The first issue of The Motor Cycle for 1923 contained a very interesting interview with Bert Le Vack entitled 'The Making of a Speed Man'. Quite a few hitherto undisclosed facts about his early career were revealed to readers, so it is worthwhile summarising what was said on what proved to be the only occasion on which this quiet, unassuming man, could be persuaded to talk about himself.
First, he made it quite clear that despite his French-sounding surname, he was English and of English parents. At the time of the interview he was 34 years old, and his experience of internal combustion engines could be traced back some twenty years. His first motorcycle was a Werner, driven by a flat belt, and his first car a Darracq. He was very 'green' in the early days, even to the extent of looking into a petrol tank at night with a match, and using a lamp to warm up the petrol in surface carburetters during cold weather! As there had always been an engineer in his family, this was his ambition too.
His first job was with Legros and Knowles, of Willesden Junction, where he worked alongside such famous names as the de Havilland brothers, who had still to make their way in the world. Later, he increased his engineering experience by working for Daimler, Napier and the London General Omnibus Company, as turner, toolmaker, gear-cutter or whatever else was required. He became quite proficient at pedal cycle racing, which gave him his first taste of speed. But as he was frequently taken around Brooklands by racing car drivers, his thoughts turned to tuning motorcycles for speed. He won the first hill climb he entered, riding a 1909 Triumph, but after one or two further successes, he found it difficult to keep up with the expense. So in 1912 he joined Motosacoche and was fortunate enough to be given a ride in the London-to-Edinburgh Run that year by De Lissa, the manager of the company. He won a Gold Medal and during the five years in which he remained with Motosacoche, he rode in many trials, hill climbs and races, including the 1914 Senior TT. Despite riding an absolutely standard machine, he managed to average 45mph and win another Gold Medal.
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