G
Graham Smith
Guest
Here's a Vincent-related story that you might not have heard of…
Don Morley was on his way from his Derbyshire home to the Cock of the North races at Scarborough riding his Vincent. He witnessed what may well have been the first ram-raid when the 'villains' rammed the car carrying all the made-up weekly wage packets for the local Co-operative shops. As the car carrying the thieves, with the money, sped off Don gave chase on his Vincent, not realising until the windows of the car were wound down and guns were fired at him, true Hollywood style, that the gang was armed.
Don's chase alerted the police and the gang were eventually 'collared' for which Don received the acclaim of the local press with inaccurate but exciting 'Motorcycle racer foils armed robbery' headlines!
More importantly, Don's actions won him a commendation from the police and very public thanks from the Mayor of Derby. The realisation of just what be had done came when the gang eventually went to trial for that and a series of other armed robberies, as a result of which one of them was hanged.
Don owned Johnny Brittain's last works Royal Enfield Bullet, which carried the number HNP 331 - as had most of Johnny's machines. Don fully restored the machine before placing it in the National Motor Cycle Museum. The registration number was actually kept by Enfield and put on the Crusader that Johnny rode subsequently.
Don Morley was on his way from his Derbyshire home to the Cock of the North races at Scarborough riding his Vincent. He witnessed what may well have been the first ram-raid when the 'villains' rammed the car carrying all the made-up weekly wage packets for the local Co-operative shops. As the car carrying the thieves, with the money, sped off Don gave chase on his Vincent, not realising until the windows of the car were wound down and guns were fired at him, true Hollywood style, that the gang was armed.
Don's chase alerted the police and the gang were eventually 'collared' for which Don received the acclaim of the local press with inaccurate but exciting 'Motorcycle racer foils armed robbery' headlines!
More importantly, Don's actions won him a commendation from the police and very public thanks from the Mayor of Derby. The realisation of just what be had done came when the gang eventually went to trial for that and a series of other armed robberies, as a result of which one of them was hanged.
Don owned Johnny Brittain's last works Royal Enfield Bullet, which carried the number HNP 331 - as had most of Johnny's machines. Don fully restored the machine before placing it in the National Motor Cycle Museum. The registration number was actually kept by Enfield and put on the Crusader that Johnny rode subsequently.
