Memorial Day Weekend: when we remember those who died so the free can be. Countrywide events include motorcycle gatherings and ride-outs. It’s mostly the Hog crowds and their shiny tasseled Harley Davidsons. Leather vested with middle age tattoos and members of some group or other. Here’s the flyer for a Souther event “Not recommended for children”.
Got Air?
Bob Goodpasters 650 Norton: looking closely at this track tool it shows evidence of a careful setup with efficient speed as the ultimate goal. From the John Tickle TLS front drum brake offering period stopping power. A featherbed frame holding the 650ss Dominator engine in cradled power. Bob built the rear wheel using a basic off road reel hub with quick release sprocket holder, making gear ratio changes for various tracks easier, the drum was a triumph sprocket drum machines down and bolted on the other side. Clean and purposefull.
Tipped on its side it’ll hustle around corners scraping the rear-set pegs back on their hinges. Though you can’t see it the primary is an open belt drive for smooth power transfer to the gearbox and wheel.
Immaculate perfection. In the words of Bob: “it goes like the f&cking clappers!” Or words to that effect… Factory race specialist Doug Hele would have been proud!
Fabulous day in the saddle taking the Bonnie’s around to Michigan. An early start saw a quiet Riute 12 with naught but the shadows playing across the road ahead. 
This quicksilver toned Porsche Spyder stopped us in our tracks. A race-spec engine growled as the owner sped off from the seasonal grocery store it was parked near.
Also included in the ride was a short drop.-in to the amiable Bob Goodpaster at Expert Motorcycle Works in Hobart Indiana. A glorious racing 650cc Norton sat in the front showroom floor. A serious track iron that sees unobstructed chequered flags across the country at vintage racing meets.
Got the bike ready for a sunny jaunt tomorrow into Michigan. Memorial Day weekend ahead and the morn is meant to be a sunny day. On the road by 7 so the highway will be lightly trafficked. I’ve put in new clutch springs and set screws to tighten up the plates.
Bobby Stilwell winning the 1958 50 mile Amateur race at Daytona Beach. With that gorgeous red Chevy truck to tote his bike around in he swept the board in the fifties on Triumph Twins.
Liquid Engineering: gears, bearings, axles, bushings, pistons, pushrods, chains, sprockets, moving around, up, down, spinning. All to get the engine’s power to the wheel. Lubrication from oil and grease. Castrol was the fluid to use back in the day. Even for winners.
Back in the day the doughty Cub could keep up with the best of ’em and go on to win many a trial competition. The riders liked them, they galloped over the observed courses and their popularity amongst the public as a daily rider to scoot to and from work. Wooded hillside with rubble stream bed needed in Illinois soon…
Here’s the Triumph dealer down in New Orleans Louisiana. Our man on the ground Dean Rennie was down in the Big Easy for a conference and had a few moments to pop in and see that southerners are being offered the same Bonnevilles, Daytona’s, and the usual range as up here in Chi-Town where the Delta Blues ended up.
Nice display with plenty of sparkling new product being looked over by choice vintage specimens, such as this Tiger. Of course our correspondent was also enjoying the outstanding music Nawlins has to offer. Ask the Big Chief:
The Triumph Cub reached an important hurdle today and we leapt it with style. Fenders (mudguards) attached with relative ease, the front with nice tight clearance that a trials should have, and the rear trimmed down item giving a suitable tail to the proceedings. The tank and seat are just placed on for rough setup but achieve a classic balance to the project.
Lookin’ like a real bike!
I went to pick up my tank and fenders today. One is one, two is two, green grow the rushes oh! Can’t wait to get ’em back on the Cub. Sherwood trails here we come; as long as I don’t have to wear tights! 
Custom Colors for an end of week reveille and a Triumph Bonneville daubed in a gaudy paint scheme. The surly chick at the controls looks a bit too cool for school or perhaps just knows she has a nifty ride. It’s a little too circus for some but the stance looks set for a great road going Moto.
Here’s the riders blog:
http://www.rideasyouare.com/en/
Her nom de plume is Babila.
My granda would have been 100 years old this week. Here he is back in ’65 with my nana on my Uncle Dave’s scooter. The pair look so cool like Gregory Peck & Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday,
ROMAN HOLIDAY, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, 1953
Though it’s a close call I think Ernie & Edie are the cutest!
After yesterday’s beautiful example of a century-old survivor here is an old image of the Trusty Triumph when it was the cutting edge two-wheeled speedster. This is a 1915 view of an owner and his ride in New Zealand. Even commemorated on a stamp…
Tin sign of some flat capped chap haring along on his H across a rural landscape. Hints & Tips? Watch your trousers don’t get caught in that ruddy leather belt drive chain!
Noel Whittall, 77, a writer and motorcyclist from Rawdon, England, on his 1918 Triumph Model H near the Cow & Calf at Ilkley. His period tweeds: jacket plus-fours and flat cap, are a perfect Yorkshire outfit for a ramble on’t moor. His nearly century old machine would transport you lazily from Leeds along the A65 through Otley and on to Skipton wi’ Wart on t’Wharfe peering down from across dale.
Yorkshire is a most beautiful country (locals do consider it an independent State).
Richard P. Feynman’s birthday. Curiosity feeds the mind.
geordiebiker.com 