Archive for the ‘Photos’ Category

Vincent Custom wins Quail Best of Show

Monday, June 13th, 2022

Section member Mike Klingerman commissioned Max Hazan to build a Vincent engined special, and it won the prestigious Best of Show award at the 2022 Quail Motorcycle Gathering. It also won awards for Best Style & Design, and Best in Class.

Here are some details from Mike:

“A custom Vincent may not appeal to some of the purists in the club but it may help to know that I found the engine and most of the parts after sitting for almost 50 years. Since the bike was in pieces and slightly incomplete, I thought it was a great opportunity to trust an artist like Max to create something unique. There are far too many details to list but I’d be happy to share with any members that care to know. I will say he made everything from scratch, including the carbs. He even reengineered some aspects of the engine: 4 plugs, 2 custom mags, and many other things. I think he created something very exciting and innovative.”

William A. Easter, Honorary Member

Saturday, October 24th, 2020

Bill Easter has been named an Honorary Member of the Vincent Owners Club, a very well deserved honor, congratulations Bill. Here is a picture of Bill’s willingness to help out fellow members. This is from 1982. I dropped my father’s Shadow on a gravel corner, and bent the front mudguard. Bill jumped right in and skillfully straightened it out.

30 year anniversary of Dave Matson’s records

Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

30 years ago today, August 15th 1988, Dave Matson raised his existing record in MPS-AF-2000 (modified, partial streamlined frame, altered engine on fuel, 2000cc), now called MPS-F 2000. Back then, you had to first make a qualifying run over the existing record, which Dave did on August 14th, with a speed of 220.399 MPH. The next day, the 15th, he made 2 more runs used to calculate the average speed of 225.643 MPH. Later that same day, Dave took the fairing off, to run in class M-AF-2000, now called M-F, and qualified with a speed of 204.165 MPH. The next day, August 16th, Dave made the 2 runs to average 210.357. At the time, that was the fastest speed recorded by ANY unfaired motorcycle. Dave’s 225 MPH record was near the top for any partial streamlined sit-on bike, I think the top record at that time was somewhere around 230 – 240 MPH. For 1988 Speed Week, both of Dave’s speeds were faster than any other motorcycle on the salt that year. Both records are still in the SCTA record book, and the 210 MPH record is still the fastest speed with no fairing, and without forced induction (ie, excluding the blown classes, turbo or supercharger), that I see in the SCTA record book.

Congratulations Dave, a remarkable achievement.

Photos credits to Arlene Matson, Susie Ellsworth, and Steve Doherty. Click the thumbnails for larger images.

Section picnic 2017

Friday, September 1st, 2017

Pictures from the 2017 section picnic

No Wimps ride

Tuesday, June 27th, 2017

In 1984, I had just graduated from college that spring, and was slowly looking for work, but thought I deserved to enjoy one last summer.  The North American rally was in Tennessee, and Bill Easter, Ted Theiman, and I all rode Vincent twins from LA.  We had a tight schedule, and we made it to Albuquerque the first day, 800 miles, then two 600 mile days to the rally site.  On the way back, we hit a storm in New Mexico, and stopped for the night in Gallup, 1000 miles from LA.  Ted and I had no time constraint, but Bill was still working.  I think he had retired, but had picked up some contract work, and had to be back to work in two days.  Bill said he was going to leave early and do the 1000 miles in one day.  Ted and I said no thanks, we’ll take it easy.  Bill did the 1000 miles.  Ted and I split it into two 500 mile days, stopping in Flagstaff, then home to LA.

John Ulver had organized another ride that year, the No Wimps ride.  So just a week or so after getting home from the NA rally, I took off to the meeting place, Cedar City Utah, an easy 440 mile ride.  The Ulvers, Dan and Eileen Smith, Bill and Doris, and Pat Highsmith and I spent a week or two riding around Utah and visiting the National Parks.  It was a lot of fun.  Here is a sticker John gave the participants:

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Early Series C Comet

Friday, March 31st, 2017

Spotted at a recent section meeting, this recently completed bike is a Series C Comet built in the third month of production, in 1949.  A previous owner had cut the tubes of the RFM, but it has been restored nicely by the current owner.

Rattler

Thursday, December 8th, 2016

The Rattler is slowly coming back together.  The “go fast” parts were sold off years ago, and the core of the bike is being rebuilt back to stock as a street bike.  Here’s a pic of the motor and rolling chassis.

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Saugus airfield

Saturday, April 2nd, 2016

Herb Ailslieger was a club member of the original LA section.  He took some photos when some Vincent owners ran their bikes at Saugus airfield.  As typical, clutch work was in order that day.  Herb passed away awhile ago, and his Red Rapide that he bought new was recently sold by his brother.  The new owner sent me copies of photos that Herb took.  The photos show my father and Gene Ohman working on their Shadows.  My father’s Shadow is number 5s, while Gene’s is 4s.  My father had crashed into a car, so that explains the non-standard front fender.  I still have the seat stays that my father made to make the seat fully sprung.  You can see that my father swung the front foot rest up, removed the kick start, and turned the gearshift lever around to use the rear foot rest.  The battery was also removed.  You can see the Indian breather fitting that is still on the bike (although I have it blocked shut).  I think these photos are from 1955.  Gene is in the striped shirt, my father is in the long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

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Back Home

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015

The bikes back home in LA.  The tanks and seats are switched, the nice tank and seat should be on the Comet.

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Ireland to Italy 2

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015

At an overlook above Geneva, Peter after coming out of the Mont Blanc tunnel, an appropriate town to spend the night in, lunch somewhere between Milan and Lake Garda.

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