39 Years Ago | Recently my family acquired a stack of old Classic Bike magazines from the Eighties. A few made it back to the States from our recent trip to Scotland. Here’s a typical classified back page where information on parts, repair, sales were a key part of vintage motorcycle restoration and maintenance. Remember this is a generation before the all seeing and doing InterWeb. The monthly magazines were essential reading for the enthusiast.
Gate Ajar | The Meriden factory gates closed permanently in August 1983 after final bankruptcy was called. I wonder what happened to these main driveway gates after demolition a year later… probably sold for scrap. However the Phoenix arose!
Pentagon | an errand in the City allowed me to drop my new panniers off to Johnny Scheff’s Motoworks to have their looks keyed to my ignition key. The new Triumphs looked splendid in the August sunshine. The current line-up are all cracking looking bikes.
Six by Nine | I managed to get a spin on the Tiger yesterday going between project locations. Weather was perfect and a quiet backroad empty of traffic.
He’s Dangerous | The official trailer for the sequel to Top Gun was released today. Called Top Gun Maverick it stars Tom Cruise as the titular character – this time an aged fighter pilot rather than a brash young jock. Kawasaki motorcycles feature again. A brief sighting of the original Ninja 900 as well as a speeding Ninja H2. The Need for Speed.
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.
Earth Day | What better way to go out there and explore what our planet has to offer and see how beautifully fragile our home rally is than on the back of a Tiger. For nearly a Century there have been sharp clawed Moto’s roaming the globe looking for earthly adventure.
Theodore “Ted” Logan | Keanu Reeves is known for many iconic movie roles (Johnny Utah, Neo, John Wick) but the first was as one half of the dim witted Californian duo Bill & Ted. They travel through time, in a phone booth, meeting historical figure thus ensuring good high school grades and eventual fame for their band Wyld Stallyn’s. A future utopian society based on their music depends on them not flunking high school.
It was just announced last week that a third B&T film is going to be made for release in 2020. Bodacious dude!
Keanu is a very keen motorcyclist, being seen on all kinds of rides including this contemporary Norton. He also formed a company called Arch Motorcycles building high end custom bikes. We’ll cover this in a separate post.
“Strange things are afoot at the Circle-K”
Slartibartfast | The renowned Magrathean planet designer who won awards for his coastline design of the Norwegian fjords. These are roads I would most certainly like to travel upon with two wheels.
Today -11th March – is interstellar Towel day; being the birthday of Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
TRON – here’s a blast from the past. Early CGI from 1982’s outing into the realm of the program and user. Light Cycles race for domination of the grid with wall like trails. Jeff Bridges played main character Flynn in his typical laconic style.
The Hill – climbing up from the historic and commercial center of Newcastle is Westgate Road. It literally was the west gate of the medieval town that following the line of the older Hadrians Wall towards the sunset. Its role as a meeting spot for travelers is therefore ingrained. For several decades it has been the popular venue for motorcycle gatherings centered around the numerous bike shops, chippy’s and cafes. I remember as a wee un coming down from North Northumberland twice a year to go to see an ophthalmologist at the General Hospital at the top of the road. My mother and I would take a bus from the City Center to the appointment and I’d look out of the window at the bikes; exciting stuff for a young lad! It’s popularity is waning but there are some stalwarts holding the flame aloft for any roaming bikers needing an excuse to gawp at new models; or enjoy a lunch at a greasy spoon washed doon wi’ a mug o’tea.
LEGO – always a favorite for learning about building and creating. Here is a motorcycle themed set I’d never seen before. A motorbike dealership set from 1984. Complete with showroom, helmet display and office, as well as a little flower bed out front.
Pops – The post-war period in Japan saw a push in engine tuning to wring out any available additional horsepower to not just be faster but the fastest. This would eventually lead to the superbikes of the seventies and eighties and the current flock of hyper sports.
Leading this evolution of power and speed was Hideo ‘Pops’ Yoshimuro (1922-1995). After maintaining aircraft for the Japanese Empire during WW2 he redirected his masterful talents to the British bikes being brought to the land of the rising sun by American servicemen. This photo shows our man astride a fettled BSA preunit drag bike readying for a speed run.
Later he shifted his works and racing team to California where big reliable Japanese superbikes like the Kawasaki KZ and Suzuki GS’s went on to dominate the burgeoning AMA road racing circuit.
Mini Me – latest update from my cousin Keith Wallace and his Mini project. Engine in, wheels on, steering and suspension fitted. I’m recommending red body with white roof like a mid-sixties Monte Carlo rally in Cooper regalia.
Calvin & Hobbes – my favorite comic strip of ALL time is the wonderful adventures of a boy and his tiger. The world needs more insights of a curious six year old and his feline companion.
