Old tools have an age-worn oil-rubbed torque-nicked patina to them that makes them the best tool to have in the hand for the job. An energy of mechanics past glows from their softened edges; but hard true faces ready to bite a bolthead or twist a nut free lies in wait.
This collection of BSA wrenches look ready for action! Rust requiring an oily hand with intent and a vintage motorcycle project replete with Whitworth fastenings gets underway
Music Motorcycle: it looks like Dick and his pillion pal Dee Dee are having way too much ridin’ fun on their Bonnie whilst crooning a merry tune. Dick St John and Dee Dee Sperling was this singing songwriting duo holding court through the sixties in California.
George Lucas is 70 today: I could gave imaged Endor moon speeder bikes; hot rods along Main Street graffiti style, or Indiana Jones and his pappy a la combination; but instead I found this snowy scene in Norway of Carrie Fisher napping between takes during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back. Skidoo chaise whilst the tauntauns graze… It’s my favorite of The saga in terms of story and acting.
May the Force be with you!
Perhaps my next project? A flat track Tiger Cub. Light the blue touch paper and stand well back…
Just need an oval of dirt and tip ‘er sideways.
We can’t let the car feel left out now can we? Here’s our ’04 Volkswagen GTI which has always been fun to drive either in the city (parking is easy) or on faster roads, as well as highway cruising. Geordie the greyhound loves to travel in the back; either peering out of the rear of this hot hatchback or curled up dozing the miles away…
A Reading from the Book of Armaments, Chapter 4, Verses 16 to 20:
Then did he raise on high the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, saying, “Bless this, O Lord, that with it thou mayst blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.” And the people did rejoice and did feast upon the lambs and toads and tree-sloths and fruit-bats and orangutans and breakfast cereals … Now did the Lord say, “First thou pullest the Holy Pin. Then thou must count to three. Three shall be the number of the counting and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count two, excepting that thou then proceedeth to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the number of the counting, be reached, then lobbest thou the Holy Hand Grenade in the direction of thine foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.”
Destination today: Antioch IL. The route taken was a very pleasant Lake County backroad called Old McHenry. Rolling horse country with spring blooming hedgerows and the far off scent of spring cut grass. Beyond that Fairfield Road aims northward to the destination. A roadside cafe offered the usual breakfast fare, I had pancakes with a side of sausage links, washed down with fresh coffee on demand. We sat outside in the warm sun with classic Johnny Cash tunes blaring over the tannoy.
The quote above is of course taken from Month Pythons Holy Grail. Religious devastating relic used against the killer rabbit of Caerbannog…
Fifty Five years ago: from the Tigress moped, Tiger Cub, Thunderbird, the Bonneville; all sold on the promise, and proven speed, of superiority on the road. The Record was Johnny Allen’s Devils Arrow which, under the methanol fuelling reached a two-pass speed of 193.3 mph with a 650 Triumph engine.
Four square: as the project heads into the final laps I need to get my head into its appearance. So I’m reviewing various examples of trials set up Cubs. This one has the footpeg and rear brake positioning necessary for the slow and deliberate riding: placement further back to allow a standing stance on the ‘pegs giving correct weight distribution. The kick start is also a folding bent crank to swing past these rear placed pegs. The high-mount exhaust and small ‘seat perch’ add further neat details to the proceedings. I won’t have this alloy tank, using the typical Cub tank of the period. It is a nifty looking machine!
When you want go, get a Triumph. Or so says the promotional literature. Another splendid period pen and ink illustration.
After Kipling:
If you can fill the empty hour with sixty minutes worth of distance ridden….
A latter day recreation of Ann Margaret this time good guy George Clooney goofing about on his Bonnie.
Don’t engines look good? Here’s a bevy of fine examples of British Iron that were spied up at Morrie’s last Saturday. BSA Goldie, Norton Commando, AJS 31 Hurricane, BSA Rocket 3.
Any would look good in a garage or more importantly under a twisted throttle on the open road.
The clutch slotted into place easily this evening with primary chain and crankshaft sprocket also slotted onto its splines. New friction plates and springs should give the clutch refreshed bite. I bolted the cover on and dropped the cylinder head temporarily into place to get a feel of the engine as a complete unit. “Lookin’ Good Billy Ray” “Feelin’ Good Louis!”
The gearbox was a little more cumbersome than the manual gave reference to. I had assembled it at least a half dozen times but the shifter plate, though meshed with the pair of shifter forks wouldn’t sit for the pivot pin to drive home. One of the gears was the wrong way round! A subtle but critical Alignment. Once flipped I managed to buttoned things up: gears mesh, kicker pawl clicked-in, return spring wound and covers bolted on. Once sat upright and gear lever attached it clicked positively through the gears: first, neutral, second, third and fourth.
An outing today saw Morrie’s Place in Ringwood IL as the destination. Run by British Bike master Ed Zender it is an Aladdin’s Cave of old motorcycles, endless parts shelves, a well tooled workshop and knowledgeable help.
BSA’s, Triumphs, Norton’s, AJS’s, Vincents… Bonneville’s, Tigers, Thunderbolts, Gold stars, Black Lightning, Rocket 3’s. Clean examples, oily well ridden ones, custom racers, correct restorations.
There is always someone passing through for a part, a chat, dropping off or picking up. The ‘phone rings often. Ed’s encyclopedic ken is great when working on a project. It’s great that there are resources like this for keeping these classic machines on the road.
Lovely big Ford F350 hauling vehicle with appropriately sign painted bed panels.
Don’t Draper couldn’t have said it any better: like some promotional imagery straight from the booze guzzling, cigarette smoking, sex addict ad agency cats of New Yorks Madison Avenue in the sixties. Clean graphics, straight to the point and makes sure the guy gets the gal with his Bonneville.
geordiebiker.com 