I gotta say, I have always loved a Bob Redford film. His handsome panache always added an air of youthful energy.
Top left to bottom right:
Out of Africa
The Great Gatsby
Jeremiah Johnson
The Great Waldo Pepper
Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
The Sting
All the Presidents Men
The Way We Were
3 Days of the Condor
Smashing ride this morning up into Wisconsin with quiet roads and nice breezes. Bonus was a classic car show in Winnetka on the return leg.
Terence Stamp, who passed away today starred in this pure 70’s sci-fi thriller about an actor is put in precarious situations while his fear is broadcast to a television audience. The audience’s emotions determine whether he is sent to the past or future. The photo is of Terry at the Paris premier with a gold colored Suzuki. Terence was most notably in Billy Bud, Far from the Madding Crowd, Superman the Movie, and Pricilla Queen of the Desert. One of the London cool folk in the swinging sixties, his relationship with Julie Christie gave rise to the lyric “Terry meets Julie
Waterloo station Every Friday night” from The Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset.
Hulk Hogan, 80’s icon with his trademark blond handlebar mustache, bandana and custom Harley Davidson, passed away today. Here’s a toy motorcycle with ridin’ rastlin’ star. RIP Terry Gene Bollea 1953-2025
“Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osborne passed away today. Great photo of him flying across a field on a dirt bike. RIP 1948-2025 Black Sabbath were truly the foundation of Heavy Metal in the early seventies.
One of the great writers of 60’s music, Brian Wilson, passed away today at the age of 82. As the US’s counter to the Beatles the founder and leader of the Californian band wrote the soundtrack of an age, State of mind and country. He had troubles but was a true gifted creative artist. Legacy tunes for sure which are great played on a sunny day whilst cruising along the highways. Ideally with the Pacific accompanying you. RIP 1942-2025
One of the great writers of 60’s music, Brian Wilson, passed away today at the age of 82. As the US’s counter to the Beatles the founder and leader of the Californian band wrote the soundtrack of an age, State of mind and country. He had troubles but was a true gifted creative artist. Legacy tunes for sure which are great played on a sunny day whilst cruising along the highways. Ideally with the Pacific accompanying you. RIP 1942-2025
A good trip to the rolling mountains of Appalachia last week making the rounds of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Many miles covered of back roads through a beautiful part of the country. A few nights camping until rains arrived then dry Super 8 motels accommodated the rest.
A pleasant sounding tributary of the Shenandoah River accompanied one night. Warm campfire added to the scene.
The landscape is stunning due to the great topography. The tree blanketed hills were splendid through the coal mining areas of the Alleghenies. Though damp with rain and drizzle it was so verdant with fresh spring foliage.
Cutting diagonally through the buckeye state gave us many enjoyable miles of rural roads through forest and across farmland.
This years ride saw a good turnout of 300 or so riders. A nice gathering beforehand with coffee and pastries supplied by Motoworks. The route through the south side went along part of the historic boulevard system with a stop at the Museum of Science and Industry. A last gate back up Lake Shore Drive to finish at The Cobra Lounge.
Lovely weather today so a nice ride out to the Fox River Valley was enjoyed. David has a new Suzuki Katana detailed in homage to the early 80’s Katana. Gorgeous throaty growl from the exhaust and a lovely looking machine. Trees verdant with new leaves and spring bloom aplenty to thrill the dull winter tired eyes. Smashing just.
Excellent Sci-Fi art from Japanese master Shigeru Komatsuzaki (1915 – 2001). This is the box art for retro Japanese “Kamen Rider” a cyborg grasshopper who tears around on his motorcycle fighting kaijin supervillains.
80’s and 90’s actor Val Kilmer passed away a couple of days ago at the age of 65. Several notable roles in many successful movies. Ice Man in Top Gun, Doc Holliday in Tombstone to name a couple. His Jim Morrison in The Doors was memorable. I met him in New Mexico many years ago and he recognized my Geordie accent due to some time filming The Saint in Newcastle.
La Motocyclette
A 1968 erotic romantic drama film directed by Jack Cardiff, starring Alain Delon and Marianne Faithfull. It is based on the 1963 novel La Motocyclette by André Pieyre de Mandiargues. Released as Naked Under Leather, it was the first film to receive an X rating in the United States.
She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single “As Tears Go By” and became one of the lead female artists during the British Invasion in the United States. Faithfull’s maternal great-great-uncle was Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose erotic novel, Venus in Furs, spawned the word “masochism”; also inspiring one of the best songs written by Lou Reed and John Cale for The Velvet Underground.
Marianne Faithfull 1946-2025
We saw the passing of a great humanitarian last weekend. He accomplished so much after his presidency which is over 4 decades worth. A naval lieutenant on a submarine and farmer gave a solid base to take on his life of service.
There was a Judge Dredd story from 2000ad in 1978 with his face upon Mount Rushmore. classic Brian Bolland artwork.
“Okay. Why Not?”
Famed racing legend Mary McGee who passed away a couple of weeks back at the age of 87 started her motorcycle racing career as a suggested sidetrack from her car racing shenanigans. In 1960, while she was racing a Porsche Spyder in Santa Barbara, California, the car’s owner, Czech race-car icon Vasek Polak, suggested to McGee’s husband that she should ride a motorcycle to improve her car-racing skills. When he told her, McGee responded with, “Okay. Why not?” She became the first woman to hold an roadcracing FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) licence. Friend Steve McQueen suggested she get into dirt bikes and attend SoCal desert races. She rode Husky’s well into her 70’s after moving to Nevada. Mary McGee nee Connor 1937-2024
geordiebiker.com 