March 21, 2014
What better way for the conveyance of a casket for a motorcyclist that a hearse combination. Motorcycle Funerals have just that outfit with glass surrounded car being driven along by a appropriate 900cc Triumph Adventurer.
A handsome thing giving dignity to the departed.
..and a wreath for memorial? We have just the ticket for you sir… Poppy red Bonneville.
And a reading….
The Soldier by Rupert Brooke written in 1914
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England.
There shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
This was of course written at the onset of that hideous war and before the loss of innocence of a country, continent and world. But it’s a fine poem nonetheless.
An aside note: Chicago, IL once operated 3 different funeral trolley cars over the elevated tracks in downtown Chicago to outlying cemeteries in the western suburbs. A special funeral bureau handled the funeral trains which sometimes operated 3-4 funeral trains a week over the ‘L’. Me? I’ll pick the motorcycle any day!
Posted in Photography, Sidecar, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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March 20, 2014
Spring arrived today with a dusting of airborne snow, but a promise of warmth emerged with a bright afternoon sun. Can nicer weather be on the horizon? Hope so. In the meanwhile here’s the magical Speed Triple in lush greenery.
Splendid!
Posted in Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 17, 2014
Low Rider lightweight bobber from a custom JJ ‘shop in Denver CO. Apple green and a smatterin’ of blarney details to celebrate St Paddy’s day. Not my glass of Guinness but a finely crafted tool for smooth roads and a straight line nonetheless.
B’gorrah look at that shiny engine!
“Think you’re escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.”
James Joyce
Posted in Bobber, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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March 16, 2014
The salt air, bobbing cobles, oily quaysides and the promise of a fresh fish and chip dinner… On top of that all undertaken aboard a Triumph motorcycle. Halcyon Days!
Posted in Motorcycle Poster, Travel, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 14, 2014
Puttin’ this on my Xmas list . . .
Posted in Clothing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 11, 2014
The Women’s Royal Navy Service was an auxiliary group to support the naval arm during WWII. They took over land based tasks so that all able bodied men could be aboard ship. “Become a Wren – Free up a man for the Fleet!”
One duty was as dispatch riders ensuring secure document communication could be maintained between the Admiralty, its harbored fleet and the Commanding Chiefs if Staff in London.
Here’s one such dicky bird on her Triumph at work with courier satchel. They carried out a crucial role especially during the Battle of Britain when keen motorcycling skills through the bombed streets of the capital were key to the success of the countries defense.
Buckingham Palace acts as a backdrop as this lass kicks over the very capable 3H single cylinder 350. Which were a bargain in 1938…
Here’s one of those enlisting posters…
Very smart they looked in their uniforms too: double breasted suit with tricorne hat.
“Hoist up the Union Jack lads!”
Posted in Gals, Graphics, Military, Motorcycle Poster, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 8, 2014
After the delights of the Debenham sisters here’s what the seventies offered gals on their motos! Strap’d high heels and a long summer dress? That won’t get you far on that two-stroke Suzuki crosser.
Its a good job the role models for women riders include the likes of the talented Elena Myers a 21 year old AMA racer going head-to-head with the lads. Recently moved from powerful Suzuki superbikes to the sublime Triumph Daytona.
Ain’t no bugs on this gals smile! As they say “Girl Power!”
Posted in Book, Gals, Racing, Superhero, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 6, 2014
Nancy Debenham, with pet hound Poncho sitting on the tank, wheels along happily in this late twenties photograph. Along with her sister Betty she paved the way for young ladies newly empowered with the equal voting age act with their 1928 book ‘Motorcycling for Women’. Reflecting a golden period when motorcycles outnumbered cars and anyone barely school leaving age could ride a motorcycle, these attractive, adventurous, mechanically minded young ladies who thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of two-wheeled transport the sisters became poster girls for motorcycling on road as well as racetrack. Nancy won a Gold Medal at Brooklands Racetrack in 1926. They were often accompanied on their journeys by their mischievous dog Poncho who would stowaway in the sidecars.
In an article penned for Cars & Motorcycles Magazine in 1927 the opening paragraph states: “Motor-cycling is becoming more and more popular amongst women, but there are still many timid souls who hesitate to take the first step to this freedom which so many of us enjoy. This seems all the more sad when we consider that no girl that we have ever met who has once sampled the joys of motor-cycling willingly has given it up”. Way ahead of their time!
Posted in Gals, History, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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March 3, 2014
New identifier for the blog header. Takes its appearance from the triangular patent plate found on the timing side if a Triumph engine.
Posted in Graphics, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 28, 2014
With the momentum of Monday through Friday the weekend is sometimes achieved airborne. Hope the landing on Saturday morning is a soft one… Well at least head on pillow for a bit longer followed by a relaxing cup of tea…
Posted in Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 27, 2014
” A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.”
John Steinbeck (born 112 years ago today)
Steinbeck wrote of the ‘open road’ and the journey of life people made along its way. His muse was America and a colorful time in her history during the Depression; the roads were dusty, the workers dustier but the pulse keen. In his latter years he took to the highways and byways to see the state of the Union; with a trusty poodle companion named Charley by his side, and a pickup camper as his wheels and abide both.
Rocinante he named his conveyance, after the man from la Mancha’s steed, and a Quixotic journey was made in 1960 to see with his own eyes how the country was faring.
A cozy spot to journey from, free of fuss and possession. A mobile hermits cabin to journey unencumbered. It has the air of a motorcycle traveler who needs to be lightfooted ready to follow the unknown road ahead. I could see a younger Steinbeck taking a motorcycle combination on such a journey with pup passenger in the chair rambling along the old Routes from dusty town to dusty town on an Indian or Harley.
The venture could easily be adapted into a modern exploration of the country, keeping to smaller local routes, allowing time to absorb the immediate realm.
A bit too sedate… Though nice for an outing to the vintage rally… Parasol, flat-cap and plus-fours speed!
Here we go! Rocinante II
“Pack our bags Honey! We’re off exploring!”
Posted in Book, History, Indian, Photography, Sidecar, Travel, Triumph Motorcycle, Writing |
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February 20, 2014
Fifty Years Ago…
Photo of USA Team Triumph Riders #278 – Steve McQueen and #276 – Cliff Coleman at the International Six Day Trials. Usually this event is seen in black and white but these images in living Kodachrome give this a vigor that feels younger than the half century of time passed. The Triumph Trophy #278 itself is at Johnson Motors in California.
Here’s the bike post trials… All photos by François Gragnon
Posted in Photography, Racing, Steve McQueen, Trials, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 19, 2014
A pair of McQueen detailed models based on the Hilts character. Both authentic in appearance including his subtle scowl. Clothing and boots perfect too. Indeed Ray Harryhausen could have used this for a stop motion filming if the infamous fence jump had Bud Ekins not stepped in to do it!
Posted in Model, Steve McQueen, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 17, 2014
“A mole.”
A neat tee! Army green ready to tunnel with the best of ’em and pound your baseball on the cooler wall. Triumph name too. Waiting for more reasonable Target prices. Sixty bucks for a T-shirt IS a bit steep!
Posted in Clothing, Movie, Steve McQueen, Triumph Motorcycle |
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February 16, 2014
This iconic image from The Great Escape says it all: Hilts, Moto, Germans. Well someone in the Chicago area has s recreated Triumph TR6 TGE bike that is available for purchase.
Including HALT sign, all you’d need is a barbed wire fence and Swiss border. And somewhere to tote your baseball glove…. And wirecutters .
Back to the moto: it a very clean mechanical recreation in gunmetal grey to look like a German wartime beemer. Which is what Bud Skins did for the movie. A wee bit of artistic license to maintain coolness; I’m fine with that!
Posted in Film and TV, Military, Movie, Steve McQueen, Triumph Motorcycle |
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