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We Shipped Jack Ehret’s Record-Breaking 1951 Vincent Black Lightning

A world record was set when a 1951 Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle sold for $929,000 at the Bonhams’ Las Vegas motorcycle auction in January. It’s the most expensive motorcycle to ever be sold at an auction, and Schumacher Cargo Logistics shipped the bike to its new home in Australia after the auction.

The previous record for the most expensive motorcycle sold at auction was set by a 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer that sold for $825,500 in March 2015. The record for the most expensive car sold at auction also belongs to Bonhams, for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO that sold for $38.1 million in August 2014.

1951 Vincent Black Lightning in Schumacher's Warehouse

The Most Expensive Motorcycle Sold At Auction

Ben Walker, Bonhams Head of Motorcycling, recalls an electricity in the air as the competition at the auction took off.

“We had guys from the UK, America, Australia, mainland Europe all interested in acquiring this motorcycle,” Walker says. “It really came alive around the $550-600,000 mark because that’s where the real bidding battle started to take place between a gentleman in the audience and a gentleman on the phone.”

As the bidding price raised, so did the stakes.

“When it got to around $790-800,000, the guy in the room was shaking his head,” Walker says. “The auctioneer said, ‘Just one more, sir?'”

And finally, the total came out at a whopping $929,000. The Australian man on the phone won the bidding war. The 1951 Vincent Black Lightning, in its original, unrestored and running condition, returned to the country where it got its fame.

About Vincent Black Lightnings

This particular bike, dubbed the “Ehret Lightning,” already made its own record in 1953 when Jack Ehret broke Australian speed records after riding it at an average speed of 141.5 mph. The pair continued to win races around the world until 1993.

It’s one of approximately 30 other Black Lightning motorcycles manufactured by Vincent HRD, and only about 19 “correct” bikes are still in existence. When built, the Black Lightning was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.

Vincent motorcycles have been known to win speed records across the globe, more than any other manufacturer. David Lancaster’s documentary SpeedisExpensive highlights the history of these motorcycles and the family behind the company.

“When Philip Vincent [founder of Vincent Motorcycles] passed away in 1979, he didn’t think these motorcycles would be forgotten,” says Lancaster. “I don’t think he could’ve predicted the sort of prices that this motorcycle’s fetched, but he did know that these things were special.”

In September 1948, Rollie Free gained the motorcycle speed record for the United States while riding the first Vincent Black Lightning at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. During test runs, he had average speeds of 148.6 mph.

For the final run, he stripped down to his swimming shorts to reduce the drag, laying flat on the seat with his legs stretched out and his head low. He reached a record 150.313 mph, following a black strip painted on the ground and completing a mile in 23.9 seconds.

Shipping Your Motorcycle to Australia

Schumacher Cargo Logistics is proud to have shipped this incredible, record-breaking Vincent Black Lightning motorcycle from the United States to Australia. We’re experts in shipping motorcycles to Australia and around the world. If you have a motorcycle, vehicle or household goods that you need to ship internationally, get your free shipping estimate today.

Retirement is a chapter of life that many look forward to. It’s a time for relaxation, but also adventure. Retiring abroad is a popular move for seniors, as you finally have the time and savings to travel and discover a foreign country. With a literal world of options, it’s hard to choose. Consider the Philippines, an archipelagic Southeast Asian country situated in the Pacific Ocean. With over 7,000 islands, the geography ranges from beaches and tropical rainforests to volcanoes and mountains. The Philippines is among the top 25 countries to retire to on International Living’s “The World’s Best Places to Retire in 2018.” It scores 90 for cost of living, higher than its 2017 score of 85. Other high scores for the Philippines from International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index for 2018 are 96 for fitting in and 94 for entertainment & amenities.

Continue reading below to see our calculation on how to retire to the Philippines for $100,000.

beachfront pool and relaxation in the Philippines

Cost of Living in the Philippines

The Philippines has a generally low cost of living. International Living reports that you could comfortably live on $800 to $1200 a month, covering housing, utilities, food, healthcare and taxes.

If you live on $800 a month, your $100,000 can spread out to about ten and a half years. If you live on $1,200 a month, your $100,000 could last about seven years. The average worker’s Social Security benefit for 2018 is $1404 per month. Your monthly benefit alone could cover your basic living expenses, giving you some comfortable wiggle room for using your savings.

Obviously, your monthly housing payment will depend on where you live and in what kind of space. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is $228.94; go outside the city and that average is $124.77 per month. A three-bedroom property in the city has a monthly average rent for $394.53 and outside the city is $240.59. Something important to note is that non-Filipinos cannot own land, but they can own property. Thus, buying a condominium would be your best bet if you wanted to own your place.

Living in the Philippines as a Retired Expat

Perks for expats include a government agency dedicated to retired expats, and the surrounding culture is welcoming to foreigners. Other incentives for 60+ expats include:

Duty-free import of $7,000 worth of household goods
Exemption from airport travel taxes
Your retiree visa does not expire, and you can leave and return to the country without having to reapply for residency

For a more complete list of what benefits are offered to senior citizens in the Philippines, click here.

Live Like A Filipino

The best way to spread out your savings across your entire retirement is to embrace the local lifestyle. Don’t spend like you’re on vacation, where you might be more inclined to splurge here and treat yourself there. Live, and spend, with the mindset of a citizen in your new country. Find the local markets for your grocery shopping, then cook at home. Avoid the popular shopping centers where prices may be jacked up because of tourists. Limit your entertainment spending and outings to a few occasions. All of these saving tricks are rules you’ve known and followed at home, so apply them to your new home in the Philippines.

Moving to the Philippines

Ready to start your retirement in a beautiful tropical country? Schumacher Cargo Logistics now ships to the Philippines! You can trust us to move your items and vehicles safely and efficiently, while you relax and enjoy your retirement. Check out our guide to make the move and start retiring to the Philippines today.

The Port of Houston History in the Early Days

In the early days, barges carried goods along a winding long distance route to the Gulf of Mexico.

In Galveston, the barges met up with seagoing vessels that carried goods to and from the rest of the U.S. and overseas. As cargo volumes grew with the city, the lack of a deep water port in Houston caused increasingly more problems.

During the 1890s business and civic leaders continuously lobbied with no avail for a deep water ship channel. This would serve the many international shipping companies who transported cotton and other cargo from Texas.

But it took the dedication of a young congressman, Tom Ball, the discovery of oil, and the fury of Mother Nature to come together before the maritime destiny of Houston was fulfilled.

The Early 1900’s

In September 1900 one of the worst hurricane disasters in the history of America hit Galveston. Notably more than 8,000 people died in these storms.

Petitions for a protected port miles upstream from the exposed position in Galveston then took on greater urgency. In 1901 oil discovered at Spindletop accelerated the growth of commerce in Texas .

With rice starting to rival cotton exports the lack of a deep water ship channel meant that Houston could not handle larger vessels to support the growing commerce.

Tom Ball’s Revolutionary Concept

A revolutionary concept proposed by Tom Ball suggested that the costs of dredging the channel should be shared by the federal government and Houston.

A unanimous vote by the Congressional Rivers and Harbors Committee accepted the idea that became known as The Houston Plan. Later they named Tomball, a nearby Texas city after the brilliant young congressman, Tom Ball.

A campaign launched in 1911 to encourage voters to approve bonds worth $1.25 million. This money would cover the dredging of the waterway approved by a margin of sixteen to one.

Soon after the Harris County Houston Ship Channel Navigation District (known as the Port Houston Authority today) was formed to issue the bonds.

Despite the enthusiasm of voters, banks and brokers had no interest in accepting the bonds until Jesse H. Jones appeared on the scene and approached the banks in Houston to accept the bonds.

Within 24 hours each bank bought its share. Ultimately this investment has paid dividends for the city, the state and the nation many times over. With this feat, Jesse Jones became a major force in the future of both Houston and the port.

Completion of the Port of Houston

In 1912 work commenced on the deep water channel in conjunction with the progress of other precedent-setting maritime projects such as the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the 51 mile-long Panama Canal. On the 7th September 1914, the TEXAS dredge whistled the completion of the channel.

Big celebrations followed by a ceremony were held on November 10th at the Turning Basin to officially open the channel.

The ceremony started with a twenty-one gun salute and President Woodrow Wilson. He fired a cannon via remote control from his office in Washington D.C. to officially mark the Port of Houston open for operations.

The Port of Houston Address:

Sources:

http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/review/USA_TX_Port_of_Houston_60.php
http://porthouston.com/portweb/about-us/background-and-history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Houston

Sturgis Mountainside Near Motorcycle Rally

The #1 must-do for any North American motorcyclist is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held annually every first week of August in Sturgis, South Dakota. The 2017 rally will be the 77th rally, held August 4-13. Located on the edge of the Black Hills National Forest and just northwest of Rapid City, the rally offers a chance to connect with other riders, get a taste of the American West, and fulfill the dream of being part of a motorcycle gang. Vendors will set up shop along Sturgis’ Main Street and show off their inventory of gear, bikes, and other motorcycling necessities. The rally also hosts races, bike shows, and concerts from A-list musicians.

Things To Do

Music

The party doesn’t stop at motorcycles. Sturgis is proud to host rock legends like Ozzy Osbourne and Lynyrd Skynyrd among other favorites on the Rally’s set list. Here’s a current breakdown of the week at Buffalo Chip Campground:

Friday, Aug. 4, and Saturday, Aug. 5: Dirt Riot Off-Road Races
Sunday, Aug. 6: Shinedown, American Flat Track Sturgis Buffalo Chip TT Races
Monday, Aug. 7: The Doobie Brothers
Tuesday, Aug. 8: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke
Wednesday, Aug 9: Ozzy Osbourne, Pop Evil, Street Drag Invitational
Thursday, Aug. 10: Blink-182, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Doug Danger’s Rattlesnake Jump
Friday, Aug. 11: Alter Bridge, AMA Supermoto
Saturday, Aug. 12: AMA Supermoto

Group Rides and Highways

There are plenty of group rides available on the Sturgis Rally website, or the lone traveler can ride highways like Iron Mountain Road, Vanocker Canyon Road, the Wildlife Loop, and Spearfish Canyon.

15th Annual Sturgis Mayor’s Ride: Limited space available, so book fast! The Sturgis mayor will host this annual ride on Monday, Aug. 7, and all proceeds benefit the local emergency services. The ride takes you to the best of the Black Hills, stopping for lunch at Custer State Park. Participants will receive a limited edition Jack Daniels decanter signed by the mayor, a T-shirt, a Mayor’s Ride pin and other items from sponsors. To celebrate this being the 15th year for the ride, all participants will be entered into a drawing to join the mayor as a VIP guest for a pub crawl the following night.
Carey Hart’s Good Ride: A “social spin on the traditional motorcycle charity ride,” the Good Ride will take place on Sunday, August 6. Proceeds from this ride go to the Infinite Hero Foundation, an organization that helps veterans dealing with mental and physical issues after returning home.
Ride with a Local: For those who are new to the Rally or who just want a taste of the local flavor, this free ride will go through the best back roads and places in the Black Hills. There are two chances to ride, on Friday, Aug. 4, and Wednesday, Aug. 9, and it is expected to last five hours, including lunch and rest breaks. Lunch is not included in the ride. Spots are limited to 25 riders per ride, and itineraries and maps are included.

Other Highlights

South Dakota is full of hidden treasures. Local sightseeing includes Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, and Devils Tower in nearby Wyoming. Take advantage of the surrounding beauty and fun while you’re in the area.

Badlands National Park: get a glimpse of Mars without actually visiting another planet. The Badlands offer other-worldly landscapes of buttes and valleys, deeming it a “bad” place for the pioneers to travel through with their wagons.

Needles Highway: If you love the excitement and adrenaline of twisting roads and narrow passes, the Needles Highway is a must. The towering granite spires lining the highway give it its name, and the highway lies in Custer State Park, offering a chance to visit another incredible South Dakota must-see.

Sturgis Bar Scene: Sure, riding is what you want to do during the day, but what can you do once the sun goes down? Downtown Sturgis is home to plenty of saloons, bars, and pubs to give you a good time. Join the annual Sturgis Mayor’s Pub Crawl, or plan your own through Iron Horse Saloon, Knuckles Saloon, and Broken Spoke Saloon.

Where To Stay

Hotels, campgrounds, and other 300+ vacation rentals are available for lodging. Private homes to rent or vacation packages to purchase are also available. Find your home away from home here. Most lodgings are open year-round and can host individuals, families and larger groups.

Don’t Wait Too Long!

The 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is less than 90 days away, so start planning your trip now! Schumacher Cargo Logistics is prepared to get your bike there safely.

Thinking of Making the Trip from Overseas?

Check out our page on importing motorcycles and vehicles into the USA. If you have any questions you can give us a call or reach out to us on Facebook and Twitter.

The SGA (http://www.silverghostassociation.com/ – Silver Ghost Association) club of America which consists of proud owners of this Rolls Royce classic, have just completed their annual “on the road” tour which took place in Ireland.

16 beautiful vintage silver ghosts traveled in unison on the highways and byways of Ireland for 3 weeks. Schumacher Cargo began the process in June when we gathered all cars into our warehouses on the east coast and shipped them to Dublin during August.

The goal was to have the cars ready for the tour members when they arrived on Sept 5th. Now after 22 days of driving, the tour arrived back into Dublin on Sunday September 27th. Damien Shields, our sales manager traveled to Dublin to meet the tour as they passed the cars back into our care for storage until we ship them back to the U.S. We are proud to say that we successfully completed this part of the project and the weary owners are now ready to fly home and savor the memories of magical trip around the Emerald Isle.

Brief History:

This particular model was manufactured by Rolls Royce between 1906 and 1926. However, “Silver Ghost” wasn’t the original title given to this line; as the first ones were actually called the “40/50 hp”.

It wasn’t until after a new model, AX 201, was given the name “Silver Ghost” by the media that all earlier models took on the prestigious title. –Wikipedia

Schumacher Cargo Logistics utilizes insured, secured and bonded facilities. We provide warehousing, packing, crating, trucking and loading services out of our own warehouses here in the USA - Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, Miami, New York, and New Jersey. All other worldwide destinations are covered by our affiliated organization member companies.