– another passing this week was Sidney Poitier. He flew the door wide open for minority actors. This lesser known film that he directed and starred in sees him as an american, Dr Matt Younger, who travels to Britain to take part in scrambler races. Whilst there he falls for a young woman who is an African Ambassadors daughter. Romance ensues. Sidney was 94. The bike is a BSA B50 MX which, incidentally, was the very last competition model from the Small Heath factory. Models were still rolling off the line during BSA’s demise.
– George Lucas’ first major cinematic offering is this dystopian world where the protagonist needs to find escape from the controlling authorities. The ‘droid cops ride white faired Triumph Bonnevilles through the tunnels of this future world.
Piled behind some old Ford pistons and cam shafts. This Commando is in serious need of attention. Working on a plan to acquire it from my brother in law…
– if you grew up in Britain in the Seventies you would surely remember the children’s sci-fi tv show The Tomorrow People. I watched episode 1 last night and happened upon these pair of cockney thugs who were chasing the teenage telepaths on BSA bikes. Nostalgia.
– 1970 black and white photograph, by Bill Rauhauser, of a young couple on a BSA taken at some rural gathering. ‘64 Pontiac Bonneville is to the right.
– Parked in front of a swathe of matching day lilies at a suburban Bakers Square , this golden hued motorbike, with its crate carrier, is someones idea of perfect summer evening transport.
– Warren Beatty looking cool as a cat in the ‘75 movie about a charismatic and womanizing Beverly Hills hairdresser. The farcical story sees George Roundy tearing around Rodeo Drive & Sunset Boulevard on a purebred Tiger.
Sid James (1913-1976) – hairdresser from Johannesburg, though he also claimed a boxer, diamond cutter and dance tutor, became one of the most recognized comedy actors in the UK with the double-entendred Carry-On film. Starring in 19 of them his dirty laugh became synonymous with seaside postcard humour. To celebrate his birthday I found this image of on a Honda Monkey CT-70 on Brighton Pier.
One of the greats who passed away yesterday. Winning numerous races in his long career he was considered one of the greatest all-rounders. A two-time AMA Grand National Champion (1963 and ’71) Mann was the first person to win all five disciplines: road racing, short track, TT, quarter-mile and mile flat track. The photo is of him at a blistering pace aboard a BSA Rocket 3. Another photo below shows the triple line up at the Daytona 200 in ‘71 with Don Emde and Mike Hailwood to his far right and immediate right respectively. Mann to first place in that historic race.
– a one-off masterpiece in baby blue. This TR6 Triumph was given the estate conversion by some adept owner. Fun? Sure! Practical? Yep! head-turning? Absolutely!
geordiebiker.com 