1952 Vincent on the Preston Bypass

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Sat 13 Jan 2007 10:27
1952 Vincent on the Preston Bypass - Micky
From the Thunderer earlier this week, an account of disgraceful (but legal) speeds attained on the Preston Bypass

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1952 Vincent Black Lightning by Richard Thompson

Andy Kershaw apparently referred to Richard Thompson as the man who wrote the best song about a motorcycle, despite never having owned one. The song is about red-haired Molly and James, their love of the Vincent Black Lightning of the song?s title, James?s death from gunshot wounds and his gifting of the bike to Molly, as he lies dying and sees ?angels on Ariels in leather and chrome?. In 1959, my father bought a 1952 Vincent. Soon the bike was on the road, the sidecar was attached and the whole family set off, with me on the pillion, aged 13 and wearing a flat cap crammed on backwards, held in place by the elastic from my goggles. My father knew exactly where he was heading ? the Preston bypass. The first motorway-standard road in Britain had been opened the previous December. Once on the new road, he opened the throttle, and after a few moments he indicated for me to look over his shoulder, which I did, to see the speedometer needle reading 100mph. From that moment, I knew, as Thompson sings, that the Vincent has a soul.

Geoffrey Smith
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The rest of the article is gibberish.

(Link to The Times removed as per previous reasons which can be found via a forum search - DD}

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