Comet, the latter of which was the company’s sporting offering capable of 90 mph – if one could find a nice empty stretch of motorway that was unpatrolled by the rozzers. But as any Vincent historian will tell you, the legend of the V-twin began when engine designer Phil Irving noticed two blueprints for the single cylinder engine overlaid as a V – and began work on building one of the fastest and most desirable V-twin litre bikes the world has ever seen. Of course, the most famous Vincents are the V-twin models, particularly the Black Shadow and Black Lightning. The Vincent-HRD Comet was developed as an advanced half-litre sporting motorcycle by Vincent-HRD, and sold alongside its similarly-engined siblings the Comet Special, the TT replica, and the Meteor.