Vincent Motorcycle World Speed Record
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.
Vincent motorcycle world speed record. In 1956 a vincent in new zealand held the fim international motorcycling federation record at 186 mph. The 1952 vincent 998cc black shadow was used in world record speed trials in montlhery france in may 1952 above where the bike set a six hour record at more than 100mph vincent a. The first generally recognized motorcycle speed records were set unofficially by glenn curtiss using aircraft engines of his own manufacture first in 1903 when he achieved 64 mph 103 km h at yonkers new york using a v2 and then on january 24 1907 on ormond beach florida when he achieved 136 27 mph 219 31 km h using a v8 housed in a spindly tube chassis with direct shaft drive to the rear wheel. On the morning of september 13 1948 free raised the american motorcycle speed record by riding the very first vincent hrd it is debated as to whether it was a black lightning or black.
The proof of the advertisement s claim came in 1948 when an indian motorcycle dealer rollie free riding the very first vincent hrd black lightning built raised the motorcycle speed record to 150 313 mph 241 905 km h on utah s bonneville salt flats. The business was established by philip vincent who bought an existing manufacturing name hrd initially renaming it as vincent hrd producing his own motorcycles as hrd did previously with engines purchased as complete assemblies from other companies from 1934 two new engines were developed as single cylinder in 500 cc and v twin 1 000 cc capacities. The vincent black lightning was the fastest and most desirable motorcycle in the world when it was released in 1948. Production grew from 1936 with the most famous models being.
During test runs free reached average speeds of 148 6 mph 239 1 km h.