
Brothers in Arms | 80’s supergroup Dire Straits was fronted by guitarist maestro Mark Knopfler. As well as a love of the creation of music he has also had a lifelong keen interest in motorcycles. This black Honda VFR is a smart looking steed.

Brothers in Arms | 80’s supergroup Dire Straits was fronted by guitarist maestro Mark Knopfler. As well as a love of the creation of music he has also had a lifelong keen interest in motorcycles. This black Honda VFR is a smart looking steed.

Factory Floor | journalistic photograph from the mid-seventies on the assembly line at Meriden. This was when the workers had a sit-in and production ground to a halt. A guttering flame.

Vintage Spin | the heated Dog Days aren’t my favorite but a little roadward breeze can help cool proceedings. I took the old Bonnie out to ruffle its feathers. She can certainly put a smile on your face.

Unfinished but Complete | Loose sketch study of vintage Triumph by accomplished artist and graphic designer Camille Meehan. Soft pencil lines describe form and volume in simple execution.

Grow Grow The Lightning Tree | early seventies teenage drama about an entitled girl Dora who gets relocated to her uncles horse farm. Rural characters abound including local rogue Ron Stryker who tears about the countryside on his customized Triumph Tiger Cub.

Evel Knievel | Stuntman showman injury-prone daredevil. On a December 31st Evel roared over Caesars Palace fountain and into the hearts of middle America.
he has the record for recovering from the most broken bones.

Antique on Four Wheels | A select offering from yesterday’s car show under the June sky. Beautiful and well cared for there was something for everyone be it German Italian or British. A red XKE was sublime; the early model orange Porsche 911 pure deutsche ingenieurwissenschaften; mint green VW Beetle German efficiency; MK 2 Jags in detail; and a sturdy canvas roofed SWB Landy. So much more was enjoyed.

Motoblot | The annual pilgrimage to Chicago’s main open air motorcycle gathering was had today. Weather cooperated after stormy forecasts. Plenty to look at amongst the offering. The KZ900 in sparkly brown and oranges was a notable example; as was a display of the Danish in-line 4 workpony’s Nimbus.

Floral Display | Secondary use for a racing fiberglass fuel cell. Som ingenious gardener has repurposed a perforated petrol tank with some flowering plants.

Lightning | The evening sun gave a stark outline to this brat-Bob Yamaha spied in a Home Depot parking lot. Somebody is obviously having fun out there! I bet it grunts like a mongrel straining at the leash.

The Ton | Welsh Racer Malcolm Uphill thrashing his Triumph Thruxton around the Isle of Man circuit in 1970. Wire fencing encloses livestock fields beyond the rural road.

Niki Lauder | He won the F1 world championship in 1975, 1977 & 1984 racing for both Ferrari and Maclaren. He had a horrific accident at the Nurburgring in ’76 where a fiery crash severely burned his head and toxic fumes damaged his lungs. His rivalry with James Hunt is legendary. He died earlier today aged 70.

Gene Romero (1947-2019)
One of the top flat track racers in the late sixties and early seventies passed away over the weekend. Talented on Triumph twins around the dirt ovals and fast on the faired triples around a road track.

Owld Moto’s | Sunday scoot up to Highwood for a coffee. Bikes are running pretty good. Weather was a tad cooler by the Lake. It was fun to be on the older machine.

Marmalade | Ongoing tweaking and fettling of the old Bonnie saw fruition today. New headlight and front indicators working; standard pegs and ‘normal’ bars will get me back on the road vintage style in no time. Kicked over and purred along nicely.