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"a motorcycle collection"
~ January 5th, 2013 ~
Prepared for publication in the March 2013 issue of
Thunder Roads Magazine NorCal
Some time ago I ran into "some dude" who had a very
unusual motorcycle; it caught my eye because of the fascination I have with Vincent motorcycles,
the unique design of the power plant, and because of the fondness I have for the smooth flowing
lines of the vintage Indian tin. The bike said "Vincent HRD" on the engine rocker arm cap nuts, but said
Indian on the gas tank and speedometer. Some time later I ran into this same fellow again some where
and was admiring the "Vindian." He gave me his business card and offered me an invitation to view
his "motorcycle collection" some time.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
Outstanding, I would be happy to see the collection some time, and although
I am not that much into flatheads or Indians, like some of you are, I would be especially pleased to
view some Vincents some time. So, some time not so long ago I called him, said I would be some where close by and
would it be convenient for me to come by?
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
Well now, I figured he had some Vincents and some Indians, and that would be a
"collection" and I could take some pictures to share with all of you.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
Some Vincents he had - indeed - the most I have ever seen in some place at some time! There was an 1950 Americanized Rapide with a
side hack built for sale in the United States - had a different diameter headlight bucket, different generator, etc.
There was another Vincent, a 1952 Touring Rapide in original "Bugatti Blue." And, and, and... there were THREE Black Shadows, 1950, 1952, 1954, all sitting
in a row with their what-you-see-is-what-you-are-doing Smiths chronometric 150MPH speedometers. One of which he has
personally piloted to 140mph some time ago. The Smiths chronometric
speedometer is a particularly neat and accurate speedometer design using the chronometric principle, i.e., clock
movement, whereby speed indications are obtained at intervals of 3/4 second by means of an escapement mechanism
(and you can see the needle click to each increment of speed like the second hand on an old school clock),
versus the cheaper to produce and less accurate Magnetic type speedometer which is most accurate mid-scale but
less accurate on the low and high limits. In case you have not heard, some time ago, on the 13th of September 1948,
Rollie Free achieved the US national motorcycle speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah riding the first
Vincent Black Lightning. Preliminary runs were a hair under 150 MPH and so he shed his leathers, replaced the
engine oil with 5 weight oil and rode the 380 lb 61 cid "bathing suit motorcycle" for a record average speed of 150.313 mph!
The Vincents are all virtually the same parts but have varying degrees of tune - compression ratios between 6.8:1 and 12.5:1,
larger inlet ports, polished rocker gear, a manual-advance magneto; of construction - steel idler gears, racing carburetors,
higher strength connecting rods, magnesium alloy components, special racing tires on alloy rims, rear-set foot controls,
a solo seat and aluminum fenders; and of accessories - shocks, mechanical advantage hand lever operated center stand, etc.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
Brakes - check out the brakes on Vincents - shoe brakes capable of stopping this machine in 26 feet from a 30 mph roll! Rear
sprockets - notice that the reversible rear wheel has two sprockets so you can change ratios.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
When asked which bike was his favorite, he said they are all his favorite, but, the 1936 Indian Chief is his "old faithful bike." The bikes in his collection are all in running condition. He gets the bike running and rides it, testing the build, and re-testing
the build until it is a reliably dependable build, for example his Indian Chief...
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
Some Indians he had - a Scout, a 1936 Chief, a 1948 Chief, a 1938 and a 1941 in-line 4. The 1936 Chief was the "dirtiest" of them all... but...
the dirt was dirt that has accumulated over some years and some (three) trips across Canada, all around Alaska, and even
NORTH of the Arctic Circle on roads where BMW GS's go down and Harley's - well he told some full-dress Harley rider asking
about the road that the road was muddy and had large ruts - he didn't have the heart to tell the dude that he would end up
turning around before he went another 20 miles on those big street tires.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
In 1949 Vincent wanted to improve its position in the market place and so they began working
with Indian to produce a Vincent powered Indian prototype which would be marketed
throughout the United States through the Indian dealerships - basically a motorcycle comprised of an Indian frame and tin with
a Vincent power plant. A prototype was produced which I do not have a picture of, but I do have
a picture of "someone's" Vindian, a hand built "replica" of that prototye.
The Indian frame which had a front down tube was eliminated and the motor was made part of "the frame" in the
Vincent configuration. The bankruptcy of Indian, likely contributed to the demise of Vincent,
certainly ended Vincent's plans to market through the Indian dealerships... [sigh]
Rumor has it that motor company policy dictated to dealerships was to destroy any Indians that were traded in on a Harley,
the goal being to reduce the number of Indians on the road and riders needing maintenance or parts for an Indian.
There are some other motorcycles in "the collection"... Velocette, Norton, AJS, Ariel Square Four, BSA, a couple Japanese bikes (one of which
WAS for sale, and even a Harley (shovel head dyna), and, some others ready to be made reliable dependable rides - enough to keep him
busy for some years to come.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
There are some Triumphs, including, of particular interest to me, a 1965 Bonneville... JUST LIKE THE ONE I bought in 1965 that I wish I still had...
"how long have you had it?"... "a long time"... "is it for sale?"... "no"... "well, if you should ever decide to sell it
pleeeeze call me"... Yup, my conversation was nothing like Steve McQueen's conversation... "how much do you want for it?"...
"it's not for sale"... "no, really, how much do you want for it?"... "[some ridiculous price]"... "here's a check for it."
And another Bonneville, a TT, and a couple others not yet restored.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
And, lastly, some water toys - a steam powered boat that easily cruises at 5 to 10 mph and a Whitehall sail boat, a waterman taxi, from the 1880's with a hydrodynamic
efficient hull design allowing it to reach it's maximum speed with a 10 mph wind and today capable of out running fast catamarans under some conditions.
... photograph by Russell Holder
... photograph by Russell Holder
So, IF some time you should run into "some one" on a Vincent that looks like an Indian, or "some one" on an Indian that looks
like it is powered by a Vincent, and IF that some one should offer you the opportunity to see his "collection" some time,
then you would be in for a real treat... in the meantime... enjoy some pictures...
KNUCKLEHEADS FOREVER!
Article and photographs by Russell "Raz" Holder
Would you like to see more?... go to www.russellRAZholder.com and
click on the photos link and look for a link to "a motorcycle collection"...
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