Irving Vincent to Daytona venture
Beau Beaton Interview
The legendary Irving Vincent is heading to Daytona. The lads behind the machine, Ken and Barry Horner, are coming into Beau Beaton within the 2026 Tremendous Hooligans class.
Beaton has ridden nearly each model of the Irving Vincent since 2009, and now he’ll put the most recent two-valve, air-cooled creation to the take a look at on America’s most intimidating banking. We caught up with Beau to know what this bold venture means from the rider’s seat.
What was your first response when Ken requested if you happen to would possibly need to experience the Irving Vincent at Daytona?
“I don’t assume there was a specific time Ken or Barry requested me. The Tremendous Hooligans bike has been a venture within the background for a good whereas now. Clearly, I at all times really feel privileged that I’m on the forefront of Ken and Barry’s choices when these initiatives are even a thought. The unique plan was to contemplate Laguna 2025. I used to be actually enthusiastic about that, and Daytona is simply as excessive on the listing for me. I don’t assume I’ll really admire the banking till I’m there.”
Earlier than you threw a leg over it, what did you anticipate the bike to really feel like?
“I form of knew what to anticipate. I’ve ridden each variant of IV (Irving Vincent) since beginning to experience for Ken and Barry in 2009. I’ve skilled each engine and chassis they’ve produced. All of them have had the clutch on the left and throttle on the suitable 😊. The boys have thrown a few spanners within the works by altering the gear shift to the suitable foot once in a while, however apart from that, I knew roughly what the bike can be like.
“The brand new expertise was going to be the dearth of aerodynamics and the upright bars. Dust bikes being my background, the upright bars weren’t going to be a problem for me, however adjusting my road-riding fashion to go well with is a distinct matter. We haven’t turned many laps but. So there are nonetheless some adjustments within the making.”
Did the truth match these expectations, or what most stunned you?
“All we may ask for on that first weekend was consistency from the engine and minor adjustments to the chassis. So sure, actuality was matched because the engine ran completely. No surprises actually, perhaps a little bit on sitting up that little bit increased adjustments how the bike acts beneath you. However it didn’t take me lengthy to regulate.”
How does the bike’s character strike you on the primary experience?
Brutal? Easy? One thing else?
“Just like the opposite engines, I’ve ridden each variant of engine Ken and Barry have constructed. This engine is for positive on the smoother facet in comparison with different IVs. This can be a 2-valve, electronically injected petrol engine, so it’s not as revvy as their four-valve motors. Having digital injection in comparison with another gasoline metering techniques we’ve tried over time makes it simpler to have a clean translation with the throttle.”
How would you describe the engine’s supply in comparison with a contemporary superbike?
“There isn’t a comparability. I’ve been privileged to experience numerous completely different race bikes and highway bikes, the IV stands out. It’s excessive torque, low-revving, no electronics, good old school throttle cables. Your wrist is directing what’s occurring, in contrast to present superbikes, the place electronics take over percentages of what’s being transferred to the engine. So it’s a really uncooked engine, if you want to elucidate it that means.”
What stands out probably the most in regards to the chassis really feel: stability, flex, suggestions, weight switch?
“The chassis is identical as those I’ve ridden beforehand. The IV being distinctive to nearly all of motorbikes, it runs a monocoque chassis. This was ingrained in HRD Vincent’s historical past; Ken and Barry have achieved a incredible job of preserving this characteristic and bringing it into the fashionable period.
“We now have the fantastic thing about fashionable Ok-Tech suspension, which provides loads of adjustability and suggestions. The IV additionally has no rear linkage for the rear suspension. Once more, one thing that’s from the unique HRD Vincent Nineteen Thirties design carried by means of to now. There are areas round this that positive aren’t excellent, however we’ve at all times made methods to enhance.
“The bike may be very steady, that’s one thing Craig McMartin labored on with the motorcycle within the early days of growth. It’s not one thing I’ve ever actually had a problem with within the final 16 years.”
Does the Irving Vincent reward a specific using fashion?
“Hopefully mine… Between myself, Craig McMartin, and Cameron Donald I believe we’ve given the suggestions for Ken and Barry to make what the bike is right this moment.
“I’ve mentioned this up to now in discussions with Craig and Ken. Most likely the largest factor is utilizing the torque to its benefit and standing the bike rapidly sufficient that your hand can get that torque to the bottom as rapidly as potential. We now have by no means been a powerhouse in a straight line, so we’ve to make use of our benefit the place the bike is robust.”
Is there a side of the bike that immediately crammed you with confidence?
“I believe having the historical past with the group and the IV for therefore lengthy, having belief within the group, Ken, Barry, who constructed all the things by hand, confidence is simply having that belief that they do their job, and let me go do my factor on the bike.”
What’s the largest adjustment you’ve needed to make coming from fashionable equipment as soon as once more, and the way does it examine to the 888 Ducati you’ve lately campaigned within the Superbike Masters ranks?
“I believe it could be extra corresponding to the 888 in Superbike Masters. Concerning early Ducati engine traits. You don’t get much more revs out of the 888, so utilising the torque once more, in using fashion.
“Most likely leaping off fashionable to outdated once more like the opposite weekend at The Bend, when you get used to the completely different using positions, it’s remembering to make use of the clutch. And vice versa – once I get on a contemporary bike, to not use the clutch.
“We’re so spoilt lately, when you launch from the beginning line on a contemporary bike, you don’t typically contact the clutch. Velocity shifters and auto blippers take management. The IV having no digital aids, no auto blip and quick-shift, my left hand can get busy beneath deceleration as nicely, preserving the again wheel from locking.”
Are there any quirks or persona traits the bike has that solely a rider would discover?
“Zero electronics. Engine braking and throttle translation are what they’re, and also you make do with what you’ve.”
What’s one space the place the Irving Vincent surprisingly holds its personal towards fashionable superbikes?
“That’s a difficult query to reply. I really feel fashionable superbikes within the final 10 years have come to this point with digital aids. Should you had been to check our lap time with a contemporary superbike, there isn’t a comparability. If I had been to say something, I imagine the mid nook pace of the IV has at all times been excessive, but it surely’s comparative to what I’ve raced towards.”
The place is the largest technological distinction felt from the rider’s seat?
“There’s no tech on the IV, simply exact engineering. Should you’re evaluating it to earlier IVs. Nothing, I’ve ridden some which have a shift gentle solely, some have an analogue tacho, some have a digital tacho, however I at all times appear to shift off really feel. I discussed to Ken and Barry on this one, don’t even hassle with the sprint. However I believe we’re working one at this stage.”
Given the dearth (or minimal use) of rider aids, how way more “hands-on” is the using expertise?
“With no rider aids, sure, the clutch might be a instrument I take advantage of on the IV greater than once I experience a contemporary bike. I by no means actually spent a lot time on superbikes with correct traction management, so I don’t actually depend on it once I experience anyway.”
Do you assume right this moment’s youthful riders would admire or battle with one thing so uncooked and mechanical?
“I hope they might admire it. I do know a number of the youthful era race on the historic titles on older bikes. So I really feel they might adapt and admire it. On the finish of the day, we race bikes as a result of we love doing it. Whether or not that bike has digital rider aids or a elaborate digital sprint, I don’t assume a real rider can be disheartened to leap on it and race it. It’s been ridden by many large names of the bike trade, Troy Corser, Shawn Giles, simply to say a pair, and I can let you know all of them received off the bike with an enormous smile.
“Appreciating the IV as a uncooked bike, as you place it, is one factor, however whether or not it may be seen and appreciated for what Ken and Barry have achieved with constructing these motorbikes is one other factor. The engineering behind constructing a push-rod air-cooled V-twin to its absolute limits is one thing that I, for one, will at all times be in awe of. And I’m fortunate sufficient to have been concerned for almost all of its journey.
“It was solely by likelihood that I ended up on the bike in October 2009. I used to be 23 and nonetheless very new to highway racing. Craig McMartin was meant to be racing the bike that weekend, however couldn’t as a consequence of work commitments. Craig had been serving to me with my first 12 months in Australian Superstock 1000, and satisfied Ken to place me on the bike. I’m nonetheless unsure if Ken is loopy or simply had a number of belief in Craig, letting a 23 12 months outdated contemporary highway racer out on a motorcycle that doesn’t actually have a worth on this world. As we would say, the remainder is historical past.
“Extra to your level, I used to be younger once I first hopped on the IV, and I did, and at all times will admire it for greater than it’s only a uncooked bike, I do admire the engineering marvel it’s.
“It was much less of a step or a conversion again than Superbikes had been, with throttle cables, no TC, and few rider aids.”
Do you’re feeling a way of duty using a motorcycle with this a lot historical past behind it?
“Sure. I at all times really feel privileged and have a way of duty each time I experience the IV. Not that Ken and Barry have ever put any expectations on me or put any stress on me. They know I’m doing all the things I can on the market, and I do know they’re placing far more effort in than I ever must. I’ve at all times mentioned I get the straightforward job. 15 min race on the bike, however these blokes have put in years of effort for that 15 minutes.”
Is there stress realizing the Horner household poured a lot into this machine?
“They’ve by no means positioned stress on me in any respect. I solely anticipate it from myself.”
What does it imply to you personally to be a part of the Irving Vincent story?
“Small inside story, once I was born, my Dad wished to call me Vincent. When my Mum discovered it was after a bike, it received gonged… In some way, by means of Dad being shut down in regards to the identify, I received Beau. The Vincent Motorbike was my grandfather’s favorite bike of all time. And that’s the way it took place.
“In some way, in a bizarre twist of occasions, I find yourself racing a Vincent. Dad received his means, kind of. My identify is kind of related to a Vincent race bike. So personally, for me, I’ve love for all motorbikes, and being part of Ken and Barry’s Irving Vincent story has been unbelievable. They hold asking me again, so I have to be doing one thing proper.”
No place actually compares to Daytona; you haven’t raced there, or wherever else in America, for that matter. What are you able to do to attempt to put together your self for the problem forward finest?
“I can’t actually put together myself for Daytona. I’ve had a chat to Craig (McMartin) about it. He raced there in 2008, he advised me to let the brake off if I’m not fast sufficient. I had a great chat with Peter Doyle down at The Bend who has loads of expertise over there with Mat Mladin. Some unreal tales from there.
“Sure, I do know it is going to be difficult, and everybody there could have monitor expertise, and so forth, however I’m up for it. I’m as excited as I ever have been to race.”
What would a profitable Daytona appear like out of your perspective?
“This will likely be our first AMA occasion. I’m positive there will likely be a listing of jobs after this that we will enhance on. We don’t actually know the place we sit by way of competitiveness as a result of we don’t have a category prefer it in Australia to check towards. Profitable to me would clearly be in direction of the extra pointed finish of the sector, however simply being in amongst the race will likely be wonderful.”
For Beau Beaton, using the Irving Vincent has by no means been simply one other race gig, it’s a duty handed down by means of friendship, belief and a long time of workmanship.
For Ken and Barry Horner, Daytona is an opportunity to showcase their life’s work on the largest stage. Whether or not they land on the pointy finish or battle tooth-and-nail within the pack, the consequence will matter far lower than the importance of an Australian-built air-cooled V-Twin taking up America at full noise.
No matter unfolds at Daytona in 2026, it is going to be one other exceptional chapter in one in all motorcycling’s very unlikely and unforgettable journeys.
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