Please fix my bike Pete.

[Snapey]

Many years ago I got a phone call from an old mate offering me a ride at the next historic meeting on a Velocette he had. The catch was that the Velo needed a fair amount of work to again be a decent race bike and was mine to ride if I fixed it up. So knowing Jack pretty well & the thought I was being conned, I suggested that if I fixed the Velo then he could ride it and I would ride his much loved Lightning. I didn't expect he'd agree because of the bikes history & value so I got the answer I expected. Something like "fuck off Snapey" rings a bell.

Forward to today and Jack Ehret's well used Vincent Black Lightning was sold at Bonham's Auctions for a record US$840,000 or AU$1,040,610. No wonder he wouldn't let me ride it.

BTW, I never fixed the Velocette.

[grog]

great story Snapey. expensive bike.

[VladTepes]

Nice one, Snapey.

I think you made the right call, or you'd still be at it.

"How is this bastard leaking oil? There hasn't been any it for twenty years...."

[Snapey]

Further to my opening story was that Jack did race the Vincent at that historic meeting but only as an outfit.

The photo is not from that day BTW.

There's a nice article about it's history here:- http://www.gregwapling.com/hotrod/land-speed-racing-australia/land-speed-racing-australia-vincent-black-lightning.html

[VladTepes]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/motorcycles/1951-vincent-black-lightning-breaks-record-for-most-expensive-motorcycle-ever-sold/ar-BBIhDqd?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=spartandhp