65 years ago – a page in one of the periodicals of the day. The Thunderbird and Speed Twin extoll their fuel saving worthiness; especially in a Post-War Britain coming out of rationing.
February 14, 2019
“Helen, I think we took a wrong return at Aylesbury.”
No. 1 Corinthian Arch – this year is the 60th birthday of the classic small British car: the Mini. So the blog will periodically dip into the history of the coolest vehicle ever devised. It beats the Beetle, dashes the Deux Chevaux, sinks the Cinquecento. I like this photo for the black and white photojournalist look as well as the Arch at Stowe where my wife live IN for a summer back in the mid-nineties.
February 3, 2019
Heartbeat
The Day The Music Died – Sixty years ago today a small aircraft took off from Mason City Iowa flying into winter conditions with poor visibility and crashing near Clear Lake killing all on board. Of course this was Buddy Holly 22, Richie Valens 17, and JP Richardson (The Big Bopper) 28; as well as the pilot.
Waylon Jennings gave his seat up on the flight to Richardson.
In regards to Buddy and his love of motorcycles; here in Jennings’ words:
“They loved Marlon Brando in ‘The Wild One,’ and when they got to Dallas…they decided on the spur of the moment to buy motorcycles and drive back home on them.” Waylon recalled. “They took a cab into the city and walked into a Harley-Davidson shop. They had their eyes on a trio of 74-inchers, but the proprietor didn’t think they had any money and treated them like a bunch of bums. ‘Hell, you boys couldn’t even begin to handle the payments on that.
Then they went over to Miller’s Motorcycles, which specialized in English bikes. There, Joe B (Maudlin, the Crickets’ then-bass player), and J.I. (Allison, the drummer) bought a Triumph each, a TR6 and Thunderbird, respectively, while Buddy picked out a maroon and black Ariel Cyclone, with a high compression 650cc Huntsmaster engine. They paid cash, bought matching Levi jackets and peaked caps with wings on them, and rode home through a thunderstorm.”
January 25, 2019
You take the high road…
A Speed Twin called Daisy and her exploits in the Highlands.
“There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.”
Burns Night – in celebration of The Bard here are some fun photos taken by a Triumph owner back in 2002 as he rode his Amaranth Red hub sprung Triumph through the lochs and glens of Scotland. As they romp through Glencoe they stop at the layby near it’s summit where they ask the piper to pose with Daisy.
January 8, 2019
Pride
All Smiles 🙂 Old Triumphs with enthusiastic owners ready for racin’ & ridin’. The sun is shining and the outlook is rosy.
January 1, 2019
Trifuno
Cuba – Triumph of the Revolution (Triunfo de la Revolución) – 1st of January marks the anniversary of the victory of the Cuban Revolution by Fidel Castro in 1959. We travelled there in 2003 on a Cultural Exchange program between the US and Cuba.
It would be a tremendous adventure to travel across the island on two-wheels.
December 27, 2018
Horsepower
Rural Idyll – what better way to enjoy the bucolic surroundings of the countryside than aboard a blue Thunderbird. This classically illustrated image evokes so much enjoyment for a riding experience. “Pet! Let’s gan oot for a spin! I’ll waam the bike up; best put yor Tweed skort on it’ll be a tad parky!”
December 26, 2018
26th
Boxing Day – traditionally the day after Xmas when servants, postmen and errand boys received a gift of gratitude from the household. This item here would be a good boxed offering: a still-in-crate 1957 Triumph TRW 500cc side valve (flathead) military motorcycle.
December 15, 2018
Velocette Vixen
A Ray of Sunshine – today is the birthday of one half of preeminent mid century designers, the Eameses. Ray Eames was born in 1912 and along with her designer husband Charles created some of the most iconic objects in the fifties. Their hard work ethic relied on playful creativity to push the boundaries of design.
November 29, 2018
Baby you can drive my ‘car
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…
November 27, 2018
Euro Effort
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.
November 26, 2018
Badge
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!
November 24, 2018
Continental Collector
Curate! A selection of the ‘special’ collection at the moto museum here in St Louis. All European marques from countries such as Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Belgium & Switzerland. We were given a private peek at them!
November 15, 2018
Mercury sinks
Snow Days – we had a brief flurry of winter weather today. A wee reminder that the coldest season will soon be upon us. This silver-grey ’52 Triumph Tiger T100 looks quite striking under a mantle of snow. Better get out the woolens!
November 12, 2018
Marvelous
Excelsior! “You know, my motto is ‘Excelsior.’ That’s an old word that means ‘upward and onward to greater glory.’ It’s on the seal of the state of New York. Keep moving forward, and if it’s time to go, it’s time. Nothing lasts forever.” – Stan Lee 1922-2018
