Time well spent at the 18th Annual Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance

My brother Michael called me about a year ago and told me his friend Garen Maguerian had started to shoot motorcycles recently and sent me a few photos. I liked what I saw.  Mike's got an eye for spotting talent and has been writing for http://sportbikesincmag.com/ for a few years now. He's used Garen's photos with his articles and asked if he could shoot some motorcycles at Radnor Hunt Concours this year. Here's his take on the motorcycles at that show. I think you'll like them too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can check out Garen's work at  https://500px.com/garenmeguerian

 

The 18th Annual Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance

 

The 18th Annual Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance presents Vincent HRD, Brough Superior, Quarter Litre machines from 1932-1972 and other fine motorcycles.

  

 

 

 

Each year, the upscale Radnor Hunt Club makes room on the it's famous grass covered terraces for a world class collection of auto's and classic motorcycles.

 

 

 

RHC chose to celebrate the life work of Phil Vincent and Phil Irving with an astounding collection of machines that represent the brand in it's entirety. Early models, like the 1932 HRD Python Sport, powered by a Rudge engine provides a glimpse into what Phil Vincent started with before building his own engines with his patented unique rear suspension package. Restored Series A models, like the Comet and 998cc twin were on hand as well as post war machines. Seen in this context, the lineup shows the progress that was made very rapidly by the dynamic duo that brought the worlds fastest production motorcycles to life. Their work, and the work of the tuners and riders who raced them are the stuff of legends. Images of Rollie Free in his bathing trunks on the Vincent Black Lightning roaring across the Bonneville Salt Flats is perhaps the most iconic image in all of motorcycling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the stock machines, there was a series of 'Specials,' motorcycles that were modified in period to marry the performance of the mighty Vincent engine with a more modern chassis. Three of these were featured at Radnor Hunt this year: the Egli-Vincent, the Parkin-Vincent and the stunning Norvin. The Norvin combines a Norton 'Featherbed' frame with a 998cc V-Twin Vincent engine. This particular model was exceptional in in its execution of details, built to a very high standard and used regularly by it's owner. The Egli, a creation of Swiss builder Fritz Elgi, was one of the few built by the master himself, in International Orange. The current owner bought the bike some 45 years ago and has been enjoying it ever since. The Parkin-Vincent features a Terry Prince built 600cc Comet engine with disc brakes, and a more modern swinging arm rear suspension. All three demonstrated the versatility of Vincent engines which are held in such high regard by speed demons the world over.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What was rare and desirable when new means rare and desirable now, but sometimes machines that fail when introduced can be just as fascinating. Examples of that at RHC this year included the Vincent Black Knight and Black Prince, two machines that were ahead of their time. So to for the Indian 'upside down' Four and the Harley Model D with vertical generator.

 

 

 

 

 

The 250cc and under class took a look at motorcycles over a forty year span, from 1932 to 1972. The evolutionary process is quite evident with significant leaps forward at certain points. We saw rigid chassis's with girder forks and sidvalve engines to telescopics forks and swingarms mated with overhead valve engines in a relatively short period.  

 

 

 

 

  

 

The cars were no less impressive with F1 cars, Classic Chryslers and Ford powered vehicles being featured. Additionally, antique pedal cars and horsen-drive carriages are a big part of the show at Radnor Hunt Concours. If you haven't made the trip to Radnor Hunt Club yet to see this spectacle, mark your calendars for September 12-13 2015. We'll see you there.

 

 

 

Winners of the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours Motorcycle Division

 

Best of Show: 1937 Vincent Series A Twin - Maurice Candy, Wilmington, DE

Peoples Choice: 1936 Indian Four - Kenny Minnich, Zannesville, Ohio

 Street 250cc and under:1965 BMW R27 - Todd Trumbore , Harleysville, NJ

Street 500cc and under: 1932 HRD PS /Python Sport - Gene Brown, Denver, CO

Street 501cc and over: 1952 Vincent Touring Rapide - Gene Brown, Denver, CO

Competition 250cc and under : 1971 Suzuki Sonic Weld Dirt Racer - Mark Mederski, Columbus, OH

Competition 500cc and over 1952 Vincent Black Shadow - Somer Hooker, Brentwood , TN

Competition 500cc and under: 1950 Vincent Grey Flash, David Dunfey, Middletown, NJ

Preservation Award: 1928 TWN Triumph & sidecar: John Illeyne, Passail, NJ

Spirit of Radnor Hunt: Eight Vincent HRD Collection of William Weissman , Egg Harbor, NJ

 

 

 

All photos by Dawn Deppi

@Eye of the Beholder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vincent Black Shadow in the Basement

Black Shadow in the Basement

A friend of mine called me a few months back. He's a noted hunter of Vincent Motorcycles, finding several of them in his time. His mission is to bring them back into the light, to be shared and put to use again as their maker, Philip Vincent would have intended. He's found another bike after a 30 year search.

The story of the Vincent  HRD company begins in the early post World War I days with young racer Howard Raymond Davies  winning at the Isle of Man TT races. He boldly decided to make his own machines, with brought in J.A.P. engines to again win the TT in 1925. Phil Vincent bought the company a few years later during one of the many financial difficulties the company would face that eventually led to its demise. But before the end, their was glory of the highest order achieved with Australian Phil Irving joining the company and helping launch the 500 cc Meteor and Comet that would ultimately provide the inspiration for the most significant Vincent of all. The 1,000 cc V-twin series beginning with the Rapide, the Black Shadow, the Black Lightning, Black Prince, and Black Knight.

One of the best loved and most popular of the classic series V-twin Vincents was the Black Shadow. This one had two prior owners before the long-term ownership that my friend Bill purchased it from. He'd known about the bike for 30 years and doggedly pursued the owner to remind him that he would be proud to be the owner. Well, he finally closed the deal and brought along his nephew to assist in extracating the machine from its basement prison, where is was hidden under a pile of life's accumulations.Vincent motorcycles can be easily dismantled, if you know what you're doing and you brought the right tools. After a heavy dose of cunning and muscle, the bike taken in three easy pieces out the window and into his truck.

This was the first public showing of the bike (at Oakbourne Mansion, West Chester, PA) , but the bike will be featured as part of a celebration of Vincent HRD, Brough Superior and pre-1974 250cc motorcycles at the well-known Philadelphia Simeone Foundation Museum. The motorcycle will be at the museum from August 16-Sept 12, 2014. Special guest speaker will be Matthew Biberman, author of "Big Sids Vincati.

 

 

The finder of this Black Shadow in a Basement is not just a bottom dweller, searching cellars for rusty gold. He rides and restores his own machine. That's his daily rider below. It will be feaured in our poster for the event and was taken of one of his bikes earlier this year by noted automotive photographer, Michael Furman. Behold.

www.simeonemuseum.org

www.radnorconcours.org