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.
August 17, 2025
General Zod
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.
June 11, 2025
Good Vibrations
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
June 11, 2025
Good Vibrations
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
January 30, 2025
Girl on a Motorcycle
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
December 8, 2024
Motorcycle Mary
“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
October 10, 2024
Stunt Jumper
A visit to the Air & Space museum in DC included an exhibit about the chase for speed. Part of which was the thrill of flight on two wheels. EK was the king of leaping buses, canyons, rivers and the like. Here was one oh his Harley Davidsons used for airy antics.
June 30, 2024
Coffee and Classics
Enjoyable morning in Winnetka wandering amongst some gorgeous motorcars. German, British, Italian, Swedish. The sumptuous curves and elegant lines covering midcentury engineering. The weather was perfect to match the machinery.
June 21, 2024
Club on Wheels
Film
We went to see this film tonight. Based on photography and recorded interviews from the late 60’s and early 70’s it follows a bike club in Chicago as they make their way through the Midwest on Harleys clad in oily leather jackets emblazoned with “Vandals”. Tom Hardy is leader, Austin Butler the too-cool-for-school member and Jodie Comer is marvelous at his wife. Two-Thumbs up!
June 12, 2024
Le Boum Boum
Beautiful French singer François Hardy passed away yesterday. She was the epitome of gallic chic in music, film, and fashion. Regarded as an “égérie” ‘muse’ by the top French fashion designers of the time such as Chanel and YSL and later the upcoming women of fashion who rebelled against haute couture with the Yé Yé School. Well she looked good in leather with a moto nearby. François Hardy (1944-2024)
June 9, 2024
Cool Dude
Proud youth with his ape hung, hardtailed rear, extended forked, bicycle headlighted Triumph Tiger Cub. The wooded setting sets off the red paintwork superbly. As George Hanson said whilst imbibing on a Jim Beam quart bottle “Here’s the first of the day, fellas! To old D. H. Lawrence.” The whilst flapping one arm like a chicken: “Neh! Neh! Neh! Fuh! Fuh! Fuh! Indians.”
June 2, 2024
Car Show Flexing
On our ride today which took us past the west suburbs through small towns in McHenry County we happened upon a classic car show. What’s more they were a superb selection of American muscle cars. GTO’s, Mustangs, Chevelle’s, Olds Cutlass’; a few hot rods based on a Ford Deuce; and a lovely Chevy Nomad. Good roads out there too!
February 29, 2024
Froggy McFrog Face
In need of a loving home to restore back to roadworthyness. This 1960 Triumph roadster is listed locally for six grand. Full tear down of chassis, engine upholstery and bodywork.
September 5, 2023
Volvo
Beautiful burgundy P1800 Volvo passed before my eyes just as I was leaving work. Designed by Pelke Peterson whilst a student under the Italian carrozzeria Pietro Frua. The P1800 was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the same year as the E-Type Jaguar. The Saint TV show starring Roger Moore as Simon Templar used the Volvo as his car after Jaguar declined to offer their XKE.
July 23, 2023
Granchester
Sunday evening tv. One of the recurring series on the local PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) is Granchester. About a local detective called Geordie, played by Robson Green, and a young handsome Vicar played by Tom Brittney, as they take on local murders and rural criminal shenanigans. Based in the early sixties with youthful vigor the reverend hares around the Cambridgeshire countryside on a BSA Rocket Goldstar. Perfect machine for the task at hand!
The Old Vicarage by poet Rupert Brook is pure epitome of Englishness and a lost Arcadia of the world before the Great War. The Orchard is a wonderful place for tea and scones.
geordiebiker.com 