Bon Pâsques | The weekend is once more nearly upon us. The weather is looking good. I’m sure a hare around the countryside is in order. Stay Safe brothers & sisters!
April 18, 2019
Répartiteur
Le Telefon | “Allo allo!” More Gallic adventure with this policeman utilizing a bike mounted ‘phone whilst out on patrol. TRW Triumph looks clean. Deux Chevaux parked behind.
April 17, 2019
Une force humaine
Soixante Quinze | More Gendarmerie Nationale Motorcycle police from the fifties. The uniform is very formal from the shin high leather riding boots, jodhpurs, tunic jacket, white Sam Browne holster belt, shoulder aiguillettes, and white gauntlet gloves. Quite the appearance. White wall tyre’d Triumph Thunderbird complete the look.
April 16, 2019
“Vous êtes en état d’arrestation!”
Gendarmes Moto | a couple of French Motorcycle police are looking into some skullduggery on a nighttime Gallic street. The fact a pistol is drawn and pointing adds to the suspense. Black Triumph Thunderbird provides vehicular support in this apprehension. Zut Alors!
April 12, 2019
You too can be a Rembrandt
Paint by Numbers | all of those tank badges were painted by hand. Each one painstakingly given a pearly white background and black enamel lettering infill.
Factoid: Dan Robbins who invented Paint-by-Numbers in the fifties died last week aged 93.
April 9, 2019
Read all over
Pre Unit | Black & White graphic depicting a late 50’s twin cylinder Triumph engine. Nice clean artwork.
March 29, 2019
European Efforts
ISDT | Motorcycle Racer extraordinaire Marjorie Cottle was a Force for women riders in the first half of the 20th Century. Here she is flying through a pre-war Austria in 1939 on a Triumph attempting to earn a gold medal in the arduous International Six Day Trials.
History notes:
Despite the worsening political situation in Europe the German organisers went ahead with the event, which saw 61 British competitors make the start. Marjorie Cottle, riding a 250 Triumph, formed part of the Sunbeam ‘A’ club team, the other members being Geoff Godber-Ford (350 Sunbeam) and A A Sanders (350 Triumph). The trial commenced as scheduled on Monday 21st August with a run into recently occupied Czechoslovakia but within a few days the British competitors were becoming increasingly concerned. On Friday 25th the recall telegram arrived from the War Office in London and the remaining British contingent, including Marjorie Cottle, was escorted to neutral Switzerland and safety. Britain and Germany were at war nine days later.
March 25, 2019
For want of a spade
Kustom Kat |For over five decades the custom motorcycle scene has been dominated by one name Arlen Ness. He passed away over the weekend leaving a void in the genre. Taking the laid-back Californian attitude and rebuilding bikes into crazy vestiges of their former self he would use mostly Harley Davidson’s to create multitudes of choppers, bobbers, and, like this Triumph, diggers. This latter style was a needle thin profile with stretched out forks – highly impractical but look beautiful. Arlen Ness 1938-20019 RIP
March 21, 2019
Thinkin’ ’bout the times you drove in my car.
Badge | The story goes that when Eric Clapton was putting the finishing touches to a George Harrison written piece he thought the middle bridge was labeled ‘Badge’ hence the Cream song got its name. George played backing guitar under the name “L’Angelo Misterioso”. This bikers vest is covered in Triumph embroidered patch badges.
March 20, 2019
Got Air?
‘Ump Day | It can be a tricky maneuver to maintain momentum one gains from the first half of the week to establish a decent and stable toehold into the latter half. Given a positive attitude, and topography like a hump-back bridge, one can achieve this translation with assured aplomb. Take this cove on his rigid framed Triumph; he certainly has a serious head on his shoulders, along with an appropriate cool appearance to maintain the professional air about his seemed flawless leap. He’s even smart enough to take on Ballaugh Bridge, the notorious Isle of Man TT circuit to sustain a level of grace and composure for this Wednesday transition.
March 14, 2019
21
Lightning | an unusual marketing move using the image of Mach 2 capable RAF jets to promote the futuristic appeal of the 350cc ‘Twenty One”. The streamlined semi-enclosing bodywork may create a sense of tomorrow especially that rear ‘bathtub’. Nevertheless I like the page layout and mid century graphic form.
March 12, 2019
Lake Shore Drive to Wacker
Three One Two | The area code for Chicago and today’s date March the Twelfth. Here’s a ripper of a custom cafe by the lads at Analog Motorcycles, a small scale custom ‘shop based in Waukegan IL. The donor bike is an ’08 Thruxton and plenty of goodies were added to its capable chassis to assemble a very unique machine. It ain’t brutish, nor a wallflower, but is purposeful with a confident stance.
March 10, 2019
Ton Up
Rocker Drumroll | Quiff’d and leather jacketed; this young leather boy curls his lip up at the camera ready to rumble the streets of inner cities and country A-roads alike.
March 8, 2019
Girl Power
Mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, aunts, nieces, grandmothers | International Women’s Day: March 8th. Celebrate all the incredibly strong women in your life – not just on Women’s Day but every day!
