1947 road racer was later owned by war hero “Mad Jack” Churchill
1,000cc Vincent HRD Series B Rapide being auctioned in Las Vegas is “an investment that comes with the added benefit of usability,” according to Jared Zaugg of Bonhams.
The bike was first bought in 1947 by Alex Phillips, a Scottish bombardier recently demobbed from the Royal Artillery following the Second World War.
Not satisfied with the standard form of the machine from the British company that laid a credible claim to being the “maker of the world’s fastest motorcycles”, Phillip tuned it himself to extract even more speed.
In 1950 he took it to the Isle of Man and entered the TT Clubmans 1,000cc race. He led the famous road race from start to finish, with an average speed of 78.6 mph and a winning time more than five minutes quicker than the second-placed bike.
Following the victory, one newspaper said that the sight of Phillips “airborne at 130mph going past the Highlander pub was enough to put patrons off strong drink forever”.
Unfortunately when travelling home with his wife Annie riding pillion, they were hit by a truck. Both were badly hurt and spent months in hospital.
The Vincent went back to the factory and was fully recommissioned. With both man, wife and machine recovered, Phillips collected the bike and on the ride home found is performed “like a rocketship”. But finding himself out of work following the accident, he was forced to put the bike up for sale.
The buyer was Lt-Col “Mad Jack” Churchill, a highly decorated sword-wielding serviceman and archer who carried the distinction of being the only British soldier known to have scored an enemy kill using a bow and arrow.
The Vincent club confirms ownership by both Alex Phillip and Jack Churchill and the bike is sold, according to Bonhams “in excellent condition, ready for further adventures”.
1947 Vincent HRD Series B Rapid is Lot 333 in the Bonhams Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction. Estimate $120,000-150,000 (£73,000-92,000)
