My Black Knight
In 1954, I bought an Ariel 500 Twin and used it to travel 12 miles to work as a plant operator with the forest commission. I had a mate who raced at Fishermans Bend and was Vincent mad. The Ariel was a real bomb. We saw in the Saturday Age, an ad for the Vincent Comet, and travelled 200 miles down to Centre Road, Bentleigh and came home with the Comet at a cost of £180.
At this time I was still only 18 and a half. I used both bikes on bush tracks with other mates as well as for work transport. I always used to buy English Motorcycle magazine, where I saw a road test of the Vincent Black Knight by Vic Willoughby. My mate said, “Why don’t you buy one?” I was only 19 and, not earning big money, I thought I could do it. We went down to Disney Motors on Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, with the Ariel, and paid a £90 deposit for the Black Knight.
After 6 months the mighty Vincent arrived. On 24 September, 1954 I went to Melbourne on the back of my mate’s Rapide and paid cash for the Vincent. A very proud 19 and a half year-old rode the Vincent out of Swanston Street, Melbourne at 11:45 on Saturday morning. Highways were not real good then; I got my pride and joy bogged near Traralgon. It is very hard to put into words all the joy I had riding my black beauty. I had many fast trips to Licola to work and Broadford (200 miles). I used the Vincent on many 4WD tracks (probably didn’t treat it as well as I should have). I was lucky to survive one spill; knocked off at 50mph with no helmet, broken bone in my wrist, lacerated face and a concussion. I could go on forever with stories of my Black Knight. I met Phil Irving once in Maffra and got an autograph. I am now 83 and a half years old. I still get Old Bike magazine; you make me envious with all the Vincent stories you have.
Noel Bennett
Maffra, Vic.