Zenith 996 JAP V-twin record machine & Bert Le Vack - 1920s - photo

Description

A superb and rare photo of the legendary Herbert (Bert) Le Vack ,
photographed with his Zenith - JAP 996cc V-twin in the 1920s, assumable 1927. In the background, outmost right, is a Francis Barnett sidecar combination parked.
The combination Zenith - Bert Le Vack is perhaps best known by an event that took place on October 27TH, 1922. LeVack lapped the banked Brooklands track at 100.29mph on his Zenith - JAP, a machine build to his own specifications as Le Vack also worked for JAP at the time as their main engine developer. Because of his new record speed at Brooklands, Le Vack became the first British rider on a British motorcycle to reach the 100 mph speed limit!
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.
We have more photos, also listed on Ebay, of other bikes, and various motorcycle (world) champions on various kinds of machinery. Please check out our auctions and take advantage of our shipping discount! The auction selection is refreshed and changed continuously.
This is your rare chance to own this
non period
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 10.7" (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!
(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.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. 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!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.