Cars: Accelerating the Modern World “Over its short 130-year history, the car has become one of the most loved, contested and influential innovations in the world. It has revolutionised manufacturing, transformed how we move, forever changing our cities, environment and economies.” The Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
Traveling | hit the road; lean into a corner; look for a horizon; pack your bags; scour maps; read up on destinations; and put mikes under your tires. There is so much to see out there: places to go and people to meet. GO!
The Cooler King | Our man Guy Martin is to recreate the classic Finland scene from The Great Escape made famous by Steve McQueen. In blue torn down sweatshirt and khakis he’s to jump a barbed wire border fence on a green Triumph Scrambler. On Channel 4 December 8th.
2000AD | Forty years ago I got this annual for Christmas. Classic sci-fi comic that began in the seventies, which is still going strong. Technical cover by art droid Kevin O’Neill who later went on to create Nemesis the Warlock. We’re visiting my folks in Blighty where this book was stacked upon a shelf.
Iceland | we’re on vacation on the edge of the Arctic this week. This isn’t me on my Tiger, but I sure wish it was! A rugged landscape abounds.
Something Wicked this way comes | It’s got a 2.5 liter in line triple engine churning our 160 odd bhp. Triumphs latest Rocket 3 is heading to a motorway in your town soon…
Percy Tait (1929-2019) – when it comes to the history of Triumph motorcycles one man is noted in the very foundation of that company. Beginning his career with Triumph as a 21-year-old factory worker he quickly rising in the ranks and started racing for the works team on the latest machines. It is reckoned he amassed over 1,000,000 miles test riding cutting edge motorcycles under the engineering eye of Doug Hele. As well as Grand Prix races he took part successfully in Isle of Man TT competitions. 750cc triple Slippery Sam is one bike that is forever connected with Percy. In his later career he went on to develop the 500cc Suzuki GP bikes for Barry sheen. In retirement he became a champion sheepsheet breeder. A giant of the history of British motorcycling, Percy Tait sadly passed away last weekend. at the age of 90.
Black & White | I had to pick up my owners manual from Motoworks at the weekend. It gave me a chance to eye the current stable of Triumphs. This white Street Scrambler was a pearl shucked from the oyster that is the British motorcycle industry.
Winter Projects | with the oncoming off-season approaching I need to get the garage space organized. With limited space careful planning will ensure efficiency. A leaking roof needs to be addressed too.
F Stop | The Original celebrity photographer Terry O’Neill passed away yesterday. His portraits of the spotlight denizens from the sixties through to the eighties are considered iconic. Clockwise from upper left: Robert Redford, Julie Andrews, Steve McQueen and Mickey Rourke.
16th St | we were exploring the near South Side and the extensive murals along some railway embankments. Glinting under the clear skies was this rust edged vee twin parked up. The Hayburner was a Bonanza episode where Hoss and Adam buy a Thoroughbred and find themselves competing with Little Joe for the Virginia City Sweepstakes. Or it could just be the slang for a second rate racehorse…
Escapism | Sun sinking in the West sets mountains aglow. Park the bike in a meadow and kick your smile to the skies. Enjoy what life can offer you.
M&M | Candy riding a sidecar combination. Seen on a display shelf at the noodle shop where I got our supper.
The Leather Boys | classic early sixties biker film depicting a fictionalization of the rocker lifestyle in the UK. Gritty kitchen sink drama.
Twenty One | My nephew Dan Cook turned 21 today. So to celebrate here is Triumphs 350cc (21 cu. in.) 3TA aka the Twenty One or more colloquially the Bathtub. It was the first unit constructed engine from Edward Turner’s engineering group.
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