Ha! Unmasked, kind of. As those who recall my father Alan will attest, he didn't spend too much time dusting his Black Prince. Just riding it - rarely fast, but often very far. And as a nipper I did indeed clean it and picked up servicing basics and travel on the back.
Later, we headed to French and German rallies on the bikes together. When I joined the Forum the Prince was in my care, hence the moniker. Alan's earlier Vincent, a very early B Rapide which Bryan Phillips later owned, was sold to buy the Prince in the early 60s and is in the garage here.
Alan and Audrey went as far as Italy and Yugoslavia on the Rap during the mid and late 1950s.
I still wonder what the rural folk of these lands made of a group of 4-5 young British couples, on Stevenage twins, ploughing their way through their battle-scared countries. Too late to find out.
Shot shows myself and the old man on the Prince at the Lion Rally, Belgium 1973.
Happy New Year to all on here, safe riding in 2022.
David Lancaster.