JEFF DECKER'S 'BLACK LIGHTNING' AT AUCTION

From the Bonhams Quail Lodge auction catalog (which I wrote!):

Jeff Decker is rightly famous for his sculpture, “the motorcycle equivalent of Frederick Remington”, which has earned him the position of ‘official Harley Davidson sculptor’; his twice life-size ‘Hillclimber’ bronze statue outsidethe Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee is truly magnificent and a testament to his tremendous artistic talent.  Mr. Decker is also a collector of rare motorcycles (Crockers, genuine racing Harleys from the 1920s onwards, Speedway machines, etc), motorcycle memorabilia, motoring artwork, and ‘1%er club cutoffs’, the sleeveless vests emblazoned with motorcycle club logos.  All of his obsessions with the art and culture around motorcycling have made him a legend in his lifetime, especially for his outspoken opinions on these same subjects.

Jeff Decker is equally outspoken regarding his ultra-famous customized motorcycle, a 1952 Vincent Rapide which he calls ‘The Black Lightning.’Decker uses the term ‘Lightning’ to emphasize his machine’s full-race specification, and to puncture any inflated notions that the infamous Vincent Black Lightning – of which only 31 were built – was the greatest motorcycle ever.  In truth, the men who made Vincent famous by setting numerous speed records and winning ‘drag races’ all across the Southwest - Marty Dickerson and Rollie Free – used race-tuned Rapide and Black Shadow models.  

The fact that the most famous Vincents are not actual ‘Black Lightnings’ is critical to understanding Jeff Decker’s motorcycle: the parts used in its creation are mostly ex-Marty Dickerson, as used in his Bonneville Salt Flat record attempts and drag-racing career. They were gathered from archVincent collector and recognized authority Herb Harris, who supplied the ex-Dickerson crankcases, two front cylinder heads, and genuine Black Lightning wheel hubs.  Most parts used are genuine Vincent, and the engine is tuned to Black Lightning specification, with MkIII racing cams, and two ‘front’ cylinder heads.  As the important parts of his machine were actually used in competition, Jeff Decker says “my bike’s got more racing history than 90 percent of the Lightnings out there.”

After collecting the necessary basics, Decker set about narrowing the fuel tank by 4.5” and lowering that tank as much as possible onto the engine to emphasize the brutal beauty of the Vincent V-twin engine.  The tiny ‘banana’ seat is cantilevered from the rear engine mount, and makes the saddle height nearly 8” lower than stock.  He fabricated a custom exhaust system with terminates in a ‘waffle box’ silencer underneath the engine.  The handlebars are straight, with Decker’s own custom-fabricated controls.  The headlamp is a tiny unit tucked well into the girder forks, which use a custom hydraulic shock absorber.  The alloy wheel rim flanges are ‘Deckerated’ with aesthetic drilling, along with the brake cooling ribs, andan original Black Shadow speedometer crowns the front girder fork.  The complete machine is amazingly compact and light, weighs significantly less than a standard Vincent, and looks lean and tough.

Jeff Decker’s “Black Lightning” is a rare thing; a custom motorcycle built by an actual artist, with his hands and by his own design, as an homage to the machines which passed into legend through their racing and record-breaking success.  It is especially rare being a ‘sculpture’ by a famous artist which can actually be ridden down the road, and ridden hard.

VINTAGE RACING HEROES

The remains of an AJS K7 350cc OHC.  How do they look when finished?  Check here.

As generations of motorcycle collectors grow up, hoard machines, and finally pass to earth, the metal gems which so attracted them, their 'precious', those not ground to dust by the constant churn of oxidation, spousal disgust, familial ignorance, or simple forgetting, become available once again, emerging to light like long-abducted children, blinking at the glare of publicity and the passage of time, worse for their journey but still recognizable.

A Norton International M30, awaiting rescue

The least of these motorcycles never recovers from the neglect of decades, and carry on disintegrating in situ, or simply head to the skip.  The best of them - recognizable heroes, stiff and rusting in their armor - will be resurrected with the mingled application of time and treasure.

King of the auction, the stunning and very rare British Anzani 8-valve 1098cc  motor, ca.1924, waiting for a McEvoy chassis!

We may decry or delight in rising motorcycle values, depending on which side of the auction hammer we sit, but the simple truth is, the scent of lucre has drawn yet more intrigued collectors to the party, and all thoughts of economic uncertainty scatter before the undeniable reality of the Rare and Collectible.  The bottom line; if that pile of rust has a sexy history, it Will be restored.

The AJS K7, loosely assembled, and all the more evocative for being so

And so, I present a few long-lost Heroes, returned for the consideration of the motorcycling public, blinking in the light after a long confinement, waiting to become what they once were, and should be again.

The timing chest of the AJS K7, showing the Weller blade tensioner which made the simple chain-drive OHC system possible

These machines will be sold at the Bonhams 'Banbury Run' auction in Oxford on June 15th.  Oh, how I would love that Anzani 8-Valve motor!

MONTLHERY VINCENT: 100MPH FOR 6 HOURS

Coming to the Bonhams Stafford auction April 28th; the Montlhéry Vincent Black Shadow

The Montlhéry race circuit, just 15.5 miles south of Paris, holds a place much like Brooklands in England in the hearts of European speed-fans, but the track isn't a fractured memory from pre WW2, its a living thing in continuous usage since constructed in 1924.  Today the track is regularly pounded by automotive companies, being engineered to withstand 5,000lb racing cars traveling at 150mph - a far-sighted vision for 1920s engineers.  But then, French engineers of the early 20th Century were exactly that, out on the exploratory limbs of technology, making double overhead camshaft four-valve multi-cylinder motorcycles even in the 'Teens.  What Montlhéry became best known for, though, was long-distance record-breaking; while nearby Arpajon was an excellent spot for Land Speed Record attempts in the 1920s and 30s, Montlhéry was a perfect venue to circulate for hours around its steeply banked oval, being relatively smooth (well, smoother than Brooklands...) and amenable to 24-hour full-bore, unsilenced riding.

The most visible modification from 'standard' spec is the large capacity racing fuel tank.  The Shadow is a matching #s machine with History...

On May 13 1952, a pair of mildly modified 1,000cc Vincent Black Shadows arrived in Paris to attempt a new 24-hour speed record, with a slew of Vincent factory employees (including 18 year old apprentice John Surtees), a few pressmen, plus a French team contingent of riders, the record-attempt team manager, and timing officials from the FIM.  One of the machines was a 'test hack' which circulated for hours during testing, on which modifications were made for an average/acceptable riding position for the 11 riders participating; Phil Heath, John Surtees, Robin Sherry (AMC factory racer), Cyril Julian (TT rider), Vic Willoughby (infamous writer for The Motor Cycle), Dennis Lashmar,  and Danny Thomas, plus four French riders; Ken Bills was team manager.  All the riders save Danny Thomas were able to keep up the 100mph pace, so he was relieved of duty.

The Montlhéry Vincent Black Shadow in 1952, at the track

 Paul Richardson, the Vincent-HRD Service Manager, described the record-breaker thus:

"The record breaking machine is a standard Black Shadow with 8:1 compression as supplied to the American market. ... We used 1-5/32" T.T. Annals in conjunction with two inch open pipes, the fuel being non-leaded 80 octane... Lightning cams... We removed our front brakes and rear flap, fixed rearward foot rests were fitted... special five Gallon petrol tank and a Feridax perspex flyscreen. Modified handlebars gave a very flat riding position and riders lay on a Sorbo 'mattress' fastened to the tank top...Avon...Standard 300 x 20 front racing and 3.50 x 19 rear racing tyres..."  His complete (and delightful) account of the attempt can be found here on the VOC site.

Ted Davis, the Vincent competition manager, originally built the Montlhéry racers with a caged big-end bearing, an improvement over the standard crowded-roller item, but Philip Vincent insisted the standard item was good enough, and ordered them changed back to standard, 'to demonstrate the reliability of the standard Black Shadow', which of course it did, but not with the intended outcome!  It didn't help that France was having its hottest May on record - so hot that the Avon rear tires on the pair of Black Lightnings (brought over for high-speed records) shed their treads at high speed, and the Castrol XL oil was described by Davis (read here) as 'dirty hot black water' when drained from the engines.  

After ten hours forty minutes, the standard big-end of the Vincent crankshaft failed, and a deafening silence rang in the speed bowl; the team ran to the far side of the track (a mile!), and waited 20 minutes to push the bike over the 'line' to take the 11hour record.  While a Vincent never took the 24hr/100mph record (it took a Velocette for that one), the Vincent team still took and impressive eight World Records, including the six-hour record at 100.53mph and 1,000km at 100.67mph, and 10 hours at 99.17mph.   Other records were 7 hrs @ 99.73mph, 8 hrs @ 99.73mph, 9 hrs @ 99.40mph, 10 hrs @ 99.17mph, 11 hours @ 91.98mph, and 1,000 miles @ 99.20mph.

I mentioned above that TWO Black Shadows were taken to Montlhéry...one a 'test mule' and the other used in the attempt; both were tuned and prepared for the attempt, and both machines survive.  One is coming up for sale at the Bonhams Stafford sale on April 28th.  Apparently there is no record of 'which bike was which', but both can rightly claim to be part of the attempt at Montlhéry...

3 DAYS TO PARIS....

Its just killing me.  I'm not going to be in Paris for Rétromobile, or the Bonhams auction at the Grand Palais, the most spectacular auction venue in the world.  Instead, I'll be in SoCal, for Conrad Leachs' show, the Rin Tanaka's Inspiration show at the Queen Mary, and to do some riding with Jérome and Dimitri Coste, and Conrad.  A fair trade?   Would that all the above were in Paris!

What a machine!  The road-going, ex-racer 1968 Egli Vincent, for sale at Bonhams Grand Palais...

But, if you haven't checked over the Bonhams Grand Palais sale list, it's worth a linger, as there's some really tasty machinery.  Top of the list, perhaps not historically, but in terms of sheer sex appeal, is this original 1968 Egli Vincent, which I commented on for Megadeluxe, and was then picked up by BikeExif.  Just about the fastest and best handling road bike of the late 1960s; truly the King of the Road.  And, not a recent build, but an original, built by sidecar racer Pete Gerrish, using a frame and wheels bought directly from Fritz Egli in 1968.  It won first time out on the race track, and its no wonder - there was nothing out there to touch it for sheer speed in '68.  One can dream... but one will buy.

Still the 24-Hour record-holder, since 1963!  The amazing Garelli Sport 50

Garellis aren't that well known in the US, but every young rider of a certain age (late 60s thru 70s) in Europe lusted after their hotrod lightweights, which were also racking up track success, and knocking back World Records for lightweight machines.  The above machine set a 24-hour World Record for 50cc bikes, at 67.59mph in 1963, which still stands today!  How many opportunities to buy a World Record holder have you been offered recently?  This machine has the perfect combination of a cobby, handbuilt feel, and a complete absence of a 'restorer's' ruinous touch.  It is simply remarkable, regardless of capacity.  A 23-machine Garelli collection of GP racers and record-breakers are going under the hammer...all of them are worth a look.

Lots of exhaust and carburetor for a 350cc!  The 1926 Garelli GP racer

My favorite machine in the sale is this 1926 Garelli 350cc split-single two stroke GP racer, the ultimate version of a long line of split-singles from the marque, which were very successful racers and record-breakers, typically bagging records in all capacities up to 1000cc!  This machine speaks to the Romantic era of motorcycle racing in Italy in the 1920s, when Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi were racing Sunbeams, Bianchis, and Garellis, before taking up four-wheel racing, and like John Surtees, becoming champions on two and four wheels.  Read more on the era here...

If you make it to Paris, send me photos!

VEGAS 2013: BUYERS ARE BACK

Top of the World, Ma!  The highlight of the Vegas scene, the BMW Kompressor Rennsport, sold for $480,000 after auction.

No records were set, nothing was added to my 'Top 20' list of top auction sales, and only one machine broke the $200k barrier... but this year's Las Vegas auctions at Bonhams and MidAmerica proved the resounding good health of the old motorcycle market, with the return of the most important sector of buyers; ordinary motorcyclists.

A sleeper in the mix; this 1903 Alldays and Onions at Bonhams was original, unrestored, in excellent condition, and 110 years old, sold for $28,750, which seems a bargain compared to an American machine of the same vintage and condition...

With little to lure the 'car guys' into the tent (no Broughs, no 'Series A' Vincents), the crowds at Vegas seemed mostly comprised of curious and bike-hungry rider/collectors, who bought up nearly everything on offer, to the tune of over $7.8M total at both auction houses, and around 700 machines sold.  That averages out to ~$11,000 per machine...basically the price of a new motorcycle, which should quiet the Chicken Littles who think the price of a good classic has gone out of reach.  I saw dozens of well-restored machines of all capacities sell for around that figure, and wonder how professionals restorers like Randy Baxter and Jim Hiddleston, who each bring a dozen bikes each year, can make any money at that price?  But apparently they do, and both seemed happy for selling every one their bikes.

Malcolm Barber in his usual dry and witty style.  The Steve McQueen Husqvarna failed to sell - same story at MidAmerica with their McQueen '38 Triumph Speed Twin.

'The bidding seemed very robust this year; the prices were very good, and it seems people are spending money,' was Malcolm Barber's assessment immediately post-sale at Bonhams' Bally's hotel auction, on the Vegas strip.  This was a new and much-improved venue after two years at the Imperial Palace, and while the carpet gave a few bidders flashbacks (and ruined photographs), the room was spacious, easy to find (!), and offered excellent back-door access to ship the bikes out, which buyers appreciated.  The highlight of the Bonhams sale were 4 BMW Rennsports racers, only one of which sold at auction (the sidecar machine at $167,000, to a well-known East Coast BMW specialist), while the star of the weekend, the Kompressor racer built by Walter Zeller, sold post-auction for a healthy $480,000, to a prominent West Coast collector....where it will soon keep company with a Moto Guzzi V8 and other amazing machines, at the Solvang Museum.

One of the MV collection at Midamerica; a rare 1972 350cc street scrambler, which sold for $13k+...which seemed a bargain in these days of $11k Honda CL77 scramblers... 

'People came to buy, and they spent their money....this was a rare year in which both buyers and sellers were happy' was Ron Christenson's opinion of his $6.2M three-day sale.  'We had 780 registered bidders this year, more than ever, and 310 of these were first-time bidders.  Over 500 bidders registered in the week before the auction, and over 200 were people we'd never heard of. There might have been a bit of a follow-up from last year's RM presence.' Indeed, the stock in MidAmerica's 'second chance corral' of unsold machines was the slimmest I've seen in 5 years.  MidAmerica's star attraction this year was the 71-strong MV Agusta collection owned by Mecum Auctions, who had reportedly guaranteed Gary Kohs over $1M for consigning his collection entier...and who suddenly owned a lot of MVs when they failed to sell at Pebble Beach last year.  While the average collector might have despaired at losing 20-30% on such an investment, interest generated by the MV collection was rumored to have brought consignments of over 20 expensive Italian sports cars to the Mecum fold, which will more than compensate for the loss.  And the big wheel goes 'round...

This 1920 Mars is en route to Birmingham, AL, and the Barber Museum...

A few choice machines were left unsold at both auctions, like a pair of unrestored Board Track racers, an MV Bialbero racer, and the Jeff Decker 'Lightning' at MidAmerica, plus a pair of BMW Rennsports at Bonhams, all of which needed well over $100k to trade hands.  These machines were perfect for the 'I need a motorcycle next to my Ferrari' crowd, who seemed mostly absent this year, or were simply busy buying MV 4s at MidAmerica... at any rate, the top selling bikes from both houses went to well-heeled super-enthusiasts, most of whom have private motorcycle museums, so look for excellent new exhibits at the Barber, Wheels Thru Time, Solvang, Nettesheim, and Blue Moon collections.

The 1923 Douglas 750cc ohv racer which sold for $32,200. Guaranteed 100mph!

My favorites?  One machine went completely under the radar at Bonhams; a 1923 Douglas 750cc OHV racer, guaranteed to do 100mph by the Douglas factory long before George Brough thought of doing the same, which very likely had significant Brooklands racing history.  One of two known examples, this machine was far in advance of anything else offered for the road or track, anywhere in the world at that date, with a proper 3-speed gearbox and fantastic performance.  As expected, the machine sold to Europe, for $32,200 total, while the eventual buyer 'was prepared to pay far more'... but it takes two bidders to reach such a price, and the buyer got lucky!

Got $125k?  The Jeff Decker Vincent 'Lightning' custom...

The original-paint 1929 Harley Peashooter at Bonhams had excellent documentation from the factory, and was the Australian Speedway Champion in 1930.  Included in the catalog were photos of this bike being raced, and letters from the current owner discussing the family's relationship with this machine dating back to 1930.  The condition was tantalizing - a minimal layer of oxidization, but the original factory pinstripes and paint were clearly visible.  Oil it up and ride it!  Very rare too being a 500cc machine; most Peashooters were 350cc... you'll have to search Utah to see this one in person.

Compare and contrast; two ca.1910 Pierce single-cylinders.  The left machine was original and unrestored, and fetched $130k+, while the right machine, an older restoration, remained unsold with a $40k price tag.  Motorcycle buyers 'get it' that original paint bikes are the future of collecting...

At MidAmerica, one couldn't help but gaze in wonder at the 71 MV Agustas for sale...who knew so many mopeds and lightweights came from the famous factory - most models were never sold in the USA, and we generally see the big four-cylinder machines, and the racers, plus a few road bikes like the sexy 'Disco Volante' (flying saucer).  Seeing such an extensive collection from a single factory was an education in itself, and almost every one of them sold.  What didn't?  The new ones from the revived MV marque...plus a racing Bialbero (double OHC), which was the best racing machine of the collection, albeit the most expensive, needing $125k to change hands.

Trying on a Norton outfit for size... John Landstrom and owner Jerry Kaplan

The best part of Vegas is bumping into so many friends and acquaintances, catching up and talking bikes, making business, keeping tabs. I missed a few good dinner dates due to other obligations, but that's all part of a busy week.  Like I've said, I'm no fan of the town, but I'll keep coming back as long as there are bikes for sale, and the scene is stronger than ever.  The good news takeaway; motorcyclists are buying motorcycles again.

VEGAS, BABY

Top draw for the 2013 Las Vegas auction scene will be this 1939/51 BMW RS255 Supercharged Rennsport, built by Walter Zeller at the BMW factory, from authentic spares, being sold by Bonhams

While I'm no particular fan of the city itself, the annual Las Vegas vintage motorcycle auction weekend is a must-attend for anyone looking to buy bikes or automobilia, but more importantly is the single largest gathering of hardcore vintage bike enthusiasts from around the globe.  The long weekend for 2013 has calmed down dramatically since last year, as the angry upstart RM Auctions, who vowed to 'put MidAmerica out of business', was itself roundly whipped after boasting they would dominate the market of its two rivals, MidAmerica and Bonhams.

This 1973 MV 750GT is one of 71 MV Agustas on sale at MidAmerica; the Gary Kohs collection, to be sold individually.  While Agostini wannabes rush to 750 Sport and Americas, I think this GT is superb.

Anyone present at last year's mad circus of time-slot competing cattle-calls was either dizzy from trying to do it all, or taking advantage of RM's dismal sales results to take home truckloads of cheap machines.  If you're hoping for a repeat of last year's bargains, I'm afraid your cash-cow has wandered home, after a major re-think of its vintage bike strategy.  RM sells bikes well when mixed in with their successful car auctions, but the super-aggressive 'I'll shout you dead' squat directly on MidAmerica's auction dates (and a rumored attempt to steal away MidAmerica's venue itself!), combined with their flooding the weekend with another 700+ bikes (many of which were owned by the auction house... in which case, does that not make them a Dealer, who auctions their wares?) netted them a whopping cash loss, estimated by some to be well over $.5M...or even much more.

A 1930 Böhmerland in original paint, with sidecar!  At Bonhams...

Things are back to the 'new normal' at Las Vegas in 2013: Bonhams will sell 170 bikes plus their usual excellent selection of Automobilia on Thursday Jan 10th, and MidAmerican will sell a bumper crop of 600 machines between Thursday evening the 10th, and Saturday the 12th.  That's nearly 700 vintage motorcycles for sale over 3 days; there's no place on earth you'll find such a huge selection of machines.

An incredible consignment; Four BMW Rennsports, and a Matchless G50 with serious Isle of Man history, at Bonhams

Highlights?  Bonhams has consigned a collection of 19 cutaway engines - a quirky collectible, but undoubtedly cool.  The big hitters this year are all racing machines, with FOUR BMW Rennsport racers, including a supercharged 1939 RS255 -just like Georg Meier's '39 TT winner- which was assembled at the BMW factory using all-original parts.  It doesn't get much better than that, and where will you find another?  Unobtanium...but one's for sale at Bonhams.  Other cool track stars include a '67 BSA A50R with sterling US race credentials, a 1960 Matchless G50 with lots of Isle of Man history, and a 1970 BSA Rob North Rocket 3 racer, one of 11 ex-Works originals, which dominated Daytona in '71.  Plus the usual assortment of excellent exotics Bonhams is known for; a Mars, some original-paint fantastica (Alldays and Onions, HD Peashooter, a unique LEO, and a Böhmerland!), a European collection of lightweight bikes, plus one machine I'm personally fascinated by, which I won't mention, as I want it!

The ex-Steve McQueen, restored by Bud Ekins, 1938 Triumph Speed Twin at MidAmerica

MidAmerica has, as usual, outdone themselves with consignments (both auction houses have 20% more bikes than last year, perhaps a remnant of last year's 'king tide'); their big coup is the Gary Kohs collection of 72 MV Agustas.  Gary has come to his senses after two failed attempts to sell the collection entier, and the bikes will be sold individually...so if you've ever wanted one of Count Domenico's fiery racers, talk to your bank this week (Bonhams has a 'Squalo' as well).  A surprise entry is Jeff Decker's famous custom Vincent, subject of a Cycle World article I wrote last year.  And with hundreds of entries, a deep array of postwar British and American bikes are available.

The ex-Steve McQueen '70 Husqvarna 400 Cross, at Bonhams

Both Bonhams and MidAmerica have 'Steve McQueen' bikes for sale, which always bring a premium; Bonhams has a 1970 Husqvarna 400 Cross owned by Steve and as used in 'On Any Sunday' (but not THE bike), and MidAmerica has a Bud Ekins-restored '38 Triumph Speed Twin, which he sold to Steve.  I haven't heard the best feedback about Bud's restorations mechanically...but the provenance is solid gold.

MV Agusta Bialbero DOHC 125cc racer at MidAmerica

If you can't be there in person, check out the respective auction websites, to see what might tempt you.  Both auctions take online bids, phone bids, bids by mail or carrier pigeon...just get in touch with them if you see something you need.  And if you're there, say hi.

1967 BSA A50R road-racer, which had tremendous success on California tracks.  Bonhams

Click here for the Bonhams auction website.

Click here for the MidAmerica auction website.

Another stellar BSA racer; a one-of-11 factory 1970 'Rob North' Rocket 3.  At Bonhams.

Jeff Decker's 'Lightning' Vincent, for sale at MidAmerica.  Check out the Cycle World.com article I wrote about this machine...