The Art of Balance

3 Comments to “The Art of Balance”

1. WDEF
   April 13, 2013 at 5:12 am

   David,
   Now then cuz..
   You’ve excelled yourself this time.. you’ve sent out some good stuff over the years but this is surely outstanding.
   I’d forgotten about this artist.. his work is lovely.. watercolours [?] as almost photographs. Not easy, usually the preserve of illustrators and graphic artists [what I wanted to be.. it didn’t work out !]
   How did you find him..? How did you know about him..?
   I remember him from a time when his work was used on the back cover [sometimes] and the inner back cover [sometimes] of the MOST beautiful motorcycle magazine produced in the UK, late 80’s and thro’ the 90’s. I have every copy.. it was stunning and
   bi-monthly only. “Motorcycle Legends” it was. And still much missed.
   Do let me know.
   Regards
   WF
   ps: this is SO nice.. I’ve put it into my archive. Excellent. It’s well seen you’re into Trials mode now son..!

   Reply
2. WDEF
   April 13, 2013 at 5:56 am

   Damnation..!
   I’ve lost half this text.. again !
   The bike in the middle isn’t a BSA Bantam.. it’s actually a James. Sorry.. but shhhhh! don’t tell anybody and I won’t either !
   As I say, I’ve seen these illustrations before.. and I’m sure this is one William Lomas.. who back in the day.. [late 40’s to 1957] was a world class road racer of epic talent. Eventually a World Champion for Moto Guzzi on 350’s. Twice. In the golden era of the 1950’s when factory competition was as ferocious as today. My hero..
   He was also a very fine trials rider of great talent and developed the James lightweight trials bike, without factory input as I recall. And only then, the factory got involved. Early 50’s when the heavyweight 350/500 brit singles still reigned supreme.. as in the Sammy Miller picture above.
   Lomas was years ahead of the game, and it was the mid 60’s before Miller, then the greatest trials rider in the world.. jumped ship to Bultaco and started the 2 stroke, lightweight era.
   I knew Bill Lomas well enough.. from the mid 60’s [I was 16 ish] to his death in 2007. We weren’t mates, I wasn’t asked round to dinner.. but I knew him and his wife Cath, well enough.
   I used to see him around, and spend ages with him. We knew the same people and were “connected” if you like.
   He was a grand fellow.. great company and a fab’ story teller.. the best.
   He WAS and remains my all time HERO. [Even allowing for SMBH.. the TRUE goat!] But he’d become a Guzzi man thro’ and thro’.. he railed against the Brit bike industry for total lack of foresight, for not taking chances on new ideas and for bankrupting it’s core business.
   I miss him.
   WF
   Notice that EVERYBODY here is wearing.. BARBOUR ! In the day, it was the ASPIRATIONAL kit to have.. not bloody Belstaff !
   The towrag Italian owners have portrayed their Belstaff kit as being used by an S. McQueen in the ISDT. Rubbish..!!
   The generic term for a vacuum is.. Hoover. The same term for wax riding kit is.. BARBOUR !!
   Buggers.!!
   WF [again]

   Reply
3. WDEF
   April 14, 2013 at 5:01 am

   Hmmmmmmmm..
   I’m a bit worried about the Bill Lomas thing. It is, in itself factually correct.. BUT.. I’ve got the funny feeling that the chap on the James may be another world class racer and top Trials rider.. Stanley Woods. Can’t be sure but..
   Hmmmmmmmm.
   Regards
   WF

   Reply

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