Photo Zine – limited edition photography books are available from Cafe Royal Books. Amongst their offering are some excellent photojournalistic publications. This one is filled with evocative images from the seventies of bikers attending the iconic races on the Isle of Man. You can smell the drips of Castrol on the deck of the Douglas ferry.
Tower Bridge -stunning portrait of this iconic London landmark with a ’49 Triumph Tiger parked on south bank Butler’s Wharf near Shad Thames. The Tower of London’s White Tower can be seen in in the left background. The raised road deck bascules reach up like triumphant arms to the sky. I used to commute over this bridge when I lived in London. Most memorable moments were waiting for the spans to lower with other bikers at the front of the traffic queue.
Old Folk Rock Curmudgeon- we went to see Richard Thompson perform at the historic venue Thalia Hall in the Pilsen neighborhood. A good set with a sampling of rock pieces interspersed by the technical guitar virtuoso work he’s also known for. Midway through the gig he sang his most widely known ballad: Vincent Black Lightning 1952. The story of ne’er do well James and his red headed gal, Molly. Wonderful stuff!
Badge – cute m’cycle brooch with an Auburn toy look to it. Looks like a 60’s British Twin. The striped top sets it off nicely.
Geordie Tradition – growing up in the North East of England one of the highlights of the season was a trip to Newcastle to see the window display at Fenwick’s department store. Several windows were set up in a theme of mechanical marvels. This year they bring to life The Snowman, that Raymond Briggs character introduced to British Christmas culture forty years ago. This photo has the frosty character haring across a winter scene on some red tanked motorcycle. A point of note for this image: Greggs is a bakery popular with Geordies for meat pasties and stottie cake sarnies… they reversed their Northumberland Street shop sign so when reflected in Fenwick’s window it would read correctly… cunning marketing!
Three lumps please pet. Here’s a splendid cafe hybrid set up in the grandest of traditional style. A three cylinder Trident shoehorned into a Norton featherbed frame. Ray gun silencers, rear-sets, clip-one, alloy rimmed 19″ wheels and a muckle tank. The stern looking owner looks the part too! Leather vest badged like some knights chainmail armour. The white silk scarf completes the cafe racer ensemble to grand effect. I bet this machine can move!
Pair of Tigers – sharp focus and narrow depth of field give these two a dynamic appearance as they rush towards the camera. The slight drift of the biting rear tire hurl the bike with gyroscopic forces across this field.
Three and a Half – further to yesterday’s posting with the LE to JO’G race here is some illustration, literature imagery and motorcycle photography of the Triumph used in the run. It’s now considered an antique at over a Century old but some collectors still ride them with passion.
Lands End to John O’Groats – a early record was made in 1911 aboard a 3 1/2 hp Triumph. The endurance venture took 29 hours with an average speed of 30mph. Quite a feat when speed limits were 20mph and roads not too smooth.
Passage of Time – I’ve decided to clean up this blog a bit. By subscribing to the WordPress platform I eliminate the daft ads that appear at the bottom of the page and get a dedicated address. Put it in yer favorites for an occasional dabble down the rabbit hole of the 2,800 or so posts… that eight years worth…
Look out for further improvements in the New Year!
Friday Feline – another fine outfit set-up for fun with a capital F and that rhymes with S and that stands for sidecar. We’ve surely got fun right here in Chi-town City…
Thursday Hack – a trifecta of combinations. Top is the utilitarian Dnepr; a Soviet vehicle built like a tractor with two-wheel drive. Center a jovial Pannonia from 60’s Hungary, the Duna sidecar is aeronautical in style. And last, but not least, at the bottom is a mercurial Vespa scooter and bomb nosed sidecar – a loop around the Colosseum and whizz back to the Trevi Fountain…
Industrial – A brick wall of the vintage commercial building that houses the Moto Museum is an appropriate backdrop for this 1936 CZ pre War Czechoslovakia military tool.
There are definite hints of period BMW’s in its frame lines and the somber color scheme would look in place along the cobbled streets of Prague.
More Moto Museum moments – another selection of offerings from the weekend visit. The German Böhmerland and Soviet IZh ИЖ are a couple of the outstanding examples.
Moto Museum Marques – a few of the European makes on show at the St Louis motorcycle museum. A varied collection of owner Steve Smith they represent a wide assortment of 7 decades of motorcycles. All in immaculate condition and room to wander around and get close up to them. More photos to show through the week!
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