February 11, 2012
Ed Kretz Sr. (1911-1996) the original Iron Man was a force to be truly reckoned with in the early world of motorcycle racing: his dedicated and aggressive riding style winning him numerous accolades, including the first Daytona 200 in ’37. His #38 race number becoming a common podium sight. Regarded in high esteem by his peers as well as the senior racers from the teens and twenties he dominated the scene from the late thirties, through the forties and into the fifties until his retirement in ’59. Both father and son had a ‘cycle dealership in California, first for Indian Motorcycles until ’53 then Triumph after.
Posted in Indian, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 9, 2012
Son of Ed ‘Iron Man’ Kretz Sr. here is Ed Jr. riding Steve McQueen’s Triumph from the ’63 ISDT in the same race two years later; this time on the Isle of Man. Steve was filming The Cincinnati Kid and couldn’t attend, so he allowed Ed to race in his place. It turned into a muddy rout with the US team being thwarted by the typically wet British weather half way through.
Posted in 60's, Racing, Steve McQueen, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 25, 2012
Steve ‘Hizzy’ Hislop 1962-2003
To celebrate this Scottish evening of haggis, tatties and neeps, washed down of course by whisky, we’ll take time to celebrate the racing career of a truly fine Scottish rider. It is of course the 25th of January Robbie Burns Night (my birthday too!).
Hailing from Hawick (pr. Hoyk) in the Borders of Scotland, he went on to win several and notable races on the Isle of Man as well as in the British Superbike Series. His most famous victory came in 1992 in the Senior TT Mountain course where, upon a rotary Norton, he pipped the great Carl Fogarty at the post, Carl going hell for leather even set a lap record that sat for years. This race is considered one of the greatest of the TT’s history.
…A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an’ a’ that;
But an honest man’s abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Their dignities an’ a’ that;
The pith o’ sense, an’ pride o’ worth,
Are higher rank than a’ that…
Posted in 90's, Norton, Racing, Uncategorized |
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January 21, 2012
One of my favourite films of recent years in the story of Burt Monroe. A New Zealander who after years spent racing around the antipodean reaches of the Empire wanted to take his 1920 Indian Scout (heavily modified) to The Salt and see what she could do. He achieve a record for the 1000cc class which still stands today. One memorable scene is the beach race with a bunch of Rockers on their Triumph and BSA’s. He rockets past them in one scene, however turning problems allow them to overtake for the home run. Later we see them gather round him with a collection for the boat trip to the ‘States.
Posted in 60's, Movie, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 10, 2012
So where did the Bonneville get its name? The salt flats in northwestern Utah were named after Benjamin Bonneville, a french born Army officer known for his expeditions to the intermountain region of the United States. Though mapped in the 1830’s it was a century later when its long flat hardpacked surface was seen as the optimum location for speed records. Then in 1956 a motorcycle racer by the name of Johnny Allen brought his Triumph twin 650cc powered “Texas Ceegar” streamliner and took it for a run on ‘the salt’ attaining a speed of 214.40 mph. The bike was built by Stormy Mangham and tuned by Jack Wilson and their savvy engineering was able to tromp the dominating NSU factory team. Triumph took this victory over the germans to heart and within a couple of years named their fast new twin-carb 650 the Bonneville. The rest is history!
Sadly the original Ceegar was severely damaged in the infamous fire at the British National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham UK in 2003 however it ashes were resurrected by a determined team in the US. After a brief sojourn to Bonneville it returned to its home in Birmingham.
Here’s our man on an unfaired speed machine obviously set-up for going top velocity in a straight line.
Here he is with racing pal, Peaches Hainer; hardtails, high boots, big twins and a grin.
Posted in 50's, Racing, Triumph Bonneville |
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December 16, 2011
Isle of Man Tourist Trophy - At Speed!
Posted in Motorcycle Art, Racing |
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December 13, 2011
On 8th August 1970 this factory special Triumph Trident 750cc machine was entered in the 24 hour Bol d’Or endurance race, the last to be held on the historic Montlhéry circuit. The riders were Paul Smart and Tom Dickie who won at an average over 70.50mph, a race distance of 1838 miles, 469 laps, beating their nearest rivals by 9 laps. The riders averaged 20mpg, went through 4 rear chains and broke 1 throttle cable.
I think the headlights of the modern Triumph Triple may hark back to this look. Which gave rise to the streetfighters of the 80’s and early 90’s built from the Suzuki GSXR’s.
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November 8, 2011
Rosie the Riveter watch out! Here are some gals ready for the off at a period hare across some sun drenched desert. Hair scarves to keep the locks in check, bikini (see the second one on the Triumph dressed for a tan) as cooling attire.
A mix of British and Yankee Iron.
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October 9, 2011
A Hi-Geared Triumph twin taken through it’s paces in skyward pose on a monumental hill climb; this is steep ground!
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September 23, 2011
A stunning image of three styalized Thunderbirds at blurry speed. Great airbrush work expressing the clean bodywork and lined Triumph badge of one of the finest 650’s from Meriden.
And the signifigance of 3x90x500? The 6T Thunderbird was launched publicly at Montlhéry near Paris where three standard production bikes were ridden around a circuit by a team of riders who between them averaged a speed of 92 mph (148 km/h) over a distance of 500 miles (800 km). All three machines were ridden to the circuit and back to the Meriden factory.
Posted in Motorcycle Poster, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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September 22, 2011
A couple of really sharp race roundel signs. One displaying unstoppable #9 Gary Nixon ‘flying’ on a dirt oval steed; the other is Eddie Mulder #12 (The Squirrel).
Posted in 60's, 70's, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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August 30, 2011
All The Gear All The Time: wear your leathers! No, not your skin, a thick cow hide! A racers know, there’s a compelling reason to wear good quality gear, especially when you may need to take a bikeless trip along the road!
Image from “Waking Ned Devine”
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August 29, 2011
Further to yesterdays post regarding the ‘ideal’ modern 500cc; here’s a beaut of a 500cc Triumph. The ’71 Tiger set up with reproduction Avon fairing and race seat. All in a nice carmine red and black scheme. I’d love to put a nosepiece like this on the Bonnie.
It would be a tricky set up: the subframe, fairing in right colour, bubble screen, healight and indicators. Here’s a fairing available in white or black…
Posted in cafe racer, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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August 26, 2011
From period racing advert…
…to modern AHRMA racing machine. What a beautiful track moto, and with a current provenance of success on the circuit; especially the recently late, but undoubtedly great Gary Nixon.
Posted in Motorcycle Poster, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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August 5, 2011
Gary was one of the greats who made Triumph a big name in performance motorcycles in the’States. Taking flat-track and road race set up motos to numerous victories such as the Springfiled Mile, Daytona and other great venues. (he was also a Burns Birthday lad; same as me January 25th)
In later years remembering good times on his steed of choice…
Triumph Triple at Daytona.
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