Desert Sled in oil. Fag loosely attached to his bottom lip our Triumph racer Steve McQueen takes a rest at some fast ‘n’ dusty event in SoCal mid-sixties. The Moto looks spare and ready for gravelly action.
“Diggin’ Life” – original oil on canvas painting (28″ x 37″) by Tom Fritz www.FritzArt.com
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
Blokey bloke Guy Martin got in a little high speed practice last weekend at the supersport event around Donington Racetrack. Dusting off skills for the upcoming road racing season. He was aboard the Smiths 675 Triumph. Not to win but put some high velocity mileage under his wings. Salt is optional… (The sponsor is in construction, not thinly sliced fried potato products)
Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood would have been 75 today. Considered one of the Greats even by the greatest his comeback at the Isle of Man TT is stuff of legend. Here’s the ’71 wrecking crew at Daytona in ’71 where he teams with Emde, Mann, Aldana &Rice on board Triumph/BSA Rob North framed racing machines. Dick Mann won that race, with Emde getting ‘bronze’. Mike burned his engine hammering out the lead for most of the race. All were in awe of this bike-god but apparently he was the most approachable of fellas.
Another birthday today: this time antipodean fast-man Burt Munro. He of the fastest Indian fame, whereby when others look to allotments and fishing into retirement he decided to see what his 1920’s Scout could do on The Salt. The story is told excellently in the Anthony Hopkins movie for a decade ago “The Worlds Fastest Indian” a cracker of a yarn. Born in 1899 he spent a lifetime racing motorcycles. Living his life out of Invercargill way down on the South Island of New Zealand.
A great photo of him fettling his beach-rod. A world travelers Triumph sits behind.
One of the most famous motorcycling photos was taken in 1948 of a speedo suited Rollie Free lay prone along the backbone of a Vincent Black Lightning and tore along the Bonneville Salt Flats at 150.313 mph.
The image goes down in history giving Vincent the title of fastest production motorcycle in the world. The “bathing suit bike” came into the possession of Herb Harris the Austin TX collector (whose ‘shop I visited yesterday) before being sold recently for $1.1 million. His trailer is still adorned with the iconic outline.
Now that is history.
I’m in the Hill Country at Austin Texas. For motorcycles it brings to mind Johnny Allen’s Texas Ceegar. The twin engined streamlined Triumph that linked the Bonneville name to Triumph forever.
I have to add more images of Beryl. With her Norwegian sweater, lipstick matching the tank paint, and eager speed she was a strong woman in the male-centric racing world. A lot of people said it wasn’t the place for a girl. Too dangerous. Or they didn’t want to share the excitement!
She was to move onto larger machines but the FIM pulled the plug. What could have been? She worked in management for Sainsbury;
MotoLady of motoladies.
March 8th is a day to honor and celebrate women worldwide. Here we’ll appreciate the achievements of one in a realm dominated by men: road racing. A North London gal, she married a motorcycle dealer and with it a keen interest in fast bikes. She rode a 50cc Itom at various venues such as Snettertop and Brands Hatch eventually becoming the first solo woman to complete a two-lap of the Mountain Course in the 1962 Isle of Man TT. Stirring up the Establishment her international racing license was revoked, the TT waiting another 15 years before women rode in it again. Truly a pioneer and inspiration.
“Rouler à moto, c’est comme écouter de la musique en stéréo, vous faites vraiment partie de l’environnement”.
That’s the words of fast femme Marianne Weber, Belgian reporter speedster who was as comfortable going rapide on a motorcycle as most of us are in a lounge chair.
Her racing steed from 1947 a Triumph 3T 350cc. One of Triumphs first post war racers.
“Riding a bike, it’s like listening to music in stereo, you are really part of the environment”. Good words.
Gary Johnson cuts a close line around the man eating course of the TT. Aboard his 675R Dayton he took top place in 2014 supersport race.
Today marks the 81st birthday of John Surtees OBE. Undeniably one of the greats of two AND four wheel racing. He won both Grand Prix championships on motorcycles 1956, 1958, 1959 & 1960 and cars 1964. Riding and driving MV Agusta and Ferrari respectively.
Why he is not Knighted is one of the deepest mysteries of modern history… Well, he’s a Sir in many a book.
…was when the Second motorcycle was built. Here’s a besmocked racer ready for a long scoot from one end (Land’s) to t’other (John o’Groats). The ride is a 3 1/2 Hp Triumph.
Baz is taking things easy in his caravan during some race event in the seventies. Flowery curtains. Smoking was cool then…
Even on his No. 7 Suzuki. He drags on his fag.
Dick Sutton’s Cheney framed Triumph as it currently looks. There are very particular details noted for off-road use: inboard pipes, high muffler, rearset pegs, easy access to ignition innards, alloy ‘tins’, thick seat, & Eric Cheney fettled suspension. The green frame and raw tank look stunning.
Here it was back in the day. ’67 Poland where a bronze medal was attained.
geordiebiker.com 