Vincent Black Lightning

File:Vincent Series C Black Lightning.jpg

Vincent-HRD began motorcycle production in 1928 and were well established after World War II when they launched the {{Convert|1000|cc|abbr=on}} Black Lightning. This was a production version of the Black Lightning which held the motorcycle land-speed record, with a similar engine specification.{{cite web|url=http://www.gizmag.com/the-dearden-supercharged-vincent-black-lightning/10015/|title=The Dearden Supercharged Vincent Black Lightning|date=16 September 2008 |access-date=2009-02-07}}

Available to order, a standard Black Lightning was supplied in racing trim with magnesium alloy components, special racing tyres on alloy rims, rear-set foot controls, a solo seat and aluminium mudguards. This reduced the Lightning's weight to {{convert|380|lb|abbr=on}}. The {{Convert|998|cc|abbr=on}} air-cooled OHV pushrod V-twin specifications were always based on standard parts but upgraded with higher-performance racing equipment. The Black Lightning had higher-strength connecting rods, larger inlet ports, polished rocker gear, steel idler gears, racing carburettors, and a manual-advance magneto, and was available with compression ratios between 6.8:1 and 12.5:1.{{cite web|url=http://www.dropbears.com/m/motorcycles/vincent_history.htm|title=Vincent Motorcycles |access-date=2009-02-07}} This resulted in {{convert|70|bhp|abbr=on}} and a top speed of {{convert|150|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. Only 31 Black Lightnings were built before production ended in 1952 because of Vincent's financial problems.

File:Rollie Free, record run.jpg speed record attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948]]

File:Vincent Rollie Free.jpg in 2009]]

On 13 September 1948, Rollie Free achieved the US national motorcycle speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah riding the first Vincent Black Lightning. During test runs Free reached average speeds of {{convert|148.6|mph|abbr=on}}. To reduce drag, Free stripped to his swimming shorts for the final run, which he made lying flat with his legs stretched out and his head low, guiding the Vincent by following a black stripe painted on the salt bed. The stunt worked as Free covered the mile in 23.9 seconds, passing {{convert|150|mph|abbr=on}} and on the return run he reached a record average speed of {{convert|150.313|mph|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=178&lpos=-410px&letter=F&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0|title=Rollie Free |access-date=2012-02-24 }}Tooth, Phillip. "[http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classic-british-motorcycles/rollie-free-bathing-suit-bike.aspx#axzz2TmAvv4gO Rollie Free and the Bathing Suit Bike]". Motorcycle Classics, November/December 2010. Accessed: 19 May 2013.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q3m3DQAAQBAJ&q=Black+Shadow+to+a+speed+of+150.313+mph+at+the+Bonneville+Salt+Flats+in+Utah.%2F%2F&pg=PA414|last= Ensanian |first=Greg |title=Discovering the Motorcycle: The History. The Culture. The Machines| publisher=Equus Potentia Publishing |page= 414 |access-date=December 31, 2017|date=November 22, 2016 |isbn=978-0996391900 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gregwapling.com/hotrod/land-speed-racing-history/land-speed-racing-burns-wright-vincent-black-lightning.html |last=Wapling |first=Greg|title=Burns & Wright Vincent Black Lightning|publisher=Hot Rods Down Under|access-date=December 31, 2017}}{{citation |title=Legendary Motorcycles |first1=Basem |last1=Wasef |first2=Jay |last2= Leno |author2-link=Jay Leno |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn=978-0-7603-3070-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jxWweoxJrxMC&pg=PA33 |pages=33–39 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |date=October 15, 2007 }} This led to one of the most famous photographs in motorcycle history, known as the "bathing suit bike". The American Motorcyclist Association certified Free's record. Innovative features of the bike included the first-ever Vincent rear shock absorber, the first Mk II racing cams and horizontally mounted racing carburettors. In 1950, Rollie Free returned to the Bonneville Salt Flats and broke his own record, averaging speeds of {{convert|156.58|mph|km/h|2|abbr=on}} on the Vincent despite a high-speed crash during those speed trials.

In February 2018, during an auction held by Bonhams at Las Vegas, a Black Lightning, stated to be one of only 19 surviving, set a world record for the highest-price paid at auction for a motorcycle of $US929,000 ($1.16 million Australian). The machine was used to set a national speed record in Australia during 1953, and was purchased by an undisclosed Australian.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-03/vincent-black-lightning-land-speed-record-motorcycle-auction/9390634 Land speed record-breaking motorcycle to return to Australia after setting top auction price] ABC Radio Sydney 2 February 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018

Richard Thompson wrote the song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" and recorded it for his 1991 album Rumor and Sigh.{{cite book|last=Gross|first=Ken|editor=Tom Cotter|title=The Vincent in the Barn: Great Stories of Motorcycle Archaeology|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bs3gFBOQJJEC&pg=PA253|access-date=28 March 2014|date=2009-09-15|publisher=MotorBooks International |isbn=9781616730277|page=253|chapter=Leno's Black Shadow}} Thompson later said, "When I was a kid, that was always the exotic bike ... the one that made you go 'ooh, wow'".{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074nw0|title=Richard Thompson: Solitary Life – BBC Four |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=7 December 2016}} The song's outlaw hero James, who has "robbed many a man to get my Vincent machine," comments on the bike's mystique in his dying speech:

Says James: "In my opinion,

there's nothing in this world,

beats a '52 Vincent,

and a red-headed girl.

Now Nortons, and Indians, and Greeveses won't do;

they don't have a soul

like a Vincent '52."{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/2012/08/1952-vincent-black-lightning-by-richard-thompson/|title="1952 Vincent Black Lightning," By Richard Thompson " American Songwriter|date=12 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814043549/https://americansongwriter.com/2012/08/1952-vincent-black-lightning-by-richard-thompson/|archive-date=14 August 2012|website=americansongwriter.com|access-date=7 December 2016}}

• Vincent Black Shadow
• Vincent Rapide
• List of motorcycles of the 1940s
• List of motorcycles of the 1950s

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{{s-bef|before=SS100 Pendine}}

{{s-ttl|title=Fastest production motorcycle|years=1949–1952}}

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{{Vincent motorcycles (1946–1955)}}

Black Lightning

Category:Land speed record motorcycles

Category:Motorcycles introduced in 1948