The Union Flag can adorn anything from napkins to boxer shorts. But cover a Triumph petrol tank in one and the the British symbol feels right at home. The George Cross, Scottish Saltire and the Cross of St Patrick layer to create the most recognizable flag in the world.
My Gran would have been one hundred today. Muriel Lawrie née Hartnupp. Here she is with my Grandad George on his AA combination motorbike and aunt Jean on his knee. Puts this photo about 1939 at 5 Whitsun View in Wooler Northumberland. Uncle Cuth looks on. Muriel died a week shy of her 90th.
Her Triumph
I did the dragon’s will until you came
Because I had fancied love a casual
Improvisation, or a settled game
That followed if I let the kerchief fall:
Those deeds were best that gave the minute wings
And heavenly music if they gave it wit;
And then you stood among the dragon-rings.
I mocked, being crazy, but you mastered it
And broke the chain and set my ankles free,
Saint George or else a pagan Perseus;
And now we stare astonished at the sea,
And a miraculous strange bird shrieks at us.
WB Yeats 1865-1939
The weather was perfect for an April ride to sweep the cobwebs out. A jaunt up north along quiet roads (folk are Eastering or Passovering). Late winter trees with hints of budding leaves, the odd swath of cobalt flowering squill, an azure Lake with cooling draughts of air up the ravines. Not bad, nit bad at all. Bonnie is running good too.
Yesterdays post wrote about an old Commando needing a little TLC. Today I went to MCC in Villa Park IL where they have the new Norton’s on display. It’s the mighty 961. A meaty machine with true British muscle. Like a Geordie bloke down the Bigg Market on a Friday night with his T-shirt on.
Classic lines from a time honored road racing history, the twin cylindered engine looks like the Manx 500 single. The silver tank with black and red pinstriping reinforce it. Proper tires, brakes, suspension promote a confident ride.
Also available in black ‘n’ gold. Twenty grand and she’s yours.
An evenings chat and local beer with a friend and some of his acquaintances. One of whom had a Norton in his garage, non running, waiting for a rainy day to get back on the road. Sitting since the late eighties we peeked under its protective blankets to see a complete Combat Commando. 1974 750cc in bright yellow.
It certainly wouldn’t take too much effort to get it running again. New tires, battery, plugs, fresh oil, perhaps some gaskets and a carb clean-out.
I think this is what is called mothballed!
Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood would have been 75 today. Considered one of the Greats even by the greatest his comeback at the Isle of Man TT is stuff of legend. Here’s the ’71 wrecking crew at Daytona in ’71 where he teams with Emde, Mann, Aldana &Rice on board Triumph/BSA Rob North framed racing machines. Dick Mann won that race, with Emde getting ‘bronze’. Mike burned his engine hammering out the lead for most of the race. All were in awe of this bike-god but apparently he was the most approachable of fellas.
The darkest of cult movies of the new millennium. Donnie Darko. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as the dour teen seeking an answer to his future premonitions. In a couple of scenes he’s seen wearing a gray sweatshirt with neon pink Triumph logo. The rabbit is Frank.
Donnie Darko:Why are you wearing that stupid bunny suit?
Frank:Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?
Speedometer: miles per hour is the number we hinge our riding to. How fast we want to go, how fast can we go, how fast we are going. 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 The Ton.
A period poster advertising the ’73 range of Triumph bikes. From the 500cc Trophy Trail
& Daytona, to the twin Bonneville and Tiger in early 750cc guise, to the big triple cylindered Trident and its Vetter-clad Hurricane. Pretty darned good lineup. The words ring true: “A whole different feeling”.
Wolverine looking dour with stogie clenched in teeth. Bonnie is the ride if choice. Perfect ink line work in this black & white illustration.
Our four legged furry pup from yesterdays posting leads us on to this pair of Hairy Bikers. It’s Si King and David Meyers. They present a cookbook show in the vein of Keith Floyd meets The Two Fat Ladies. Traveling the length and breadth of the British Isles in search of food delights of blighty. The two bikes here are immaculate stunners: Si is on an early Pre-Unit Bonnie and David a BSA Rocket Gold Star.
Other motos used include these mike munching Triumph Rocket 3. 2.3 liter heavyweight. John O’Groats is a short spin away.
This is Smudge, a young Jack Russell who enjoys riding with her owner Rob Fuller, 50, from Hull. She enjoys her slinger stance on her pop’s chest wearing a pair of doggles to peer into the rushing wind.
Indeed she’s such an accomplished passenger that she’s toured Europe with mom Lyn on pillion too. The moto? A beefy black Triumph Tiger.
Bathroom breaks are easy too; she rests her paw on dads arm. Turning heads and making friends at home and abroad.
Inspirational words from the great IF poem by Mr Kipling. It comes in handy with vintage motorcycling. Roadside wrenching, perfect twisties, adjusting tappets, purring engine…
Another birthday today: this time antipodean fast-man Burt Munro. He of the fastest Indian fame, whereby when others look to allotments and fishing into retirement he decided to see what his 1920’s Scout could do on The Salt. The story is told excellently in the Anthony Hopkins movie for a decade ago “The Worlds Fastest Indian” a cracker of a yarn. Born in 1899 he spent a lifetime racing motorcycles. Living his life out of Invercargill way down on the South Island of New Zealand.
A great photo of him fettling his beach-rod. A world travelers Triumph sits behind.
geordiebiker.com 