






[David Lancaster’s iPhone video of a Godet Black Lightning about to hit the track at the Montlhéry Cafe Racer Festival 2019]
There were too many people about that weekend so the ghosts stayed away but when Phil had finished filming, we walked about looking at all sorts of fabulous motorbikes, old and new, including the second-last Vincent Black Prince made by his grandfather’s firm. A rather intense-looking man was photographing the For Sale notice on the Prince and asking aloud if the low mileage was genuine. Knowing the machine, I assured him it was and opined that given the handling characteristics of the Series D models, previous owners were probably scared of it. Replying that he had a Black Prince and that we clearly knew nothing about Vincents, the potential new owner flounced away. Someone once described the Series D Vincents as conforming to the definition of a camel as a horse designed by committee. We felt reasonably qualified to comment: the Series D Vincents had heralded the end of Phil’s grandfather’s dreams and a Black Prince had nearly been the end of me when I test-rode it from London to Western Brittany in 1990.



Paul, I enjoyed “Montlhery Ghosts” so much that I can’t claim that I would have spotted any typos because I just wanted to keep going.
I met Dave Degens once in his Putney shop but it was some years later that I really understood the height of his achievement in winning the Barcelona 24 Hours on his Triton. The Monjuic Park track was not the easiest…imperfect surface, no run-off, lots of stuff to hit and at night? It took an exceptional rider to master that circuit. And then there was the burning heat. I was pit crew to Kawasaki GPZ-750 out of London for two years, the last two years the event was held I think, and one of my jobs was to dry each rider’s soaking leathers with a hair dryer. But the atmosphere was unbelievable.
Beautiful, Paul. Thank you! You keep the bar at a high level for how to think about motorcycles and motorcycling! And speaking of typographical intent, I really appreciate how you quote Dick Shepard using the company name “Triumph” not as a singular brand as Americans would, but as the Europeans do, as a plural noun, encompassing all the people – the community really – who make up the Triumph company. “It’s a very historic race track, especially for Triumph because they came over here in 1949…” says Shepard. Great!
All credit to Prosper Keating, a veteran publisher (Fast Classics in the ’90s, the Parisian fashion mag 7Post today), journalist, and cafe racer fan since his days with the Mean Fuckers MC in London in the 1980s!
Good stuff related to Vincent history, and amusing to see yet another Triumph rarity alleged by Mr. Shepherd taken for granted. His next important “find” is likely to be the Ark of the Covenant.
Great article . Great photos . Though why the ( ____ ) anyone would question the handling of a Vincent Black Prince is beyond comprehension .
Any chance of a future feature article on Godet’s incredible Black Lightening clone ? Unbelievably I’ve trawled the net to the limits of my capabilities and have yet to find a full article on that beast
And finally .. in light of the main theme of this years Monthery ( a tribute to Godet ) May his legend go well into the future .. and may someone ( publisher and author ) have the sense to do a book on Godet and his magnificent creations
Rock On – Ride On – Remain Calm ( despite the worldwide bs ) … and do good sir .. please Carry On … and may the memory of LJKS ( along with a healthy dose of HST ) always haunt our every thought , word and deed … keeping us on the straight and narrow of quality and blatant honesty … regardless of the consequences
😎
Brilliant article,. the mention of only 2 Black Shadows in Montlhery caught my attention as there is records of 4No.?
That’s an incredibly contentious question! There are reports of up to six Shadows at Montlhéry, usually made by people who have something to gain…
Never heard of six. Now that is a long bow 🙂 Thankfully I have seen 1 in the flesh.