G
Graham Smith
Guest
Something for those who like the racing 500cc Vincents. Gerry Clarke in Ireland came across these snaps of what must be the “Black Flash” that the Works built out of a bike or pieces of of the four made as specials for the 1950 T.T.
The lore is it was built for the Works to sponsor Phil Heath on the Continental Circus, but after using it for a season, he turned it back in, supposedly there were too many little faults to help him make a living as a professional rider - so he got a Manx Norton like the other guys. The Works then sold it to Dennis O’Neill from Cork in Ireland who raced it for years (note the large capacity fuel tank). Dennis appears in a well-known photo of Harry Lindsey, PCV, his new bride Elfrida and Gunga Din on the occasion in 1953 when Harry borrowed Gunga Din from the Works, raced him at a Phoenix Park race to a win, and then took the Irish National Speed Record. Some years ago Bill Hoddinott interviewed Harry Lindsey through the pages of MPH.
Many thanks to Gerry Clarke and Bill Hoddinott for sending us these photographs.
1953.
1954.
The lore is it was built for the Works to sponsor Phil Heath on the Continental Circus, but after using it for a season, he turned it back in, supposedly there were too many little faults to help him make a living as a professional rider - so he got a Manx Norton like the other guys. The Works then sold it to Dennis O’Neill from Cork in Ireland who raced it for years (note the large capacity fuel tank). Dennis appears in a well-known photo of Harry Lindsey, PCV, his new bride Elfrida and Gunga Din on the occasion in 1953 when Harry borrowed Gunga Din from the Works, raced him at a Phoenix Park race to a win, and then took the Irish National Speed Record. Some years ago Bill Hoddinott interviewed Harry Lindsey through the pages of MPH.
Many thanks to Gerry Clarke and Bill Hoddinott for sending us these photographs.
1953.
1954.