Philip Edward Irving OBE, C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E., M.S.A.E., (1903–1992) was an Australian engineer and author, most famous for the Repco-Brabham Formula One

Formula One

Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...

 and Vincent

Vincent Motorcycles

Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. Their 1948 Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle...

 motorcycle

Motorcycle

A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...

 engines. He also authored the books Tuning For Speed and Motorcycle Technicalities as well as writing a column in Motor Cycling

Motor Cycling (magazine)

Motor Cycling was one of the first British motorcycle magazines. Launched in 1903, its green cover led to it being called "The Green 'un" to distinguish it from its rival publication The Motor Cycle. The editor, Graham Walker, was a dispatch rider in the First World War and had a successful racing...

 magazine under the pseudonym 'Slide Rule' .

Irving's life was devoted to his passion for Motorcycles and Motor Racing. Even at age 89 (weeks before his death in 1992) he was still tinkering with, and tuning, Harley Davidson motorcycles at 'Midwest Harley' in Ballarat, Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. Business owner Ken James was quoted as saying "you can't stop Phil, he just needs to be around engines, and make them sing".

Taking up the Mantle of Irvings engineering genius is an Australian company 'KHE' continuing to build and improve on the Vincent line under the name 'Irving Vincent Motorcycles' in Hallam

Hallam

-Places:* Hallamshire, an area in South Yorkshire, England; the source of the name for:** Hallam F.C. - a non-league football club in Sheffield.** Hallam FM, a radio station based in Sheffield.** Royal Hallamshire Hospital...

, Victoria, Australia.

To honour Irving's great achievements the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport

Confederation of Australian Motor Sport

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport , has been the governing body of Australian motorsport since 1953. It is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile ....

 named its highest engineering award the Phil Irving Award, one of the recipients is Ron Tauranac

Ron Tauranac

Ron Tauranac is the former Australian designer for Formula One driver Jack Brabham from 1962 until Brabham's retirement as a driver at the end of the 1970 season. Tauranac briefly owned and managed the Brabham team in 1971, but he sold the team to Bernie Ecclestone in late 1971...

.

There is also a Phil Irving Trophy motorcycle race held at Phillip Island

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is a motor racing racing circuit on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. The circuit was opened in 1956.-Road circuit:...

 during its annual Island Classic race meeting.