Let’s head into the weekend at a hundred miles per hour – average! This is the beefy Black Shadow which, in 1952, set a six hour endurance record on the racetrack at Montlhery. This very machine was sold at auction a couple of years ago for $200,000. That’s four hundred bucks a mile.
November 12, 2015
Sunless Speed
November 7, 2015
Che
Ernesto Guevara. Doctor, revolutionary, icon, cigar smoker. And horse rider. We know his exploits across South America on his old Norton but here he is in full guerilla mode riding through the Sierra Maestra mountains of southern Cuba looking the part. A new world awaits those who dare.
November 6, 2015
Viva la revolución
Wonderfully evocative photo from 1956. It’s film actress Lina Salomé on her classy Harley Davidson in Havana Cuba. I was in a lecture about planning, design and landscape architecture in the largest Caribbean island today and it reminded me of our trip there ten years ago.
October 14, 2015
But is it Art?
Idly flipping through an architectural journal today my eye made a double-take on a French furniture ad (RocheBobois). A wall sized photo canvas with the delightful lines of an AJS engine provided a perfect backdrop to their modern dining furniture. What beauty to behold.
When viewed in its entirety the 7R is a gallery unto itself.
October 4, 2015
Rolling Free
A madcap recreation of the renowned speed run record carried out by Rollie Free in 1948 aboard what has become known as ‘The bathing suit bike’. A Vincent Black Lightning was used then but this dedicated speed freak is on an early 70’s Triumph Bonneville to capture glory. It won’t reach the 150mph Vincent record but it shown nerve and pluck.
October 2, 2015
Whoop De Doos
Our zig-zag sweltered pal is 65 today. Yup Good Ol’ Chuck Brown can claim Medicaid. And seeing that it’s October we can recall his time as a motocrosser complete with pumpkin helmet.
His little scrappy #13 worked its way around the course in slow but sure fashion to claim victory.
Snoopy and peppermint Patty were in fine competition, unknowing that Charlie B would chunter along to win.
September 26, 2015
S.G.
This speedy isn’t exactly andale-ing with his Triumph. But when a desert rat turns 50 then middle age catches up with him.
August 16, 2015
MCC Villa Park Vintage Motorcycle Show
Though it was a hot 90 degree day we managed to get out to the west suburbs where a well attended show took place at the Triumph Ducati dealer in Villa Park. The parking lot was divided into show bikes and parked bikes. I had mine in the common or garden parked bikes. There was a great selection of clean examples of old rides in both areas. This little original condition Benelli starts things off. Small in stature but grand in character.
A ’73 Harley Davidson combination owner was very proud of her outfit. She had toted a tree in the chair earlier this year. Wherever she drive it people would wave and cheer!
Another outfit: this time a BMW r75 wartime rig. Fully dressed for European action with MG34 machine gun, jerry cans and trailer. A true enthusiast.
The parking lot contained new Triumphs, this new Royal Enfield Continental GT, Beemers, Kawasakis, Hondas, an odd Harley or two. Motorcycle gawkers heaven! This week I’ll show the congregation of Nortons, Beezas, and other fine examples of older machines.
August 10, 2015
Life’s Fun
Gotta just love those late fifties and early sixties ad men. They want the consumer of what they’re promoting to get out there and put a smile on their faces. Here a cute couple stroll hand in hand to a sweet little Baby Bonnie. The Tiger Cub.
August 9, 2015
Two of the Best
Enjoy the visual art that these two classic racing motors exude. The perfect balance of form & function with refinement to an engineering requirement achieved a purity in appearance. They both hold a special place in the history of motorcycles. The Norton International stamped its name on the gladiatorial stay circuit at the Isle of Man. The BSA Goldstar was the superbike of its day. If you wanted to be notices AND be at the front of the pack then this was your machine. DBD34
August 8, 2015
More Speed Vicar?
This Rickman framed Triumph stood out in proud orange at Ed’s shop. Next to it an immaculate pre-unit Bonneville. Both truly desirable bikes. But that repli-racer: it’s a stunner!
Ground-up concours restoration of an amaranth red Speed Twin. Sublime and worth gazing at for hours. Put it on a plinth and enjoy the artistry that was Meriden engineering at its best.
A hourglass figure as prepared on an X75 Hurricane. Craig Vetter inspired lines and color maje this much sought after machine a beauty to behold!
A Big Zed! Power in a Can… Just love this, one of the first giant slayer muscle bikes to come from the Far East. I’m going to have to build a bigger garage!
July 7, 2015
Way Ahead
Just love these three-color screen print poster for the late fifties Harley Davidson range of motor’sickles’. Loose lively line work with simplistic onlookers waving arms and cheering on. The top frame model line up and title footer balance the overall page well. Sans serif bold font anchors the scripted ‘sound bite’ itself a precursor to Hondas “Meet the Nicest People” or Kawasakis “Let the Good Times Roll” slogan. Ad men were having fun then….
June 12, 2015
Can
Finish where we started: the magazine cover art from Monday here in grey simplicity. She’s ready for a jaunt with her thick wooly pullover. Though I doubt that open bag may spill its contents along the road ahead. Spotty pants will hide mud splatter from the damp country lanes her pilot will no doubt take her along…
June 11, 2015
la puissance à revendre
A Cub speeds by and the bystanders twirl in amazement at the zippy little motor toting its rider along what looks like a typical street in a French town. An ornate streetlight, pollarded trees and high fashion ladies give it away.
Pooch looks on curiously.
June 10, 2015
Packed!
ive seen inside one of these little 200cc ‘gins and if the power is packed it must be quite a dense proposition in the watch-like internals. There ain’t much room! Unless you can miniaturize the little ponies hidden in there. Quite a snappy checked smock our friend is parading: and a bobble hat to top it off. The heavy submariners sweater on the behelmeted gal says she’s up for a spin next…
The phone box sits quite Tardis-like in the background. I think the illustrator wanted something man-made amongst the autumnal backdrop. Once again gotta love that brushed ink work!
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