New Zealand | it’s an almost forgotten corner of the world but by all accounts of visitors it’s one of the most beautiful place on the globe. Kiwis are a friendly lot and the indigenous Māori a proud people. Today’s shocking news of a terrorist attack with unsurpassable horror is a blow to humanity. Let us think of what good the antipodean nation gives the motorcycling community as a ray of light in this day of darkness: Burt Munro and his 1924 Indian Scout at home on The Salt; and genius John Britten with the sublime V1000 racebike.

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Happy New Year!

Shadow Bar – the evening light with its low warm illumination lights up the orange tanked Bonnie to good effect. The shadow of you and your bike speeding along beside you is quite mesmerizing.

Star Man – today marks the 57th anniversary of Colonel Yuri Gagarin’s flight into space.

Poyekhali!—Let’s go!

. This awesome picture was taken at Church Lawford in 1965 and “Margret Reiser, straight ahead, gets away smoothly. Margret had ridden the Comet all the way from Switzerland”.

Number Nine – Today also sees the birthday of Gary Nixon, 60’s & 70’s Triumph team roadracer who took the hearty triple to good results. In his own words: “Watch the starter, get a good start, ’n then in a few laps, start lappin’ guys. An’ then you win the race.” Sound easy? Well it was for him.

Oh, it’s my birthday too!

Hipster – with my recovery from hip surgery going splendidly I am now swinging around on a pair of crutches. Luckily being in the clutches on winter here in the Midwest my riding is otherwise thwarted. Hopefully I’m back to full leg strength by springtime so I don’t have to scoot around like our chopper chap here…

MMXVIII – let’s hurtle into this year with the vigor of a stunt cat jumping through a hoop of fire.

Marvel! Tomorrow (28th) we celebrate the 95th birthday of comic legend Stan Lee. Co-creator of such greats as The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spiderman; The Mighty Thor; and Captain America.. as well as The X-Men, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, Dr Strange, Daredevil to name a few. His characters came to vivid life with the stunning penmanship of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and John Romita. Only getting the odd Marvel comic when going to Newcastle for my eye check-up that came to appreciate the American work. I grew up with the writings of John Wagner & Pat Mills of 2000ad, whose creations were illustrated by the likes of Brian Bolland, Carlos Ezquerra, Mike McMahon, Dave Gibbons, Massimo Belardinelli… it is by reading, studying and copying these I learned to use a pencil and pen allowing me to have a comfortable fluid draughting hand – but they ALL draw a dynamism from Stan’s exciting creations. Happy Birthday Mr Lieber!

Merry Christmas All!