Talking to Dave in the Cadwell paddock ages ago, he was scathing about standard Vincent components which I thought was a bit unfair considering what has been achieved using them. BTW, Phil, are you still in touch with Martin Davenport - if so, send him my greetings.
Hello Len,
Long time no speak, only about 35 years!
Dave was scathing about everything - when he bought Martin's Pete Russell chassis outfit he reckoned it was lousy and didn't handle, fact is he couldn't drive it - his racing experience was solely from grass outfits, he expected road race outfits to handle the same, so when they didn't he built one that did! I pity anyone that tries to race that outfit as it will be very 'twitchy' to steer, because that is what Dave thought they should be.
The problem with Dave's engine builder was that all he ever actually wanted was actually a G50 based v twin, someone obviously didn't tell him the vins don't seem to have 99.9% of the components or dimensions of one!
The cams in the beast are reputed to be based on Honda F1 engine events with roller followers.
I am still to this day trying to understand how a (now declared) 1360cc engine was able to compete in a 'up to 1300cc event, I even remember rumours about 1400+cc
I am still in touch with Martin, all be it not very frequently at all, last time I saw hime he was still the same jolly character - his sons are now charioteering with a homebuilt (what else with Martin about) 125 Aprillia engined kneeler outfit at BHR meetings. They are a chip off the old block for driving ability as well (no surprise there then!).