If I wanted to hare around one of the premium tracks of Europe for twenty four hours what better beast than a Gulf colored Triomphe! This Moto is set up much like Slippery Sam, the original 24hour killer from 1970. Remake of LeMans but on a bike?
“A lot of people go through life doing things badly. Racing’s important to men who do it well. When you’re racing, it’s life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.” Michael Delaney
Only 25cc’s more than my Bonnie, this Daytona reply-racer looks quick standing still. Here resplendent in team SC Caracchi ridden by Garry McCoy.
… his race bike defies gravity… just wind the engine up and watch ‘er go!
No shade in sight out on the ‘flats’ mate; so bring yer own parasol. Get yer leathers battened down too; that salt can rub an awful welt if you come down. This Bonneville speed freak has a nicely sorted-for-speed Triton: with alloy tins, tank and wheel rims. A tachometer and low-low-low clip-ons. Wide open carb mouths and noisy unmuffled pipes. I bet this one makes a heart thumping sound when wound up in anger!
Blokey racer lad Guy swept the boards last weekend at the North Yorkshire racing meet. The bike ran, the crowds roared and the Chief blitzed the field around Oliver’s Mount on his TAS Suzuki. He grabbed five trophy’s including the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup. Dang! Wish I could have been there to watch that outstanding performance…
That smile is earned!
Reckless? Not our road racer mate Guy Martin. A couple of years back he came a cropper when nailing it at Ballagarey the notorious stretch at the Isle of Man TT. His Honda burst into flames hurtling him along the road. With bruised lungs and fractured backbone, a hospital stay assured he was okay. he enjoyed plenty of tea and fan support whilst recuperating
Racers wear their gear for a reason. Leathers, gloves, boots, a lid and all. Nuff said!
Guy spent some time that following winter convalescing by restoring an old narrowboat and touring the heart of the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The Boat That Guy Built is the result: a great BBC show; ‘Chief’ Guy gave an enthusiastic survey of Blighty’s important role of Victorian Empire’s global spread until the ‘Sun never set’.
Our Lad from Lincolnshire, Guy Martin, is the warm face to road racing with his workman wit and no nonsense approach to his numerous interests. He made a much toiled top podium win at the Ulster GP held at Dundrod in Co. Antrim NI this last weekend. His Suzuki Superbike and ample talent saw breakneck top speeds in excess of 190 mph as well as an AVERAGE lap speed north of one ton and thirty.
Guy also races downhill mountain bikes, has a keen interest in the industrial past of Britain and holds down a job as lorry mechanic. Doesn’t mind getting his hands oily and is partial to a cup of tea (or ten).
Several of the moto-specimens at the rally were heavily modified for a particular riders needs: in the first instance here bobbed, chopped and lowered to create a bar-hopper. Or the way that gear lever looks the bar itself. Old Style indeed! Not so keen on the seating stance of these: leg out front with bent knee and stretched out to drag bars and yer arse down low.
Down the row was another sweetened ride; here its purpose to go fast, turn and repeat. No stopping, just going. A dirt Tracker with the heavily ridden patina of a dedicated racer. Big alloy rims, big knobbly boots, and a honking big cog on the rear. This thing’ll take off like a cougar chasing a jackrabbit!
As the old adage says “Bike’s defy gravity, cars just suck”. Well here’s a triumph Daytona 675 not only keeping things balanced on two wheels but apparently flying too!
:Tech 2 and Centurion Racing joined forces to establish a new race team in 2009 with full Triumph factory support. MAP Centurion Triumph Racing entered the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport and Metzler National 600 Superstock Championships next season and the team competed on Triumph Daytona 675′s in the two prestigious BSB support classes.
Maria Costello MBE is considered one of the fastest gals on two wheels: setting a womens lap record at the Isle of Man TT in 2004 with an average speed of 114.73mph (which just so happens to be commencing this weekend for a fornight of roadracing fun). Here she tests a 675 Triumph Daytona which she rode in the 2008 series of the “Triumph Triple Challenge”.
The current lap record form men is 131.578mph by John McGuiness in 2009; womens is 119.945 mph by Jenny Tinmouth in 2010. All blistering fast considering this is average over the 37 3/4 miles mountain course. To all the guys and gals on the island: “Ride Fast, but Ride Safe!”
Salinas CA: a festival of racing excitement for all at the inaugural TT Pro motorcycle races at the short track oval set up in the Salinas Rodeo, Monterrey Co. From the flyer a car and bike show will be there, centered around plenty of sideways action from guys who know what to do on two wheels. The annual Latino Festival will have music dancing and partying. Wish I was there!
Classic 3 colour screen print poster promotes the event.
Either a Prom or Debutante; either way this ’55 racing Triumph is a worthy suitor! Comes with floral bouquet and a shelf-load of trophies. If you look closer at this speed modified T100R, a “Special” Tiger; the handlebars are placed at the lower triple tree, the rear-sets at waaay back and no front brake. This velocity beast was owned by John Melniczuk, owner of J&M Enterprises. That 2 into 1 into 2 pipe setup looks smashing too.
Our Scottish pal Ewan McGregor looks on at some vintage racing Triumph at Brooklands. Look at the angle of those bars, a speed set-up this surely is! Meanwhile the Teutuls look on in somewhat due respect; it ain’t a chopper boys, but it’s go like a hare bein’ chased by a hound! More about Ewan in future posts, being a bike nut ‘n’ all.
The Brooklands Museum, was the very first banked track course. Designed purely for the attainment of speed on the burgeoning car and bikes being built and adapted to go fast at the turn of the 20th Century. It’s crumbling slopes now host gatherings of vintage transport as well as a great collection of aircraft; including one of the retired BOAC Concorde ` indeed Brooklands can be considered a major part of the Concorde story.
A superb image of McQueen as a ’64 ISDT rider taking his TR6R Trophy steed through its paces along a wooded gravel trail in East Germany. The concentration is intense.
…and hoof it down! On a hot day you need to dress appropriately; here Steve is checking out his racing desert sled, prior to or after one of the California Sunday events. A speed worn patina enlivens this moto perfectly.
Fettling a bike is getting it set-up to ride ‘just right’ for speed, roadhandling, stopping and enjoyment whilst riding it. Here are a few examples of such machines that have been truly fettled.
First off: a pre-unit engined cafe trimmed for a streamline repose with nice adjustable bars, ‘way-back’ rearsets (including a handy-bendy kick start lever to clear those pedals) and well padded bum-stop seat. Fast flashes of blue over white complete the look.
A Trident is the marriage of a well tuned Triumph ‘gin, most typically in pre-unit spec, and the well handling Norton featherbed frame. Here’s a superb example fettled for the track. Wired fasteners an’ all. The seat is upholstered like a 50’s diner stool. And that big, big, big tank ideal for crouching over and laying chin on for the straights.
A couple of proud garage hands with #72. An OIF 650 (just like mine) straight through pipes will give this one a raucous sound and a bit more (Tri) oomph. Flat bars, low saddle for bobber stance, a and trimmed or omitted tins lighten the load.
geordiebiker.com 