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Vincent HRD. "RAPIDE" 1938
1938 VINCENT-H.R.D. "RAPIDE." The basic development of the
pre-war Series A Vincent-H.R.D. "Rapide" . This engine was capable, with only
modest tuning, of producing several more b.h.p. than the "works" 500 c.c. racers
of the period, so it was only natural that soon after the introduction of the
model some of them should appear on the race track.
Legend has it that one was raced (the name Ted Frend comes into the story) on
grass tracks in the South-Eastern Centre. On wet tracks it proved an
awe-inspiring spectacle . . . and soon after the "unlimited" races in
grass-track programmes in the centre were listed as "up-to-650 c.c". It's rather
a nice story!
The Vincent-H.R.D. factory had always produced "springers";
Vincent was a man who had invented a very good spring-frame at a time' when
there were several very bad ones about, and he had joined forces with H.R.D.
(Howard R. Davies, the 500 c.c. T.T. winner on a "350") to build the first
Vincent-H.R.D.s in the late twenties.
It was no surprise, therefore, that when the "1,000" was
announced it was equipped with pivoting-fork rear suspension. What was
interesting was the employment of two brakes on each wheel, to provide stopping
power to match the performance, and the latter was very good. After the various
journals had tested the new Vincent-H.R.D., another maker of big twins stopped
advertising his products as "the fastest production machine in the world".
The Achilles heel of the pre-war Vincent-H.R.D. was the
transmission. Motor Cycling's road test spoke of clutch slip at over 100 m.p.h.,
and only if the clutch was kept in perfect condition could the full potential of
the machine be realized.
"Ginger" Wood, seen in action in the picture, was one rider whose clutch worked.
. . .
Specification
Engine: 47^° Vee-twin 1,000 c.c. o.h.v.; valve operation
by high camshaft and short push-rods. Ignition: magneto.
Transmission: chain through four-speed gearbox. Frame: single down-tube cradle
type, with pivoting-fork
rear suspension. Forks: girder
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