'PENDINE' AT PENDINE

The Vintagent's very irregular correspondent Mike Jackson sends these notes regarding the inaugural Pendine Sands racing weekend last June:

The beautiful new Brough Superior SS101 Pendine

"The newly-formed Pendine Landspeed Racing Club (LRC) draws on the significant history of a very historic stretch of beach in Wales, the site of many World Speed Record attempts in the 1920s. The LRC held its inaugural Speed Trial on the weekend of June 21/23rd, and the revived Brough Superior was present to test its pair of Bonneville-bound racers; Brough Superior last used the sands for this purpose in 1928! 

Since Anthony Hopkins’ film The World's Fastest Indian, interest in Land Speed Record (LSR) racing has grown exponentially, and further increased in the UK due to BBC 2's show Speed Dreams; The Fastest Place on Earth, which showed five UK riders prepping for and racing at Bonneville, in August 2012. Among the racers featured in the series was John Renwick, the charismatic and intrepid pilot of a streamliner Vincent with 3 wheels; 6-meters long! It was exciting to see every ‘Speed Dreams’ crew entered at this inaugural event at Pendine, which one hopes will become annual. 

Henry Cole was filming for ITV and the Discovery Channel; he'll ride at Bonneville

In late 2012, Paul James descended on Pendine with a small group of LSR enthusiasts for a 2-day session of timed runs. The bureaucratic obstacles thrown in their way would fill volumes, but eventually 50 entrants arrived on Friday for scrutineering, with an eclectic selection of speed-tuned motorcycles and outright projectiles. Paul James hoped to make a symbolic Opening Run on Saturday morning at 8am, but the schedule was postponed repeatedly with high winds, lousy visibility, and rain. After calling a Rider's Meeting on the sand, the LRC announced that poor weather would confine the event to demonstration runs. That blustery 15 minute meeting was blessed with both rain and watery sunshine; when it’s wet, Pendine is a special kind of hell! 

Brough mechanic - and isn't that a rare job description - Sam Lovegrove

Most competitors managed two or more demonstration runs, including Eric Patterson, the popular Kempton Park Autojumble organizer, who rode a new Brough Superior ‘Pendine’ model, appropriately enough.  Brough Superior is planning its own assault on the Bonneville Salt Flats with two new Broughs, to be ridden by Patterson, Henry Cole, and Alan Cathcart. More details on the Brough Superior run of August 24-29 2013 can be found here."

Eric Patterson models his new Lewis Leathers 'Brough Superior' kit

The Team: Sam Lovegrove, Michael Jackson, Eric Patterson, and an Italian film director, Marco Superiori, shooting a documentary on English weather.

Read more »

171 MPH ON A VELOCETTE!

Stuart Hooper aboard his supercharged Velocette, which just recorded 171.6mph at Lake Gairdner, Australia

From Stuart Hooper:

"Hi to all,

For the first time in many years Lake Gairdner Speed Trials were unaffected by wet weather.  The surface was initially a little rough and the weather very hot requiring a careful eye on engine temperatures and excessively rich mixtures to ensure the engine survived the meeting. After a steady sighting run to check out the new body and steering geometry the Big Velo ran 166 mph on its second outing !!!!  This was good cause for celebration as the Velo was now the Worlds fastest British single surpassing the fantastic Vincent Might Mouse of Bryan Chapman.

The Velocette unfaired; this photo gives an idea of the modifications required for stability at 170+mph

After a photo session day I decided a higher speed was possible and lined up again with a bit higher gearing and a higher ratio supercharger drive. The third run was only 152mph but this was against a 15 to 20 mph headwind so it was back in line for another 8 hrs for one final run. Friday morning was calm and cool, ideal conditions.......... but the morning ticked inexorably by with one delay after another and a headwind starting to flutter the flags and things looking like the meeting could be cancelled without another run. Finally the track was clear and the Big Velo boomed away from the line with its nearly 100mph first gear into a 7 to 10 mph gusting head and slight crosswind. By the time I changed up from third into top at 156mph the bike was weaving and darting about somewhat in the ruts on the track and the odd gusts of wind, but with the throttle hard aginst the stop one hand hovering over the clutch lever and the revs climbing towards the 6500 mark the track markers started to slip by faster and faster  until the final timing light flashed past and it was time to slow down with the old MSS single leading shoe brake smelling as only red hot 50 year old asbestos can. Back to the pits to see the crew flashing lights, cheering and jumping around !!!!......... 171.600 mph !!     .....  A fantastic end to a great week....... The Velocette name is again in the record books were it belongs !

A closer look reveals the efforts of Stuart Hooper to retain the 'Velocette' identity of the machine; from the front - standard wheel hubs, standard steel 3.5gal fuel tank, 'map of Africa' timing cover, standard gearbox, oil tank, arcuate-slot rear suspension adjustment, and standard rear wheel.  The crankcases look original, but are highly modified for strength.

Worlds Fastest Velocette.

Worlds Fastest British Single

Worlds Fastest Single Cylinder Sit On Motorcycle.

A sincere thanks for the support to my crew and all of you over the years,

Stuart Hooper

ps..... Just how fast can a Velo go ?"

From the rear, we can see the supercharger and enormous SU carb, as well as the monoshock rear suspension and massive front fork assembly.  A highly modified machine, but with definite Velocette DNA.  Note the cheeky Velo KSS oil tank lubricating the dyno...

Read more »