A superb and rare photo of the legendary Joe Wright, photographed with his Zenith - JAP 996cc
V-twin in 1930.
Zenith Motorcycles (UK) is a quite
unknown but once very famous and very specialist motorcycle manufacturer that
had an excellent name. The company was based in Londons, Finsbury Park and
started out in 1904. Zenith motorcycles used engines from various suppliers,
including Precision, Villiers and JAP. Under chief Engineer Freddy Barnes,
Zenith developed the 'Gradua' gear, a variable pulley which adjusted the length
of the drive belt by sliding the rear wheel backwards or forwards in the slots.
This gave Zenith a great advantage which competitors claimed was unfair and
many clubs banned the Gradua Zeniths, who simply included the word
"Barred" in their badge. In the 1930s Zenith hit hardtimes and closed
down production but the name was bought by Writers of Kennington, who had been
one of their main dealers, and production restarted at the Hampton Court
factory in Surrey. The Second World War stos business, so when he had an offer
of employment from Wallace he agreed and began developing Duzmo engines. He
then built a competition motorcycle that he used in competitions and
demonstrations. He called the bike the 'Ace' and then it became the 'Duzmo' in
1920 when Bert became well known as a racer. Towards the end of 1920 Bert moved
to the Hendee Manufacturing Co, who made Indian motorcycles in Springfield,
Massachusetts. He joined their London Depot and developed the eight valve
Indian engine. Le Vack was very much in favour of using alcohol based fuels in
racing and obtained supplies from a London distillery. This led to an offer to
work as an engine designer for John A. Prestwich, founder of the JAP company
who produced racing engines for many top marques, including Brough Superior. Le
Vack used his experience of the Indian Powerplus on which he won the famous
500-Mile Race at Brooklands in 1921 to help JAP develop their British vee-twin
into what he called a "Yank-buster" - the 'Super Big Twin',so called
because of its 986 cc ohv engine. (Indian subsequently dropped out of
international competition). Although le Vack only stayed with _J_A_P_ _for four
years he played a significant part in their success and JAP advertisements in
the Motor Cycle showed Bert on a Brough Superior with the 976 cc vee-twin JAP
engine. As well as his tuning knowledge, le Vack gained a reputation for
blending special racing fuels and had his own workshop in the Tottenham
factory. Described as a quiet spoken man with few friends, le Vack became
something of an enigma. in a rare interview for The Motor Cycle in 1923 with
the title 'The Making of a Speed Man' he described his early days when he
nearly blew himself up by looking into a petrol tank at night with a match. In
the late 1920s he joined Motosacoche in Geneva, Switzerland, for whom he had
already ridden in the 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. Motosacoche built racing
motorcycles and le Vack joined as the works rider, chief designer and tuner and
was killed in the Swiss Alps on the 17th September 1931, while testing the
Motosacoche A50 on public roads close to their factory. Bert le Vack rode for
Brough Superior and helped keep T. E. Lawrence's Broughs tuned. He also rode
for the leading manufactureres of the 1920s, including Indian, New Imperial and
Zenith. After a time in Birmingham at the New Hudson works, Bert went to
Motosacoche and rode for them in the 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races.
Bert won the Brooklands 500 in 1921 on a 1000 cc Indian. In 1923 he secured
second place in the 1923 Lightweight Tourist Trophy Races with a New Imperial
250 cc - despite a breakdown that meant he had to push the bike half a mile to
the finish.
This is your rare chance to own this photo that reflects a very interesting
and historic piece of motorcycle history. Therefore it is printed in a nice
large format of ca. 8" x 11" (ca. 20 x 27 cm).
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
All our photos are modern photos that are traditionally made from what we believe are the original negatives and are copyright protected.
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files and board backed envelopes.
They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
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