Don’t make a Habit of it! Trying to invigorate the religious communities, some young brethren took to the roads on Triumphs to preach their gospel. Leathers over the robes, here’s Bother Maurice ready for a heavenly chat down the caff… “More Tea Vicar!”
A couple from Hollywood CA, Mr & Mrs Nelson, wished to take an adventurous tour of Europe, so they arrived in the UK in the summer of ’52. After taking both delivery and instruction of a beautiful Thunderbird and Swallow sidecar from the Meriden factory they set of on a three month exploration. I bet that photo album is work looking through!
The Kills
Alison Mosshart aka ‘VV’ of the alternate band The Kills utilized the cool factor of a hefty Triumph in this great B&W image.
A dusty desert scene, knobbly shod Tiger and an air of coolness. Here’s that Brit-pop idol ’emulating’ McQueen. A determined face whilst manhandling an airborne, speeding bike would have achieved a better look.
The daring duo of our intrepid inventor hero, Wallace, and his worthy sidekick, Gromit. Here flying the chair of a red Triumph combination. Jolly Good Fun! “Cracking good job, Gromit!”
These kids are dressed up as if they’re going for a jaunt along the balmy Riviera and not so much a ride across the South Downs with a brisk damp northerly breeze. I’d take a blighty spin any day but a sun-kissed tour along the Mediterranean aboard a sky blue Thunderbird, khakis, fisherman’s sweater and sandals garb completing the picture, wouldn’t go amiss either!
Here we are on the shortest darkest day of the year… it’ll only brighten up from here. However we still have the chill of winter to plough through! My project to tame the “Lord of Darkness” namely the Lucas electrics of the Triumph will get underway in January; in the meanwhile I’ll keep rolling along with this blog to maintain my two-wheeled needs.
Hugh Laurie, aka Gregory House MD, aka, Prince George The Prince Regent, aka Lt. The Hon. George Colthurst St Barleigh, aka Bertie Wooster, and a former Cambridge Footlighter and other half of a bit of Fry & Laurie. As has been noted before he is an ardent motorcyclist and the Triumph being his fave. Here a nice olive green Scrambler a la McQueen.
Rollie Free stripped down to his bathing trunks to reach 150 mph at The Salt on The Vincent; creating one of the most iconic motorcycle images. Is this a way to achieve speed on a Bonnie 750? This slim gal is assuming so.
…heres the Vincent photo…
…in the quartermaster store (behind the door). Yet ANOTHER “It’s Easy on a Triumph” poster. How many are there? This time some oblivious tar (and his parrot if you look closely!) is heading home on shore leave and tangles in the mooring line thus affecting the berth of his ship.
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.
When negotiating the Matrix, Neo’s comrade in arms and love interest Trinity (Carrie Ann Moss), took every opportunity to hare around the virtual world improbably on two wheels. The later movies had her on a Ducati superbike but an earlier scene in the original had her astride a Speed Triple when chasing after Keanu Reeve’s ‘chosen one’ character.
Sheryl Crow knows how to write a good song or two. Here’s a still from her video for the title track from her C’mon, C’mon album.
“Like Steve McQueen
All we need’s a fast machine”
…found one at last! A shot of Elvis Aaron Presley mid-creek with gal on a Triumph. “Stay Away, Joe” is the motion picture; a ’68 comedy starring the Memphis rocker as a Navajo returning to the Reservation; Burgess Meredith plays his father (oh the casting of classic movies!).
“Thankyouverymuchandgoodnight!”
Lookin’ like a Triumph TR6 650cc set up for desert work a la McQueen – was Elvis trying to look like THE King?.
Imagine you’re haring down the A1 in your Aston Martin for a nite-out in the West-End when all of a sudden you see blue flashing lights in your rear mirrors; it’s the Fuzz! Chasing you down on their Triumph ‘Saint’; an upgraded TR7 750cc motorcycle. fairing, tank mounted radio, panniers… “you’re nicked mate!”
These days if you’re spotted at speed in your Beemer on the M3 outside of Brighton, you’re more than likely going to be hailed down with a police atop a late-model Triumph Daytona 675.
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