Supercharged Black Lightning
In 1949 The Motor Cycle magazine offered a trophy and £500 prize (£10 thousand today) for the first successful all-British attempt on the World Speed Record, held since 1937 by BMW at 173.54 mph (279.29 km/h). Reg Dearden, a motorcycle dealer at Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester fitted a supercharger to a brand new Black Lightning and made extensive modifications including strengthening and lengthening the frame by about 6 inches (15 cm). Phil Vincent personally supervised the work, which took months to complete. NSU increased the World Record to 180.29 mph (290.15 km/h) in 1951, and in 1953 the 500 cc World Champion Les Graham was to make an attempt for the UK but was killed in a crash in the 1953 Senior Isle of Man TT. The supercharged Vincent changed hands several times but never made a record attempt. In 1999 journalist Mick Duckworth had a test ride and wrote a feature article for Classic Bike magazine. In October 2008, the supercharged Vincent Black Lightning was sold by Bonhams for GB£221,500 at the Stafford Motorcycle Show, finally setting a record as the most expensive motorcycle ever sold at auction in the UK. There is a Supercharged 1949 Black Lightning at the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum in Solvang, California.
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