Fuchsia Fun – a darling sixties couple enjoying the laziness of a verdant lawn on a summers day.
March 3, 2018
Skippy
Peanut – stretched out with a sleepy rake and hard triangulated tail that would necessitate long straight and smooth roads. Nicely built with good proportional chopper architecture. If Meriden had custom shop that mirrored the American scene of the day i believe it would prepare machines like this.
February 27, 2018
The man who put the MPH in Triumph
Tuning Maestro – On this day in 2007 saw the passing of one of the great Triumph engine mechanics of the sixties. Jack Shemans cut his engineering teeth on Daimler cars and Armstrong-Whitworth aircraft before joining the Meriden factory of Triumph Motorcycles. In the thick of engine development he took the 500cc Tiger engined bike’s to racetrack victories such as Percy Tait’s Works 500GP seen in the posts image. Incidentally this months edition of Motorcycle Classics has a detailed article about this bike. Jack also helped beef up the horsepower of the Triples to get their Daytona successes. From the people who knew him he was a kind, generous and knowledgeable man.
February 26, 2018
It’s the Real Thing!
Enjoy Coke! A couple prepares for the off aboard their aped Triumph bobber. Complete with springer front end and tall sissy bar it has West Coast biker gang written all over it.
February 18, 2018
Racing Tiger
The Beach – like the 650 Bonneville was named after a speedy run on the famous salt flats the smaller 500 Tiger was used to winning effect by Buddy Elmore in 1966 at the 3.81 mile course at Daytona. Lapping an average 96.6mph aboard a works special it inspired Doug Hele to rename the following years Tiger T100T with its twin carburetor setup after the Florida circuit. Gary Nixon took a fettled Daytona Triumph T100R to a subsequent win in ’67 firmly placing the 500cc in the annals of racing heritage. Indeed current Triumph models continue the Daytona name in true worthy machines.
February 16, 2018
21-Up
The Comets Tale: ex-RAF strip at Church Lawford near Rugby saw speed events such as this drag racing in ‘65. A half liter Vincent is the perfect vehicle upon which swiss-miss Margret Reiser has a snappy launch along the quarter mile runway. Apparently she rode the Comet all the way from Switzerland.
February 7, 2018
Painted by Hand
ROAR! Midweek Cat on a tank! Seen at last years Motoblot bike show, hipster fun on two wheels. It’s like some WW2 warbird nose art.
February 6, 2018
Slight rust, found in hedge
Ran when parked – however if it was parked in a damp chicken coop then it’s probably too far gone to fulfill the dream, and empty the coffers, of a restorer. Better just wipe ’em down with an oily rag and prop ’em against the wall as a warning to those who set their sights too high…
February 4, 2018
OHMSS
We have all the time in the World – Double Oh Seven actor George Lazenby only played James Bond once; however feeling that the Cold War misogynistic spy was a dated character he didn’t sign on for further adventures. He took the role to heart however enjoying a sixties lifestyle knowing he was the coolest fellow in a tux toting a Walther PPK. The superbike of the day was the Trident/Rocket 3 from the Triumph/BSA stable. He got hold of one to commute to Pinewood Studios when filming began.
February 2, 2018
Sex Sells
Descriptive Leader – when illustrating the superlative virtues of a new and better item it was all the rage to label obvious physical particulars as top-notch characteristics you couldn’t do without. Of course… draping a lassie along the length of it goes a long way too…
January 30, 2018
See Through
X-Ray Spex – cutaway engine with internals visible. Typically the sliced faces are in red and a hidden motor drives the contraption so the workings can be seen in motion. Best way to see engineering at work!
January 28, 2018
Snow Recovery
Winter is Here. As January draws to a close we’ve had a couple of unseasonably warmer days here in Chicago. Don’t let that fool you! It’s forecast to snow later this week and plunging temperatures are anticipated again. Here’s a classic image of an AA officer coming to the help of a broken-down Hillman Minx.
January 27, 2018
Side by Side
Combination Lock – ready to drive around the Ring of Kerry with your partner by your side is this emerald patterned sidecar outfit a la Trident. Quite daring in its appearance but back in those days all this psychedelic were the rage.
“Oh, we ain’t got a barrel of money,
Maybe we’re ragged and funny
But we’ll travel along
Singing a song
Side by side.”
January 26, 2018
cycle guide
‘Zine Cover- sunny lemon backdrop and a profile portrait of a racing green Trident and coo’ing model in pure sixties vibe. Fifty years ago when the T150 was introduced.
January 25, 2018
Phil the Hitman
The Driver – today is primo stunt driver Bill Hickman’s Birthday. Born in 1921 he is most known as the assassins getaway driver in Bullitt. Driving a ’68 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum R/T through the streets of San Francisco whilst being chased by Steve McQueen in his Highland Green ’68 Ford Mustang 390 GT . Here is Bill keeping an eye in the rearview mirror for Frank Bullitt. Considered one of the greatest car chases in moviedom it could never be achieved in this day and age as modern action scenes are created with unreal CGI tomfoolery. The second greatest chase is in William Friedkin’s 1971 The French Connection which was also helmed by Hickman.
Hickman was friend and driving master to James Dean. Being was first on the scene to Deans fateful crash in his 550 Spyder, and sadly the one who was at his side when he died.
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