Monday 21 May 2012

"MOONEYES AT SILVERSTONE 1963" FROM 'TIMETRAVELDVDS' ON POOTUBE . . . . CLASSIC SEARCHING MISSION YIELDS DOUBLE BONUS RESULTS . . . . I WAS DESPERATE TO GET ONTO SOME PERIOD FOOTAGE OF EX VINCENT WORKS RIDER GEORGE BROWN ONBOARD THE SUPERCHARGED "SUPER NERO" VINNIE . . . . WHICH IS APPARENTLY FUCKING NIGH ON IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE . . . . THEN, BANG !!! I HIT THE DOUBLE WHAMMY, CHECK THIS SHIT OUT !!!!

GEORGE BROWN WAS A POM WHO RODE, TESTED AND RACED FOR VINCENT UNTIL THE STEVENAGE MARQUE FINALLY FOLDED IN 1955, YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE ERA HE WAS PART OF, HE HAD PARTS AND MOTORS BY THE BARROW LOAD AT HIS DISPOSAL . . . . AFTER THE GATES WERE CLOSED HE BECAME OBSESSIVE IN HIS PURSUIT OF QUARTER MILE GLORY WITH THE VINCENT 1000cc TWIN, INITIALLY WITH THE NORMALLY ASPIRATED "NERO" FOLLOWED BY THE BLOWN "SUPER NERO" VERSION . . . .

Ultimately it became the fastest motorbike in the world in both top end speed and quarter mile times for a while, even against serious opposition from the States, remember, this was still the early/mid sixties . . . . I've only ever read about it and seen photos, never any action footage, I had thought it wouldn't be too difficult to track some down . . . . incorrectomundo . . . . seems like fuck all people were pointing the Super 8 at old George back in the day, whatever the reason, there wasn't a buch of stuff out there to choose from . . . .



Then, about two hours ago I lucked onto this brilliant period piece complete with some decent narration and, at no extra charge, some excellent action shots of Dean Moon's, Dante Duce piloted dragster at Britain's legendary 'Silverstone' strip in 1963 . . . . also squeezing themselves into frame are some of the U.K's best 1/4 milers, and some novelty value courtesy of a pair of Ford Anglias that appear to be nudging at least 45mph as they disappear in agonising tardiness down the track.

So, after initially being pissed off and feeling totally bummed, I now find myself totally cock a hoop with my unearthing of this mega bit of speed history . . . . the amazing George Brown on the super charged "Super Nero" Vinnie and the Mooneyes dragster, all in the one film, giddy up motherfucker, time's a'wastin . . . .

2 comments:

  1. THANKS, exactly what I need, another shot of addiction...FEDs are the glass bowl for the mechanical crackhead...and the Mooneyes Potvin induced slingshot is the Ultimo.

    Well, unless you wanna talk Garlits, Prudhomme, Chrisman, Hill.....

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    1. Cracker analogy mate, pun intended . . . FED or none for me, probably why I still dig the funny's even though the rails are pulling the slightly more phenomenal times . . . could never figure out the difference between the Potvin version and the Rootes, didn't Mr Moon buy him out at some point . . . good call on the 'slingshot' term, my use of dragster is tech incorrect . . . I only love you for your mind man . . . ha !!!

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