Let’s try and wrap the week up with something positive. After the tragic events in Belgium we should celebrate a Brussels icon. Hergé’s boy wonder Tintin. He knows how to chase culprits with speed and determination. Which is how the European authorities are conducting their efforts to find out who was behind the attacks. His ride is a Terrot motorcycle built in Dijon France.
Great Snakes!
Marmalade
We don’t need no education…
Pink Floyd’s immortal words: another brick in a wall. Before the pasted billboards advertisements were directly painted onto the brickwork of buildings. Spalling chips add to a weatherbeaten appearance, a powerful message scripted across the running bond.
P.S.
It has been pointed out that this is a 2-Stroke such as a Jawa. Or it could be the German TWN Triumph… So kids; if you’re asked to paint an advertising mural, get your imagery correct!
Land of Lincoln
Bibendum
I’m giving up my period looking Dunlops and plumping for a pair a sleek new Michelins. Pilots to be precise. Mounted to new alloy rims laced with shiny stainless steel spokes. These are gonna stick to the roads like clarts on my Doc Martens…
One of the oldest trademarks is the Michelin Man also known as Bibendum (from Horace’s Odes “Nunc est Bibendum!” – Now is the time to drink! Originally with cigar in mouth wearing pince-nez, he reminds me a bit like The cartoonist Giles’ grandma…
Tonka
Tonka was a big deal growing up. The pressed steel bodies could take the typical abuse from a boy in his dirt pile. I yearned for the backhoe tractor with front loader “tractor with four diggers” is what I’d call it. Well I got it and managed to break it . So my sister wrote to Tonkatoys in Minnesota (actually Mound MN on Lake Minnetonka) crying false advertising which stated an elephant could stand on their toy construction vehicles.
So they wrote back in apology and send one of their Dump trucks in compensation. There’s customer service!
I wonder if I could get them to send one of their Triumph Bonnevilles…
Sergeant Pepper
A show held in a fortnight in Scotland’s Lanark.
The Triumph crowd will all be there , Norton owners, BSA’s what a lark.
A few Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha will compete with Hondas for the fair oh what a jumble.
In this way Mr B will challenge the world.
Call Agnes’s on the telephone
To assure you sellers have a home to sell your bike.
And of course this is year twenty four
for jumbles of the two wheeled sort for parts you’ll like.
Opposite the racecourse on the seventy three Mr B flies through heated hall and restaurant.
And at Lawries and Symington mart this gathering is held.
The gathering is on the floor
Through the agricultural center doors way out back
Bob McIntrye race will demonstrate,
That old bikes can circulate around a track.
Organized by the SCRMC limited
A splendid time is guaranteed in June
But Sunday the Seventh haggis and chips are topping the bill.
(Acknowledgements to Lennon/McCartney)
The Great Bird
Another example Louise Jennison’s Windsor & Newton daubing. This time the stoic Triumph Thunderbird in pools of watercolor.
Cobbled setting for a real-life item. Granite sets rumble under a twins noisy texture.
Airbrushed accuracy on promotional artwork. Technically accurate as a contrast to the earlier brushwork.
Thirty Three
Eight ‘Elmets
A store display offering items for the distinguished cafe racer rider. Pudd’n bowls as well as open-face Davida’s. Pilot goggles and silk scarves as well as a badge buckled belt. The pins adorning the leather jackets lapel are a neat detail too.
The fair fronted latter day Thruxton is looking the part too. Alloy tank? Why certainly sir!













