Bye Bye Birdie – Norton Atlas provides are very apt machine for Ann Margaret and Jesse Pearson in the titular sixties musical comedy. Portraying Kim MacAfee, the movies teenage protagonist and Conrad Birdie,the heartthrob crooner, respectively the characters get up to all sorts of period Hollywood high jinx. Another Norton “650 Manxman” was also used.
July 13, 2018
I’m gonna miss you so
July 11, 2018
Gotta clear the fence Hilts!
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.
June 15, 2018
Girl Power
Incredibles – the latest offering from Pixar has Elastigirl returns as the main superhero protagonist. In this outing she’s given transportation in the form of the elasticycle: an electric powered bike with fast lines that I’m sure will be realized before we know it. Actress Holly Hunter voices the matriarch of this superpowered family.
June 10, 2018
Incline Inclination
‘Frisco Cool – as the weekend draws to a close let’s chill out with a spot-on photo of Steve McQueen scooting up the hills inThe City by the Bay. From his sharp attire this was taken during the filming of the classic movie Bullitt.
“Shotgun and a backup man. Professionals.” Frank Bullitt
June 9, 2018
Swedish Vigilante
Trouble with a capital T that rhymes with Tattoo – Stieg Larsson’s protagonist tough punk gal motorcycle riding, leather clad hacker Lisbeth Salander’s latest outing will be portrayed by Claire Foy. Fresh from her solid role as a youthful Queen Elizabeth she turns 180 to be another Liz; but this time one steeped in badassery. The cafe’d Honda from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is replaced by a more than capable Ducati Monster in The Girl in the Spiders Web. Release date: November 9
April 18, 2018
Sopwith
Sidecar Camel – this little fella seems quite content to be driven around in this homespun combination. Turquoise Ural looks great under the Steppes sunlight.
This is a still from the 2008 Kazakhstan film Talpan (Tulip).
“a sweet and funny tale of a young Kazakh man, Asa, who has been recently discharged from the Russian Navy and lives in the remote steppes with his sister and her family. While he dreams of becoming a herdsman, he is also actively looking for a wife and has his eyes set on Tulpan, the daughter of a neighbor, who is also the only eligible young woman in the area.”
March 31, 2018
Quadraphonic
Brighton 1964 – if you were there you were either a Mod or a Rocker. The scene to bee seen along the seafront of Kings Road. This smart chap has a leopardskin seat cover on his faired Triumph Cub whilst some other clean-cut youths gaze on. Horror films on show for period entertainment though the daily lifestyle of these two iconic subcultures were heady enough. Great photo though!
March 29, 2018
Sentinel
Blade Runner – Currently watching The Directors Cut of this sublime film based on Philip K. Dick’s novella. Illustrator Syd Mead was behind many of the futuristic visuals for the vehicles, buildings and daily accessories in the dystopian realm. We’re only one year away from its date: November 2019… Who’s to say if we don’t descend into that state of affairs by then?
“Fiery the angels rose fall, and as they rose fall deep thunder roll’d. Around their shores: indignant burning with the fires of Orc.” William Blake / Roy Batty
March 24, 2018
Border Fence
Hilts – March 24th . Today would have been Steve McQueen’s 88th Birthday. The Great Escape is my favorite film.
March 5, 2018
Hang Loose
Bike Club: “The first rule of Bike Club is: you do not talk about Bike Club.” Ed Norton takes possession of a terrific Thruxton and signs-off with the surfers Shaka gesture.
January 23, 2018
Volpe found!
Inspector Clouseau – Britt Ekland sits pillion whilst Peter Sellers takes the captains saddle on this classy Moto Guzzi V700. It may have been whilst they were filming the joint British/Italian film “After the Fox”. The best bit in that film is a restaurant scene where Maria Grazia Buccella plays the beautiful Miss Okra.
October 17, 2017
Sure, I’m decent!
Gilda – actress, dancer and wartime pin-up Rita Hayworth would have been 99 today. 40’s femme fatale she headlined many of the top films of the day. This is such a happy photo of her on a spanking new Triumph Speed Twin.
September 16, 2017
A Door Ajar
When is a Triumph not a Triumph? When it’s a Kawasaki KZ400… some youth punk has blacked-out his little twin; draped an old anorak over the back as a saddle; and daubed the Triumph logo across its tank in red, the modern Hinckley logo mind you! Like some Lisbeth Salander (she with the Dragon Tattoo) heap- it’s both goth and grunge.
June 4, 2017
Shere Khan
Bengal Tiger on the Prowl – Bollywood actor Salman Khan sits with a marvelously restored Triumph Tiger. He had the bike restored for his father Salim Khan who owned such a model in the late fifties. It would be fun to ride an older motorcycle through rural India.
May 23, 2017
Let’s raise an eyebrow
Bond, James Bond. Sir Roger Moore (1927-2017) . Known around the globe as Ian Fleming’s spy he played that role for 7 films. As well as the cars and ladies he was also seen occasionally on two wheels. Other dashing roles he portrayed nincluded Ivanhoe, Beau Maverick, Simon Templar, and one of the Persuaders (the other being Tony Curtis).
