Pioneers always go between heaven and hell and push through the boundaries to achieve greatness.
In the ever-perilous and risky world of motorsports, one such name has defined the evolution of motorcycling – Philip Vincent. Now, writer/director David Lancaster has uncovered the truth of his legacy in a new documentary narrated by Ewan McGregor, SPEED IS EXPENSIVE: THE PHILIP VINCENT STORY.
Philip Conrad Vincent (1908-1979) was a smart child who attended Harrow College, a haven for many of the top leaders and pioneers in the UK. However, his own eagerness to find a way to do things his way led him to drop out and with money secured from a farm in Argentina where he spent his early years before moving with his family to London.
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Vincent set out on a creative motor journey that would also bring in Australian Phil Newton, himself an eager pioneer, to collaborate on what was to become the template for the ‘Vincent‘ motorcycle, a machine that would in time become one of the fastest in the world, causing a stir on the Utah salt flats and also the Isle of Man TT Races, which featured in the George Formby film NO LIMIT.
The documentary does embrace the highs and lows of Vincent’s legacy and there are some contributions from enthusiast Jay Leno who touches on the key elements that heightened the appeal of the bike to those who coveted the open road on these seemingly timeless contraptions.
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Success for Vincent came at a price, with his relationships with women and the potential of a balanced family life impacted by the attempt to maintain a pace ahead of the game. War years and progressive competition from other manufacturers also impacted on Vincent’s place in the world of developing motor industry.
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Even if you aren’t that overly keen on motorcycles and motorsport in general, SPEED IS EXPENSIVE does provide some fascinating context to what motorcycling is about. Fans of the likes of THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN and TT: CLOSE TO THE EDGE will find a lot of appeal in this fine factual film. The presence of motorcycle nut McGregor as narrator is another positive.
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