Honky Birthday Harpo – the silent harp playing Marx was born on this day in 1888. Arthur was an essential sight gag goofy foil against the pun laden high jinx of his brothers: Groucho & Chico.
Duck Soup and 128 candles
Buster
North Star State
In Memorium

Motorcycles in Wartime. This weekend sees another time to appreciate what others did to ensure a less troubled world. Sacrificing your life is the ultimate act of selflessness for freedom. I’m posting this image of some Harley Davidson Rotax engined dirt bikes used by troops probably somewhere in Southeast Asia. A Cobra stands idle behind.

More dirt bikes being utilized; this time the dry sandy conditions of the Middle East. It’s one way of traversing rough terrain quickly.
Pans, Flats, Shovels & Knuckles
Milwaukee WI. – It was announced earlier this morning that heralded motorcycle manufacturer Triumph of Hinckley England were going to relocate their headquarters and manufacturing to the Midwest later this year. After a failure to relocate to Germany a few years ago management felt that re-centering their operations to the New World would be a strategy that will see their future sales goals meet the requirement of their shareholders. Owner and CEO John Bloor stated, “We saw an opening for a motorcycle business in the heart of America and felt it would be an opportunity we couldn’t miss; and besides we’ll be able to expand our offerings into the skidoo and jetski markets”. A new company logo was also debuted with a question from the press being answered by the public relations officer, “Harley who?”
Ape Circus
Joe Lemke Chimps: On a Harley Davidson Hummer motorcycle are Sammy and Susie, and in the back ground are Marvin (L) and Joe (R). Photo from the Mary Gray Frasier collection.
The 2-Stroke 125 wasn’t truly an American bike; though built in Milwaukee WI, it was actually based on the German DKW as WW2 war reparations. The BSA Bantam and Soviets MMZ Moskva were other 125cc ‘cousins’.
IQ
Viva la revolución
TR_UMP_
i was in a store today and the cashier did a double take with my Triumph tShirt.hey it was casual Friday! Anyway, he thought it said Trump.
Negatory! He doesn’t have a corner in the two wheeled crowd. Well looking him up you see that he did have a audio poser shot of him leather clad astride a Harley Davidson.
As well as with the Teutel family who built a gilded chopper with his name machined into the cases.
Well; I’ll tell you something! He AIN’T no presidential material!
MCC Villa Park Vintage Motorcycle Show
Though it was a hot 90 degree day we managed to get out to the west suburbs where a well attended show took place at the Triumph Ducati dealer in Villa Park. The parking lot was divided into show bikes and parked bikes. I had mine in the common or garden parked bikes. There was a great selection of clean examples of old rides in both areas. This little original condition Benelli starts things off. Small in stature but grand in character.
A ’73 Harley Davidson combination owner was very proud of her outfit. She had toted a tree in the chair earlier this year. Wherever she drive it people would wave and cheer!
Another outfit: this time a BMW r75 wartime rig. Fully dressed for European action with MG34 machine gun, jerry cans and trailer. A true enthusiast.
The parking lot contained new Triumphs, this new Royal Enfield Continental GT, Beemers, Kawasakis, Hondas, an odd Harley or two. Motorcycle gawkers heaven! This week I’ll show the congregation of Nortons, Beezas, and other fine examples of older machines.
Red Leather
Hot day today. Low nineties. Out and about and saw this dude. He’s decided to keep cool on his mighty ruby slipper red hog: breeze across his shoulders sure must feel good. Well if ye dinnae want te wear a leather jacket in the midday sun…. Just grow yer own! Those wee moc loafers suit his attire too…
ATGATT
Number One
When Willie G Davidson came to work as head designer in the early seventies he went about rebranding an already three quarters of a century old company to make it #1. The U.S. Tank badge is iconic.

The other vee twin motorcycle that truly was number one is of course Vincent. Their gold Mercury heralding the wheels of speed.
Bonneville or Bust
In 1936 Joe Petrali set a new land speed record of 136.183 mph on a modified Harley-Davidson WL 61 cubic inch knucklehead.
Today it was announced that our canny bloke Guy Martin is going to attempt a new motorcycle land speed record using a double engined Triumph Rocket streamlined ‘Lincolnshire Ceegar!” Over 1,000 bhp and over 4.6 liters. The team are hoping to reach 400mph.












