Don Draper, or is it Dick Whitman? Nevertheless the actor Jon Hamm plays the cool advertising giant in the AMC superlative drama series Mad Men. That is the couldron of creativity centered on Madison Avenue of the early sixties New York NY. His clean-cut demeanour carries his firms approached to The Brand along like an afternoon scotch and several Marlboro. The Matchless moto he’s seen here on strengthens his edginess of a man passing through the cusp-like history of the 60’s. Look at the cut of that suit… sharp enough for a Brit-Iron? Yup!
Hamm is also the once boyfriend of Liz Lemon from 30 Rock, Drew Baird, Tina Feys great comedy based on a TV comedy show. A fake motorcycle ‘prop’ Hamm is in control of doesn’t have the panache of the Matchless…
The Martini-Henry rifle was an Empire defender that saw action in, amongst others, the Zulu wars of 1879. Made famous with the Michael Caine/Stanley Baker film of the same name based on events at Rorke’s Drift where the British, being outnumbered 4,000 to 140tipped the odds in their favour with some deft rank firing and a lungfull of ‘Men of Harlech’.
Now where does this bring us? Well stack three of those long barreled breech loading weapon with bayonets and you have the B.S.A. logo. As in Birmingham Small Arms, who, before being the manufacturers of the Best Motorcycle in the World made the M-H gun.
Men of Harlech, march to glory,
Victory is hov’ring o’er ye,
Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye,
Hear ye not her call?
At your sloth she seems to wonder;
Rend the sluggish bonds asunder,
Let the war-cry’s deaf’ning thunder
Every foe appall.
Echoes loudly waking,
Hill and valley shaking;
‘Till the sound spreads wide around,
The Saxon’s courage breaking;
Your foes on every side assailing,
Forward press with heart unfailing,
‘Till invaders learn with quailing,
Cambria ne’er can yield!
Jim Moir, also known as the other half of Reeves and Mortimer, Vic Reeves enjoys giving his slicked back look a reason to adorn his bonce. He owns and rides a Royal Enfield Bullet.
That submariner sweater is a perfect British undergarment for the typical damp conditions.
Here are the duo themselves grappling a Norton Manx on the cover of Road Rocket. “Ooh missus! Me fuzzy dice are getting wrapped about my clip-ons!”
The actor James Brolin, father of Josh, played a young doctor on the above titled show. He plays the ‘by the book’ practitioner Dr. Steven Kiley, against the elder Dr Welby with his unorthodox methods, played by Robert Young. The premise was a kind of ‘House’ of it’s day (that show starring another Triumph rider Hugh Laurie).
This late 60’s Bonneville promoted Brolin’s characters youthful exhuberance against the sedan driving Welby. Toting his doctors briefcase like that ain’t gonna be easy tho’!
A TV show that we’ve been watching, though now cancelled, starred a late sixties Bonneville. The main characters son was rebuilding it in secret behind his cop dad’s back. However when he finds out he says “just make sure you ride safe and wear a helmet!”
The main character played by British actor Jason Isaacs (also known as the long blonde haired death eater Lucius Malfoy). The shows premise is that he exists in two realities after a car crash, one where his wife died but son survives; the other ‘awake’ reality vise versa.
I was watching a couple of episodes of the classic comedy Blackadder; two of the characters being played by the duo Stephen Fry and Hugh Lawrie, both known at sometime or other as bikers. Hugh is a known Triumph owner and active rider (see previous article) and Stephen a onetime city rider. I found this superb early shot of the pair aboard The Sunbeam S7. A beautiful longitudinal twin with double swoop exhaust pipes on one side.
The actor Joseph Fiennes takes on a moody bikers attitude with this Triumph Scrambler. A cool cucumber but needs an adventure or two on the open, and probably bumpy, road before he can attain a sublime worldliness like his cousin the great Ran Fiennes.
“Yield not thy neck to fortune’s yoke, but let thy dauntless mind still ride in Triumph over all mischance.” William Shakespeare
Hell’s Thunderbird! Our chef with attitude Gordon Ramsey heads into the wind trying to boil off his pent up anger stirring his soups and sauces. The 1600cc Thunderbird his ride.
Deconstructed Triumph: yes you can take it apart to see how it works but can you then put it all back together? Here’s a chap with a taste for simian and a future of blood, sweat and gearstears. It reminds me of a classic image of the extremely clever french visual comic actor Jacques Tati.
L’Ecole des facteurs. Mais la bicyclette est dans les morceaux…
Spock aka Leonard Nimoy looking quite roadworthy with his fisherman’s Aran sweater, black leather blazer and visored open face helmet (I’m not sure about the hockey-like chin strap!). Probably an episode of Mission Impossible where his character Paris was a master of disguise. Hmm…
Side Note: Today the space shuttle Enterprise, full size gliding test aircraft of the latter space worthy craft (Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Endeavour & Atlantis) was flown into JFK airport after an airborne tour of the New York City. The Enterprise got it’s name from Trekkies who demanded NASA name this shuttle after the Starship Enterprise NCC-1701. The Enterprise will be barged up the Hudson and put on permenent display atop the Intrepid.
“Royal is my Race” so proclaims the Clan McGregor’s motto! Here clansman Ewan races his latter-day Triumph Bonneville along damp lanes and across the odd burn. Lookin’ like he’s set up for a trip what with the leather pannier satchels and a big duffel. Roper gloves, denim, and a worn leather jacket round off this road ready look. A Davida open-face with what look like Naninni goggles.
Trying a spot of fly fishing brother? River crossing made to look easy: careful with that throttle! However he’s an old hand at this having made countless arduous such crossings when travelling through Asia in his and Charley Boorman’s epic adventure Long Way Round.
… A Norton Dominator. So smooth the lunchtime martini won’t spill a drop. In honor of the new series of Mad Men here’s a perfect ad from the late fifties with the slick suit wearing frock flowing denizens of the ‘golden’ post-war years looking on admirably.
Dick Whitman is waiting for the Bonnie about to appear on the scene in ’59…
Little Drummer Boy: Micky Dolenz of The Monkees enjoying a caper aboard a Triumph. That recognizable squinty face with floppy quiff streaming behind the BritIron speed.
The talk show host Jay Leno is a discerning collector of all things automobile and motorcycle. An envious number of both two and four-wheeled items in his garage. Here showing a liking for the Hinckley badged Thunderbird moto.
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