Upcoming Events:
Saturday Coffee and Events Schedule
9:00 AM unless noted otherwise.
3/7/26 - Tech Day for MC Safety Training
560 E. 4th Street, Reno, NV
3/14/26 - Pancake Lollapalooza at the Canavans
3/21/26 - Schat's Bakery
1212 S. Stewart Street, Carson City NV
3/28/26 - Josef's Vienna Bakery
606 W. Plumb Lane, Reno, NV
4/4/26 - Tech Day for Leather Care
560 E. 4th Street, Reno, NV
Join
Comstock Chapter AMCA
Click on the application or
pay online in our store.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
Bike of the Month
March 2026
1947 HRD Vincent
By Kurt Carlson
Sonny Angel was an amazing motorcycle enthusiast. He raced any type of event, road racing, desert racing, land speed racing and anything else imaginable. Sonny built motorcycles with car engines, motorcycle frames with Earles Fork type suspension before Earles did, Vetter type fairings 20 years before Craig Vetter did. He also worked at the Vincent factory for about two years before they went out of business in 1955. For years, Sonny successfully ran a motorcycle business in National City, California. It is impossible to cover his lifetime of motorcycle involvement over the years.
Sonny bought this bike in 1948, and I bought it almost 70 years later. It is a 1947 HRD Vincent Rapide, engine number 303. So, an early post war series B model. Sonny must have learnt something when he worked at the Vincent factory. A standard HRD Vincent was rated at a top speed of 110mph. However, in 1955 Sony managed a speed of 144.69mph on Bonneville Salt Flats. This is a testament to what an impressive motorcycle The Vincent is and of course what a good tuner Sonny Angel was. Bonneville never leaves you and in 1981 Sonny returned to the salt. The bike had received several “upgrades”, Mikuni carburettors, a homemade reverse cone exhaust (built by Sonny’s brother Don), and coil ignition among other items. I have no doubt that he aimed for 150mph plus. The top speed reached in 1981 was 144.95mph. Slightly better than in 1955 and still an amazing speed for a 1947 motorcycle.
I had the pleasure of meeting Sonny and his brother Don several times on the salt. Great times and great stories.
I started the bike shortly after I got it. It started on the fourth kick no problem. A large number of old pictures and documentation was included when I bought the bike. I even have the purchase agreement from when Sonny bought it in 1948 (he paid it off that year). It is interesting to see all the different versions of this HRD Vincent through the years. I also got the racing exhaust and 21” front wheel that was used in 1955. For now, it is sitting in my living room, and we enjoy looking at it every day.
