After the sketch artwork a couple of days ago, here’s something with a little more refinement and proportion (though I still love the looseness of the Triumph ledger doodle!). Peter Hutton is the artist here and both the sepi and wash colour rendering add so much life to this technical illustration. The unfinished edges and handwritten manx history round out this visual treat.
“Bond, James Bond”. The new spy novel starring our favourite spy was released earlier this year. Ian Fleming Publications commissioned Jeffrey Deaver to pen the latest secret agent adventure. The launch saw the author arrive at St. Pancras Station in a Bentley escorted by a leather clad Bond Girl atop a 1966 BSA Spitfire Mk IV, stunt woman, actress and model Chesca Miles was the rider; taking on a modern day persona of Fiona Volpe; Beeza riding babe of the Connery classic Thunderball. Further colour was added when a copy of the novel was delivered by a Commando abseiling from the Victorian iron latticework of the station arches.
Here’s a period advert of the BSA: an air of Jimmy B about it as was the way of selling moto’s of the time!
More online searching for Triumph esoterica brought this up… a doodle watercoloured sketch of a Bonneville on page 17 of some ledger book. Nice quirky but detailed ink lines albeit a contorted angle of view.
Indeed Ledger Art is a form of visual narrative used by the Plains Indians from the mid nineteenth century on (itself an adaptation of Hide Painting though using available papers from large record keeping ledger books) Here’s a modern take on that with the use of horse power and Indian motorcycle horsepower…
No shade in sight out on the ‘flats’ mate; so bring yer own parasol. Get yer leathers battened down too; that salt can rub an awful welt if you come down. This Bonneville speed freak has a nicely sorted-for-speed Triton: with alloy tins, tank and wheel rims. A tachometer and low-low-low clip-ons. Wide open carb mouths and noisy unmuffled pipes. I bet this one makes a heart thumping sound when wound up in anger!
A year after my ’72 Bonnie 650 Triumph updated the model to meet the demands of riders as well as the faster roads. Capacity was increased to 750cc; another gear added for high speed cruising (hence the V in model #); shifting pattern was flipped to the left side, like the asian and american moto market; disc brakes added up front and in’t rear; and cast spoked wheels all combine to achieve an overall functional flair that still makes these machines very roadworthy… put new rubber on the rims (Avon Roadrider), stainless steel brake lines & caliper pistons, Progressive fork springs and Hagon rear shocks and off you go! On offer in Chicago on Craigslist today for $3,500…
T140V 1976
Tube and chopper rider, Scotty Stopnik takes to the air with an adept balance on his lightly bobbed Bonnie.
Two, four, six or even sixteen; all road users should see each other equally. Though some more so than others, especially when it comes to two-wheelers!
Sir Alec Issingonis’ design icon. This diminutive car enjoyed a forty year lifespan, which in car terms only compares to The Beetle. The front wheel drive was ground breaking creating a small yet spacious car that could tote four easily; the rounded shape being easy on the eyes; and corner mounted wheels provided a stable platform that would go on to dominate rally racing. I learned to drive on the hills of Sheffield in a latter date racing green model. Far too much fun to drive! Like a roadworthy go-cart!
I saw this particular one in Chicago earlier this year at the Mods and Rockers meet. The Mini is as British as you can get.
Paynesville Minnesota. Zap Leather & Cycle: A rural motorcycle shop with leatherwear frontage and restoration/repair workshop behind. The owners Chuck and Tiff Koshiol gave me, my father-in-law Warren, and brother-in-law Dan their ‘nickel tour’ of the outfit. The front window display was a fifties Indian, and not your usual v-twin Springfield MA moto but actually a rebadged Royal Enfield. A taste of things to come. The back ‘shop was a great space for all aspects of two-wheeled work. On the stands was a cafe’d BMW airhead, another aforementioned Indian, a neat little flathead single of misty origin and a terrific Norton being ‘sorted’ for some lucky customer. Nice details to ensure everyday smooth running was assured. Eye Candy? Like Swiss chocolate!
Another Kwak: this time a retro twin from the folks at Kawasaki Heavy Industries..
Week off blogging due to family commitments.
There’ll be an intermission filled with some two-wheeled “eye-candy”.
Don Draper, or is it Dick Whitman? Nevertheless the actor Jon Hamm plays the cool advertising giant in the AMC superlative drama series Mad Men. That is the couldron of creativity centered on Madison Avenue of the early sixties New York NY. His clean-cut demeanour carries his firms approached to The Brand along like an afternoon scotch and several Marlboro. The Matchless moto he’s seen here on strengthens his edginess of a man passing through the cusp-like history of the 60’s. Look at the cut of that suit… sharp enough for a Brit-Iron? Yup!
Hamm is also the once boyfriend of Liz Lemon from 30 Rock, Drew Baird, Tina Feys great comedy based on a TV comedy show. A fake motorcycle ‘prop’ Hamm is in control of doesn’t have the panache of the Matchless…
Blokey racer lad Guy swept the boards last weekend at the North Yorkshire racing meet. The bike ran, the crowds roared and the Chief blitzed the field around Oliver’s Mount on his TAS Suzuki. He grabbed five trophy’s including the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup. Dang! Wish I could have been there to watch that outstanding performance…
That smile is earned!
geordiebiker.com 