Friday, September 29, 2023

VOC International Rally 2023

 









A few days ago my friend Wayne Kogan went to the VOC International Rally celebrating the 75th Anniversary of The Vincent H.R.D. Owners Club. The Rally was hosted by the Southern California Section, one of the oldest and strongest Sections in the VOC. There were Iconic Racing Vincents featured including the John Edgar's 'Bathing Suit' LSR rode by Rollie Free. The story of the Bathing Suit Bike started In 1948  when Philip Vincent was touring America and meeting his dealers. While at V.L. “Mickey” Martin’s shop in Burbank, Calif., he was introduced to John Edgar, a well known West Coast journalist and sportsman with a liking for fast motorcycles. Edgar appreciated that the Black Shadow had the potential to take the American speed record from Harley-Davidson and rider Smokin’ Joe Petrali. And the Vincent “Barn Job” built by Clem Johnson would become the first drag bike racer to go 140, 150 and 160 mph. For more than five years, the machine held the record for both elapsed time and top speed. Its quickest would be 9.70 seconds; its fastest was 151.51 mph. It was for Wayne the occasion to meet with the "one and only" Alp Sungurtekin and his amazing 1948 Vincent Twin Engine, production number ‘F10AB/1/666’ which became in 2021 the fastest 1000cc Vincent Record Holder of all time with a two way average of 193.621MPH.

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