Jon and Dorothea – Mr & Mrs Bongiovi lookin’ like a happy couple riding a Harley softail across the desert of Moab where he was filming the video for their chart topping hit from Young Guns II “Blaze of Glory”. Jon Bon Jovi is 57 today. Cowboy boots ‘n’ all!
The Riding Dead – current season of Ride with Norman Reedus sees him reunite with TWD co-stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Andrew Lincoln to take their motorcycles from the bustle of London to a tranquil Cotswolds. On their way they stop off at the 5000 year old Neolithic site at Stonehenge. The jaunt along the cross country A303 is undertaken under rainy skies. It’s a great episode.
Pleasant Valley Sunday – after Peter Torks passing last week I’m adding this excerpt from a ’68 Monkees Monthly ‘zine that was unearthed showing drummer Mr Dolenz haring around the Hollywood Hills on his Triumph.
Monkey Magic – sadly earlier today saw the passing of another Monkee; prime goofball Peter Tork died at the age of 77. Here he is in ’67 at the height of their fame grinning big on a Honda Monkey bike.
Merchandise- the New Years Honours list was published today… little did I know but actor Henry Winkler was made an honorary OBE back in 2012. As we know he was The Fonz, cool greaser in the hot 70’s tv shoe Happy Days. As with any popular character there was plenty of supporting items for sale.
“My greatest moments of solitude – my churches – are found in the land, on the road” ~ Brad Pitt (55 today)
One Million Years – Chicagoan Raquel Welch stirred the hearts of many a red blooded male in the 60’s as Loana the Fair One dressed in a chamois bikini amidst a world of dinosaurs. She keeps the look on the right side of this triptych with s Vespa scooter. But the centerpiece is a smiling lass astride a Norton. Honest happiness of a smoldering brunette who swept away the submissive blond bombshell of previous sex symbols and led the way for stronger women in the limelight.
The Wild One – Johnny rides into town in this bold painting. Shiny leather wrinkles complementing the scudding cloud horizon. Surly lip curl and blue jeans offer attitude.
Gilmore Car Museum – Hickory Corner, Michigan. One barn at the excellent automobile museum here in south west Michigan held a good selection of two-wheeled delights. From barn- fresh Harley Flathead to a polished to the nines Vincent Black Shadow. It was a good collection covering a century of motorcycling. One of The Fonz’s Triumph TR5 was there too; as well as an immaculate ’59 T120 Bonneville and a gutsy looking Indian hill climber.
The Bandit – 70’s actor Burt Reynolds passed away today at the age of 82. His breakout role in ’72 was in the acclaimed John Boorman film Deliverance, pictured above. His other notable character was Bo “Bandit” Darville in Smokey & the Bandit, a goofy car chase film set across middle America involving truckers, police, bikers and a high power Pontiac Grand Am.
You’ll be a Dentist – one of the great musical pieces in Little Shop of Horrors is comedian Steve Martin, whose birthday it is today (73), as the psychopath oral pain specialist Orin Scrivello. “Now Spit!”
The Mechanic – surly actor Charles Bronson advocates for quiet off road mufflers when the dirt bike hits the backwoods trails… more stealthy for the vigilante in us…
Belanglos reden – today we see out pal Steve and Bud in German Wehrmacht grey uniforms on some alpen meadow discussing tactics for the infamous chase scene in TGE. The Bikes are Triumph TR6’s dressed up to look like the R75 BMW’s that the Heer forces utilized.
Corrie Bonnie – leather clad actor and 1970’s children’s television presenter Derek Griffith is looking calm and collected perched aside this classic Triumph. The setting is Coronation Street, location of the long, long running kitchen-sink soap opera.
Far from the Madding Crowd – another Tom Hardy but this time the brutish actor, not the novelist from South West England. He’s happy to be surly next to a modern Triumph Scrambler. Photo from tomhardy.org
