THE THIRD BLACK LIGHTNING BUILT
Bill Hoddinott
MPH 684
Page 52
I recently received some very interesting info and photos about Ernst Hegeler's BL in Germany. His friend Rolf Minkenberg
helped out a lot with the transmission, since Ernst does not have much English. And that was very well, because your scribe
has no German! Rolf's son Joerg also helped by sending photos over the Internet, and I trust Robert has been able to use one
or two here.
Ernst and Rolf have a complete history on this bike, and say it was the third BL built at the Works. A Works Order Form
displaying Order No. 20547 was sent along, which shows that a Black Lightning (Rapide B is crossed through on the
original form. I have seen other Forms with similar evidence of careless pencil-pushing by busy personnel in the day) was
built, tested by George Brown and "despatched" to Vincent dealer (or distributor?) K Hieronymi - Switzerland on 24 Jan 49.
The order for same was dated 5 Nov 48.
Gearbox was Intermediate ratios, mag was KVF racing manual, Carbs Amal Racing Type TTIO 25/3. Avon ribbed 300-21
front and studded 350-20 rear tires on steel rims. Fork, HRD Brampton of '46' pattern. 3 Frame springs were fitted, alloy
brake plates, and "show finish as far as possible".
Ernst and Rolf take up the story; that the famous Swiss racer Hans Staerkle from Basel ordered the bike, Hans having been a
successful NSU racer before WWII. With his woman passenger "Red Cilli", Hans raced the BL for several years in
hillclimbs and roadraces. Apparently the Bramptons were replaced with Girdraulics very early on. Not surprisingly, since
dragging the front fork sideways for sidecar racing would probably have been pretty tough on them. Nonetheless,
Bramptons have always proven very strong and trouble-free on Vincents, and probably plenty of them have been used on
road-going sidecar outfits over the years!
(Rolf continues) In May `52 the machine is sold to a Mr. Amrein of Basel, who took it back to the Works in Stevenage and
had it converted for normal road use. In `55 the bike went to a Mr. Duffner in Weil on the Rhine, who passed it on to a Mr.
Kuttler in `61, and the latter used it until "a major engine trouble" in `66. One Mr. Schleicher then acquired it, and passed it
on to Ernst Hegeler in 1968.
Apparently the bike then spent many years as a "basket case" but finally Ernst got it back on the road for a while, and in '99'
started its restoration to original form. Evidently a great deal of work had to be done to get the bike into the condition seen
in the photos. Quoting from Rolf's notes, "(it has been) built up by Ernst during the last two years using completely new
cylinder heads from his own manufacture. Erich Kruse's modified Mk2 camshafts and a dry running 3 spring Norton clutch.
The original KVF TT magneto is still on the shelf, as are the Amal 32mm TT Carbs, since the magneto failed and he had
trouble getting hold of suiting float chambers."
One of the photos shows "the proud owner and rider at the first outing at a veteran motorcycle race in Schleiz in Thuringen,
one of the last true road race courses in Germany, reminding of the IoM, but much shorter. He ran the Lightning in three
races and was quite happy, that everything worked well and the engine had enough power."
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In a later message Rolf reported, "Next Spring, in Oschersleben, one of our East German racing circuits, Erich Kruse will
ride the Lightning in a Veteran meeting, since he has a license. Erich also manufactured the new 32mm TT carburetors
coupled to modified SU floating chambers, through which the Lightning breathes now."
Probably most readers will agree with your scribe that it would have been fun to meet "Red Cilli" in her heyday around
1950!
I thank Rolf and Ernst for sending this story along, because we are all glad to know of the life of any of the original racers
sent out by the Works all over the world. The best of luck to them and their friends with their bike! As always, this Section
authenticates nothing, that is reserved to the Machine Registrar and the Machine Researcher. Contributions and corrections
are always welcome!
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