Motorcycles are wonderful things. They allow you to enjoy the open road, go quite fast, and in some cases, terrify yourself. And if there’s one bike that does all three with aplomb, it’s the Vincent-HRD Rapide Series-A.
This particular example — a Brooklands Gold Star-winning 1937 model once piloted by Jim Kentish — is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Spring Stafford Sale. It’s rare, it’s fast, and it’s brimming with proper old-school engineering cleverness.
A Bit of Background
The Vincent-HRD name came about in 1928 when Philip C. Vincent acquired the HRD Company, which had been started by the rather well-named Howard Raymond Davies. Mr. Vincent decided that motorcycles should be better than they were at the time, so he set about making them so. One of his more brilliant ideas was a sprung frame, which, back then, was quite the revelation. Initially, Vincent used other people’s engines, but naturally, he decided he could do better, which led to the creation of a 500cc single-cylinder engine in 1934.
Then something marvellous happened. Vincent’s chief engineer, Phil Irving, was shuffling about some design drawings and accidentally placed two singles on top of one another. Rather than tidying them up, he had a eureka moment, resulting in the 998cc V-twin engine that would power the Rapide. It was a bit of a game-changer.
The Series-A Rapide: Speed and Style
The Rapide came with what can only be described as a spectacularly complicated external oil piping system, earning it the affectionate nickname ‘Plumber’s Nightmare.’
But let’s focus on what mattered: it was fast. Very fast. The 998cc V-twin produced 45 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, which in the late 1930s was the equivalent of strapping yourself to a guided missile. It could reach 110 mph, making it even quicker than its rival, the Brough Superior SS100. And, of course, it had all the right bits — Burman four-speed gearbox, girder forks, and dual front brakes.
At first, the public wasn’t entirely sure about this newfangled machine, but racing soon changed that. Blokes like Manliffe Barrington and ‘Ginger’ Wood (brilliant names, both of them) took the Series-A Rapide to the track and began obliterating records.
Ginger Wood, for example, set a new lap record at Donington Park in 1938 and managed an 11.75-second standing quarter-mile at Gatwick Sprint. In other words, it was properly quick.
The Brooklands Gold Star Bit
Now, the particular machine being auctioned is rather special. It was the 21st Rapide off the production line and found itself in the hands of Jim Kentish. In 1938, Kentish did something rather heroic—he took this very bike to Brooklands and earned a Gold Star for lapping the circuit at over 100 mph.
To put that into perspective, Brooklands’ 33-year history saw only 25 Gold Stars awarded in the 1,000cc class. So, it wasn’t something that happened every day. Kentish also used the bike for endurance events, proving that it wasn’t just a missile on wheels but could handle long-distance competition as well.
A Well-Travelled Motorcycle
After Kentish’s tenure, the Rapide went through a few hands before ending up with its current owner’s family in 1961. It was tucked away in a garage, had a light restoration in the 1980s, and has been preserved ever since. In 1996, Kentish himself — by then a sprightly 94-year-old — was reunited with the bike, which must have been rather a lovely moment.
Your Chance to Own Something Extraordinary
Today, only around 50 Series-A Rapides are still in existence, and this one is particularly special due to its racing pedigree. It’s been stored indoors, needs only minor recommissioning, and represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of motorcycling history.
It’s fast, it’s rare, and it’s exquisitely engineered. And if that’s not enough reason to bid on it, then frankly, I don’t know what is.