My singular Vincent obsession

My childhood obsession was Vincents, and in particular the single cylinder ones; Comets and Grey Flashes mainly, but Meteors as well (I know off the top of my head their standard specification didn't include the front prop stands, for example ... ). In particular my thing was Series C Comets; mainly as dad had one and I just thought it looked great. He always had a love/hate relationship with it (he's a Velo fellow at heart) but it was at our house for 20 odd years, and I was disappointed when it went; sold to my cousin actually, though it's subsequently changed hands once or twice and I was offered it at one point - alas, funds wouldn't allow it.

I acquired my own 'C' in November 2007; of all the motorcycles I've been lucky enough to buy, it was the most excited I've ever been about an acquisition. I used up all my savings and more, it was a bitsa Comet, but to me it represented the culmination of many years of wanting one. I had it for several years, did plenty with and to it, then, on a whim, sold it in the summer of 2012, as my tastes had changed and the money went towards a vintage ohv fore-and-aft Douglas flat twin.

''At this later date (the book was published 1975) I can now reveal we attended the Olympia show in 1934 exhibiting several machines fitted with our new Comet and Meteor engines ... but at the