RealClassic VINCENT COMET
HRD stands for Howard Raymond Davies. He was an accomplished Isle of Man TT racing legend who also manufactured his own bikes from 1924 until 1928, when he sold the HRD name to Philip Vincent. Philip Vincent produced his own machines, but also used proprietary engines from JAP and Rudge. The story goes that PV was so disgusted with the reliability of the Rudge engines he used for the 1934 TT that for 1935 he built his own engines. These engines all finished the race and were also produced for roadgoing machines like our 1936 HRD Comet. The TT bikes did have a few special parts, like a bronze cylinder head and larger petrol tank.
I first became aware of this Series A Comet from Alan, a workmate at Portsmouth dockyard. Alan is a prankster, so I endured eight years of torment and banter as he boasted about having an HRD but said that I would never see it. When we became closer friends with Al and his wife Gill, she mentioned that the bike belonged to her father, and told stories about him and his brother and their bikes.
In 2009 the time came for Gill to sell the Comet and she asked if I could offer any advice. With my other half, Lynne, I went to have a look. It had been stored since 1956 and still had the last tax disc attached. It hadn't turned a wheel since. It was a complete machine minus the gear lever and the engine had compression. I didn't know anything about pre-war Series A HRD-Vincents so suggested that Gill contact the Vincent Owners'
