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General Chat (Vincent Related)
Fast Lady, Malcom Attrill
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<blockquote data-quote="passenger0_0" data-source="post: 59957" data-attributes="member: 208"><p>Thanks David. From my investigations, and contrary to popular myth, there were at least five Vincent outfits built and raced by Malcolm Attrill that were all called "The Fast Lady". In chronological order, there seem to have been two big-wheel sitter outfits that are still being used on the road in England, a big wheel kneeler and mine (shown below) which features a 16" front wheel and 10" mini wheels on the side and rear. Images of both of these kneeler outfits can be found in the BMS book "<em>The First Vincent Scene"</em>. The last Vincent outfit I can find that was built by Malcolm has 13" wheels all around. (see last image)</p><p></p><p>Images attached include us leaving the start line at Pukekohe Raceway after being give a one lap handicap in a five lap race. Being the passenger, I preferred to move my weight forward so Ian the driver could get the clutch fully engaged as soon as possible as the close ratio box had a high first gear. I transferred my weight to keep the revs around 5,000 -6,000 rpm. We used to have fires within the clutch housing and the Australian V3 clutch took a real hiding. Sometimes we shattered clutch plates too but this wheel-spin trick solved all of that. Around this time we had 73 rear wheel hp from Black Lightning cams, 12:1 pistons, methanol and Castrol R (just for Vibrac).</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]12424[/ATTACH]</p><p>We had no real mechanical reliability issues after fitting a Terry Prince Crank and we could underpass many of the outfits using small front wheels who tended to drift wide on fast (+120 mph) corners.</p><p></p><p>Here's the image of Len Stevens beside the same Fast Lady outfit at a Curbrough sprint event sometime in the early 1970's.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]12426[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Below is an image of Malcolm Attrill and passenger (Michael Coomber?) racing a later version featuring 13" wheels.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]12427[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>I purchased my version of The Fast Lady from Ann Guy in 2001 in England and as you can imagine enjoyed the many pleasures of racing a Vincent engine in competition. Yes we broke the original crank-pin, seized the engine and had many other upsets too but there were many good time too, such as when we simply out-powered a much hyped 920 cc Norton outfit that was built without cost constraints. The pleasure of entering a hairpin corner and sliding through at mind popping speed, pulling so much G-force before the engine exploded in power to pull us clear will remain with me forever. For several seasons we were the top sidecar team to beat but unfortunately in 2008 we aquaplaned at around 100 mph in 3rd gear, we spun and I got thrown out to hit the steel barrier before being crushed by the outfit. Luckily I protected the outfit from any serious damage but this did cause me some issues.</p><p></p><p>The outfit now is being raced back in England by Ged Abraham who won the Avon trophy in his first year as a novice rider. I am immensely proud of his achievement and particularly satisfied that this version of The Fast Lady is still racing as Malcolm intended, many years after she was first created.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="passenger0_0, post: 59957, member: 208"] Thanks David. From my investigations, and contrary to popular myth, there were at least five Vincent outfits built and raced by Malcolm Attrill that were all called "The Fast Lady". In chronological order, there seem to have been two big-wheel sitter outfits that are still being used on the road in England, a big wheel kneeler and mine (shown below) which features a 16" front wheel and 10" mini wheels on the side and rear. Images of both of these kneeler outfits can be found in the BMS book "[I]The First Vincent Scene"[/I]. The last Vincent outfit I can find that was built by Malcolm has 13" wheels all around. (see last image) Images attached include us leaving the start line at Pukekohe Raceway after being give a one lap handicap in a five lap race. Being the passenger, I preferred to move my weight forward so Ian the driver could get the clutch fully engaged as soon as possible as the close ratio box had a high first gear. I transferred my weight to keep the revs around 5,000 -6,000 rpm. We used to have fires within the clutch housing and the Australian V3 clutch took a real hiding. Sometimes we shattered clutch plates too but this wheel-spin trick solved all of that. Around this time we had 73 rear wheel hp from Black Lightning cams, 12:1 pistons, methanol and Castrol R (just for Vibrac). [ATTACH=full]12424[/ATTACH] We had no real mechanical reliability issues after fitting a Terry Prince Crank and we could underpass many of the outfits using small front wheels who tended to drift wide on fast (+120 mph) corners. Here's the image of Len Stevens beside the same Fast Lady outfit at a Curbrough sprint event sometime in the early 1970's. [ATTACH=full]12426[/ATTACH] Below is an image of Malcolm Attrill and passenger (Michael Coomber?) racing a later version featuring 13" wheels. [ATTACH=full]12427[/ATTACH] I purchased my version of The Fast Lady from Ann Guy in 2001 in England and as you can imagine enjoyed the many pleasures of racing a Vincent engine in competition. Yes we broke the original crank-pin, seized the engine and had many other upsets too but there were many good time too, such as when we simply out-powered a much hyped 920 cc Norton outfit that was built without cost constraints. The pleasure of entering a hairpin corner and sliding through at mind popping speed, pulling so much G-force before the engine exploded in power to pull us clear will remain with me forever. For several seasons we were the top sidecar team to beat but unfortunately in 2008 we aquaplaned at around 100 mph in 3rd gear, we spun and I got thrown out to hit the steel barrier before being crushed by the outfit. Luckily I protected the outfit from any serious damage but this did cause me some issues. The outfit now is being raced back in England by Ged Abraham who won the Avon trophy in his first year as a novice rider. I am immensely proud of his achievement and particularly satisfied that this version of The Fast Lady is still racing as Malcolm intended, many years after she was first created. [/QUOTE]
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Fast Lady, Malcom Attrill
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