$1.6m for 1951 Vincent Black Lightning!
A new motorcycle auction record has been set in Las Vegas – with a rich Australian connectionA 1951 Irving Black Lightning has just fetched a mind-blowing $A1.6 million ($US920,000) at the annual Bonhams motorcycle auction in Las Vegas – the most expensive ever sold at a public auction.
That figure usurped the previous benchmark of $A1.35 million ($US775,000) for a 1915 Cyclone once owned by the actor Steve McQueen.
The Black Lightning, one of only 30 similar models built by Vincent in England, has a rich Australian history. It was privately imported into Australia in 1952 by Tony McAlpine, before ownership passed to Jack Ehret from 1952 to 1999. During that time, Ehret set a land speed record in 1953 as well as dabbling in track racing.
Ehret’s last race on the Black Lightning was at Oran Park in 1978, and the bike's last race – with Jack’s son John riding it as part of a sidecar outfit – was at Sydney Motorsport Park (formerly Eastern Creek Raceway) in 1993.
The Black Lightning was sold at Bonhams in original, unrestored and running condition.
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