The passing today of one of motorcyclings greats. Lancastrian Duke was a dominating figure in the fifties on the GP circuit as well as the Isle of Man TT. No better picture of him that taking a Manx Norton at speed in front of s cheering crowd.
1923-2015
Yesterdays post wrote about an old Commando needing a little TLC. Today I went to MCC in Villa Park IL where they have the new Norton’s on display. It’s the mighty 961. A meaty machine with true British muscle. Like a Geordie bloke down the Bigg Market on a Friday night with his T-shirt on.
Classic lines from a time honored road racing history, the twin cylindered engine looks like the Manx 500 single. The silver tank with black and red pinstriping reinforce it. Proper tires, brakes, suspension promote a confident ride.
Also available in black ‘n’ gold. Twenty grand and she’s yours.
An evenings chat and local beer with a friend and some of his acquaintances. One of whom had a Norton in his garage, non running, waiting for a rainy day to get back on the road. Sitting since the late eighties we peeked under its protective blankets to see a complete Combat Commando. 1974 750cc in bright yellow.
It certainly wouldn’t take too much effort to get it running again. New tires, battery, plugs, fresh oil, perhaps some gaskets and a carb clean-out.
I think this is what is called mothballed!
I stopped in to the foyer of Worlds Gym along Montrose Avenue earlier today. No, not to join the crowds of treadmill crunching, weight hefting fanatics! But to have a gander at a superb collection of a dozen mint vintage motorcycles. An exceptional X75 Hurricane…
…next to its standard Trident brethren.
A crimson Norton Atlas.
Nearby its papa M30 International. Black & Silver monochromatic corker.
Matchless. Clean. Stout hearted. G80.
The cats whisker. A Panther M100 Redwing. Distinctive by its sloper engine.
The collection belongs to Al Philips. An alcove behind the entry foyer had the hat trick. Three Vincents… Here’s the superlative Black Lightning.
’72 Norton Commando Combat 750. Original condition $6,500.
1970 Triumph Bonneville 650. 100% original $7,500
A couple of prime classics to pick up locally….
Lottery ticket success a requirement…
A suitably sized, thorned and fire-breathing pillion makes a great companion when Norton rode, highway bound. Kids storybook of a moto girl enjoying the open road. A perfect book to teach kids it’s okay to Be Yourself;no matter what that may entail. Roald Dahl would have been proud!
Not likely: when the booted country wanted cool they imported the works of Britain. Norton Villiers Triumph. As well as AJS. Bepi Koelliker was the roman anglophile in question bringing all vehicular things blighty to Rome.
Hadrian would be shocked!
Some other cracking motos attended the show: starting with this immaculate ’68 Bonneville. Surgically clean to a mirror finish with astounding original detail. Even down to the cork seal under the fork gaiter. 100% concourse.
Even a new T100 Bonneville stood proud. Nice straight muffler to match the original – the standard kinked on replaced here. An adequate stablemate for a sixties T120.
Somebody had brought a road converted Triumph race bike. Somewhat cobbled but obviously gave its owner the thrill of speed. Somewhat of a Mad Max style ..
Norton Commando in rosy cheek’d color. Great seventies superbike!
A BSA B31 single sat sunning itself in the late June sun. Same colors as the Rocket Gold star I had. This thumper is a neat scooter.
A new Thruxton in racing red sits aside a blazing blue sixties repli-Thruxton. Eeny meeny miney mo!
The best V-Twin Harley Davidson made: from the thirties… The Knucklehead just looks the business for the original Route 66.
A motorcyclists Norton indeed: big tank, short pipes, rear sets and a belt primary drive. This one hailed from Ontario Canada. I like it!
A fabulous long ride around the south part of Lake Michigan through the Indiana State Dunes Park to New Buffalo Michigan. Cool bright morning turning into a warm day suitable to be called May 31st. We stopped in at Bob Goodpastors ‘shop in Hobart.
Benches lined with engines: race and road both. The floor with half built chassis such as featherbed, and Goldstar. Shelves packed to the gunwales with boxes of parts, cylinder heads, gearboxes, hubs. A veritable Aladdin’s Cave!
Wheels overhead hang with miles recorded in the tension of their singing spokes. Tools bedeck the wall ready for plenty of action the old machines require. A back shed if filled further with plentiful supplies of cycle components awaiting projects needing donor parts.
And of course in the center of it all is the friendly and gracious Bob, more than willing to show us the nooks and crannies if his world. Pup was super friendly too!
Don’t engines look good? Here’s a bevy of fine examples of British Iron that were spied up at Morrie’s last Saturday. BSA Goldie, Norton Commando, AJS 31 Hurricane, BSA Rocket 3.
Any would look good in a garage or more importantly under a twisted throttle on the open road.
An outing today saw Morrie’s Place in Ringwood IL as the destination. Run by British Bike master Ed Zender it is an Aladdin’s Cave of old motorcycles, endless parts shelves, a well tooled workshop and knowledgeable help.
BSA’s, Triumphs, Norton’s, AJS’s, Vincents… Bonneville’s, Tigers, Thunderbolts, Gold stars, Black Lightning, Rocket 3’s. Clean examples, oily well ridden ones, custom racers, correct restorations.
There is always someone passing through for a part, a chat, dropping off or picking up. The ‘phone rings often. Ed’s encyclopedic ken is great when working on a project. It’s great that there are resources like this for keeping these classic machines on the road.
Lovely big Ford F350 hauling vehicle with appropriately sign painted bed panels.
Singles: gotta love ’em! Especially the Norton. Race bike extraordinaire with looks to match.
This striking poster says it all: tested in the anger of speed competition, ready for action.
Here’s a pristine example of a 1948 model. The silver/grey with black look perfect for the Norton. Its like a period black and white photograph brought to life.
Vintage moto taken for a spin by our Scottish actor pal Ewan McGregor. Norton is the bike. A Jedi the rider is…
These four motorcycles were sat at one corner of the car show: somewhat eclipsed by the British cars on display but in their own right can stand alone as classic vehicles of blighty. The first is a wonderfully sorted Triton, combination of Norton featherbed frame and Triumph pre-unit motor. The big Manx tank and clip-ons hints at both marques racing history.
Here’s a clean Norton Commando, great roadster of the seventies.
A contemporary Triumph next, this one a Thruxton… A machine within my reach: perhaps some day!
Lastly, but NOT leastly, the sublime Vincent Black Lightning 1953. Words escape me when looking upon motorcycle perfection… So let’s just look…
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