Agreement in Union – Concorde. Developed from early studies in the fifties, joint collaboration between the British and French in the sixties, first flight in ‘69 and into service late 70’s. Sadly way ahead of the worlds travelling needs and retired in ‘03. The cockpit was extremely complex requiring a pilot, copilot and engineer. Maintaining a cruise speed of 1,347mph at 60,000’ takes a special machine that needs constant oversight.
Stirruped leggings, winged spectacles, and a puddin’ bowl helmet. She’s dressed for riding success aboard the bathtubbed Thunderbird.
Old found object. Some tarnished aluminum and speckled finish. A ‘66 Trophy lost in Concord Michigan looking for a willing restoration.
1964 – E Germany bound. Steve McQueen getting the bikes they used for the International Six Day Trials behind the iron curtain. Other fella is John Steen, also an off-road racer who, along with Ed Kretz Jr., Cliff Coleman and Dave & Bud Ekins, were key players in the SoCal desert racing scene. Steens family we’re in the oil & lubricant business as well as the popular ‘Taco’ mini bike. Steve looks as cool as ever with the desert boots, white socks, Fred Perry polo shirt and Persol sunglasses. (acknowledgements to Les Elmer in NZ for finding this image)
– a well loaded BMW GS heading up an alpine road. Hard case panniers, dry bags and spare tires. An adventure is certainly afoot!
If you want to put mikes under your wheels, and carry a few odds and ends, what better way than aboard a 1400cc Ninja rocket. Make sure your bags are well strapped down for the ton plus speeds you’ll be encountering.
Known as “an American rockabilly legend who defined the greasy-haired, leather-jacketed, hot rods ‘n’ babes spark of rock and roll.” His ‘56 hit “Be-bop-a-lula” was written whilst recuperating in a naval hospital following a motorcycle accident. The injury was whilst riding a new Triumph bought with a $612 re-enlistment pay. Here he sits astride a Triumph in the late sixties on what certainly looks like a suburban English street.
A Thunderbird cover from seventy years ago. For a quarter you can have a ‘zine with articles regaling the qualities of British machinery. Bingo!
1943. RAF Wing Commander James “Johnnie” Johnson puts his Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX into a vertical climb above the clouds.
Happy Birthday to Oor Rabbie Burns.
For a’ that, an’ a’ that, It’s coming yet for a’ that, That Man to Man, the world o’er, Shall brothers be for a’ that.
Gangs of the open road. One per centers wear their signature vests, oily blue jeans and mechanics boots. As well as the ubiquitous Harleys they also tore around on chopped Triumphs like the Pre-Unit shown here.
Seen on a street in Britain. Starts with a family car, ends up as forty buses.
Gotta love the early 20th Century imagination of where things will go as an inspired future beckoned. Art Deco form with streamlining lines. We were promised the future: we’ll, here we are? Where are our flying cars, excess relaxation time, less stress. I think we took a wrong turn somewhere!
Most published illustrations are based on staged photographs. Norman Rockwell’s covers for The Saturday Evening Post we’re such examples. Here is a piece of work by one of his contemporaries Gil Elvgren, who was known for his pin-up girls as well as advertising illustrations for companies such as Brown & Bigelow. Many of his ladies ended up as nose art on WW2 bombers.
Twenty-one year old motorcycle triallist June Adams on her bike, March 1951.
geordiebiker.com 