Giants of the British racing scene in the sixties: Photo of British Trophy Team in regulation Barbour International jackets L-R Ray Sayer, Ken Heanes, Ray Peplow, Sammy Miller, Johnny Giles, and Arthur Lampkin. All individual champions; put ’em together and a great team to romp across Sweden in ’66. This is a Triumph engined and forked BSA.
Here’s a view of someone fettling the ignition mid-route of Lampkins BSA/Triumph mongrel.
Just lovin’ these race photos of Triumphs used in anger at the ‘Trials. It seems a waxed jacket is correct dress for the conditions expected: wet and muddy. Big off-road boots too. Jim Sandiford (above) gravelly cornering in style on his Cheney 504 Triumph. Darned good looking motorbike.
Dennis Glover of the Metropolitan Police team in ’73 zooms through the undergrowth. Slow and fast riding of the Saint Trophy specials.
Johnny Giles (below) makes it look easy…
Steady does it!
A good film to watch some of these exploits is Bruce Browns 1971 documentary ‘On Any Sunday’ which, amongst other two-wheeled adventure, show off Malcolm Smiths excellence in any realm on a moto.
Triumph was a major player up until the early seventies in the International Six Days Trial. Here are a few classic ‘action’ images of what the riders had to endure. Rocks, roots, rivers, roads,,,
Quick tire changes obligatory. As are all on road repairs being undertaken by rider with carried tools.
The clock is ticking too! The event has been held for 100 years (as of 2013) except for the war years. Now it is the ISDE (E for Enduro) and truly globally located – up until the early 80’s is was European. 1250 miles is a long way under trial and scrutiny.
Here’s some well-lit studio portraits of the pure ISDT tool.
Set up for timed route finding over a range of road and trail conditions displaying riding and mechanical skills both. Gold medals are hard to come by.
Compressed air cylinder for tire inflation.
Looking good from all sides.
ATGATT
Well shod and layered Triumph rider heading for the open road. Packed bags and loaded panniers two-wheeled adventure bound. I found this researching for a possible new lid. The Phil Read Arai is a nice one.
The black with three pointed flash was his race helmet colors.
Here’s one of his original full face helmets. Makes the Arai look like a space helmet!
What 180mph looks like in a 40 zone. Insect splatter mandatory. This is aboard a burly Suzuki XR69 handled in very capable hands of Lee Johnston.
Here’s the hedgerow-eye view of said classic racer. A racebike harking back to the magicians touch of an engine tuning alchemist Pops Yoshimura.
Well a piano can’t play the finest symphony if its out of key…
Best mod for an old Triumph motor is to shoehorn it into one of these finely fettled frames. One day a suitable donor engine might turn up…
Leaned over, with a streamlined fairing, speedy pace and a determined pilot aboard; this Cub is the part. Seventy Nine Tickety Boo!
A poster with all necessary upgrades for your desert sled from some moto magician Edward in SoCal. What a machine! Its period precision for arid adventures.
A mag strip ad promoting machines for the ‘serious’ rider. Here’s a couple of old lads looking like they were sand bled for a few thousand miles: one in original wear, another spruced up somewhat.
High pipes, q filter, knobbly tires, thick seat. Ted setup, or something inspired by that! By the T-shirt if you can!
A flying moto roaring across some grassy knobbled field. Nicely captured action shot.
Bill, you’re gonna like this one! A true zenith in Meriden Triumph motorcycles. The Thruxton! And this here one is a special looking beast: all details present and correct from the alloy hoops, to the long Dunstall pipes (which as noted by Mr Ferry, have a high route over the timing side and gearbox) and the beefy and thirsty tank.
Gulping twin Amals, night blue color and that Diana Dors shaped fairing. The five speed gearbox give a hearty top speed I’m sure.
Tuck in you’re in for a treat! Pilots eye view let’s you slip through the air with ease. No wobbling goggles here. Look up racing motorcycle in any Boys Own annual from my youth in the seventies and this is what you’d see. Classic!
The nose cone looks like something from NASA.
Oh yes, and yours for £9,650 from Venture Classics run by Chris Spaett based in Somerset UK. http://www.ventureclassics.com/stock%20list.htm go and have a gander at their other offering; plenty of fine machines to gaze at.
Thanks for the link Bill!
Let’s keep on this Gary Nixon vein…. A modern day Triumph Daytona in the blue and white color scheme and also numbered nine.
It can lean like a the best of ’em. Under the control of talent of course!
The 675 race bike is a genuine piece of speedy machinery. Needing a big space and fast corners to wring the best out of it!
Post title comes from Badfingers hit Baby Blue used to outstanding effect in the closing scene of the series Breaking Bad.
My latest edition of Motorcycle Classics arrived earlier today and what should be on the cover but a Gary Nixon tribute Triumph. Not only that but a seventies Oil-in-Frame T120R set up ad such.
Number 9: baby blue. Lookin’ cool as ice.
It is a build from Union motorcycle workshop in Nampa Idaho http://www.unionmotorcycle.com/index.html . great article about a basket case brought in by a customer wanting a bobber – a little discussion and this roadworthy repli-racer was developed.
Me? I’m sold! Every inch is perfect. The lines, the big race tank, curvy fairing, alloy rim’d wheels, short seat, one up one down exhaust.
It sets you up for, what I believe to be, the perfect riding posture.
I WANT THAT FAIRING!
When you talk about the history of racing Triumphs; one legend comes to mind: Gary Nixon. His superlative skill on road, track and trail. His Number 9 adoring the white and blue bodywork saw numerous victories for this dogged and respected racer.
A pint sized repli-racer: a well fettled Cub resplendent in Nixon ‘Blues’. Small in stature but big of heart. It looks like an outstanding wee tool.
A Cub adapted for speed work: looks like the Salt Flats with big pipe, low bars, skinny tires and lightweight clothing(!) Though not as streamlined as Rollie Free on his Vincent.
geordiebiker.com 