
All Smiles 🙂 Old Triumphs with enthusiastic owners ready for racin’ & ridin’. The sun is shining and the outlook is rosy.

All Smiles 🙂 Old Triumphs with enthusiastic owners ready for racin’ & ridin’. The sun is shining and the outlook is rosy.

Resolute – It is typical of the New Year for us to put on the mask of Janus and look back at what we achieved (or not) the previous year and thus look forward to the coming twelve months and make a determination of what we want to achieve. Usually in an effort to better ourselves; and, in a way, make this time we have count. Me? I’m not a big one for ‘resolutions’ but it’s fun to think of things that you would like to try and do. A list you ask? Well, here goes:

Merchandise- the New Years Honours list was published today… little did I know but actor Henry Winkler was made an honorary OBE back in 2012. As we know he was The Fonz, cool greaser in the hot 70’s tv shoe Happy Days. As with any popular character there was plenty of supporting items for sale.

Rural Idyll – what better way to enjoy the bucolic surroundings of the countryside than aboard a blue Thunderbird. This classically illustrated image evokes so much enjoyment for a riding experience. “Pet! Let’s gan oot for a spin! I’ll waam the bike up; best put yor Tweed skort on it’ll be a tad parky!”

Boxing Day – traditionally the day after Xmas when servants, postmen and errand boys received a gift of gratitude from the household. This item here would be a good boxed offering: a still-in-crate 1957 Triumph TRW 500cc side valve (flathead) military motorcycle.

“My greatest moments of solitude – my churches – are found in the land, on the road” ~ Brad Pitt (55 today)

Driving with Dog – Exploring remote muddy woodland trails, on the hunt for a small conifer to decorate, sometimes your companion needs to be an attentive hack passenger. “Bark if you spot any suitable candidates George!”

Attitude – a pair of British ‘ells angels give the photographer a surly glower in another image from the Café Royal Books publication.

Photo Zine – limited edition photography books are available from Cafe Royal Books. Amongst their offering are some excellent photojournalistic publications. This one is filled with evocative images from the seventies of bikers attending the iconic races on the Isle of Man. You can smell the drips of Castrol on the deck of the Douglas ferry.

Three and a Half – further to yesterday’s posting with the LE to JO’G race here is some illustration, literature imagery and motorcycle photography of the Triumph used in the run. It’s now considered an antique at over a Century old but some collectors still ride them with passion.

Lands End to John O’Groats – a early record was made in 1911 aboard a 3 1/2 hp Triumph. The endurance venture took 29 hours with an average speed of 30mph. Quite a feat when speed limits were 20mph and roads not too smooth.

Passage of Time – I’ve decided to clean up this blog a bit. By subscribing to the WordPress platform I eliminate the daft ads that appear at the bottom of the page and get a dedicated address. Put it in yer favorites for an occasional dabble down the rabbit hole of the 2,800 or so posts… that eight years worth…
Look out for further improvements in the New Year!

Eye Candy – the dealer here at Hotel Ignacio is a Triumph Ducati KTM outlet called Moto Europa. Their showroom floor has plenty to look at from the newest Bonnie’s and Monsters, to the Daytona’s and Scramblers.

St Louis – a road trip down State sees us in the Gateway City on the banks of the Mississippi. Our hotel has a restaurant off its lobby called the Triumph Grill. And yes, its theme is motorcycles. Did I also mention the motorcycle museum is part of it and a Triumph/Ducati dealership too?
“I’m as excited as a terribly excited person who has a really good reason for being terribly excited.”

Thanksgiving- I found this super sketch vignette of a purple tank’d Triumph. Couldn’t have taken the artist more than 60 seconds to accomplish; but it works!