January 21, 2012
One of my favourite films of recent years in the story of Burt Monroe. A New Zealander who after years spent racing around the antipodean reaches of the Empire wanted to take his 1920 Indian Scout (heavily modified) to The Salt and see what she could do. He achieve a record for the 1000cc class which still stands today. One memorable scene is the beach race with a bunch of Rockers on their Triumph and BSA’s. He rockets past them in one scene, however turning problems allow them to overtake for the home run. Later we see them gather round him with a collection for the boat trip to the ‘States.
Posted in 60's, Movie, Racing, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 20, 2012
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis dons his leathers with tucked in scarf ready to romp off on his Triumph Scrambler.
Posted in Movie, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 19, 2012
David Essex, rocker from the 70’s takes on the biker persona with this 1980 model 750cc Triumph. Black leather coat and tan cowboy boots date his appearance perfectly. His other moto links are a role in the original Evita musical as Che Guevara. He also starred in a low budget British movie about a motorcycle racer “Silver Dream Racer”.
Posted in 80's, Movie, Music, Triumph Bonneville |
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January 18, 2012
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!”
Posted in 60's, Photography, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 17, 2012
Today is the 70th birthday of Mohammed Ali: The Greatest. A search for him riding a motorcycle finds this lone shot with him atop a somewhat diminutive moto. He still keeps his cool though.
In fact it was two wheels that started his journey to icon-hood. At age 12 he wanted to “whup” a bicycle thief; the police told him he should learn to box first. The rest is legend!
Another great moment in boxing history is his early bout with Our ‘Enery, Sir Henry Cooper 1934-2011, in 1963. Although the fight was suspended due to a cut on Henry’s eye, in the fourth round Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was knocked to the canvas with a clout from ‘Enery’s ‘Ammer.
Posted in 60's, Superhero, Uncategorized |
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January 16, 2012
After Johnny Allen took his ‘Ceegar’ on that smokin’ run Triumph presented this model. The R1, GSX-R, Ninja of it’s day.
Posted in 50's, Motorcycle Poster, Triumph Bonneville |
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January 15, 2012
British Iron of the toughest sort: the BSA Goldstar, a big 500cc single with bellowing sound. The only way it should be set-up: rear-sets, clip-ons, siamese pipe and that big polished panel tank. The Union Flag offers backdrop to make any British bikers heart thump. Whether cafe bound, or to Brighton over the Downs this is your steed of choice!
Posted in 60's, BSA, cafe racer, Photography |
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January 14, 2012
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!
Posted in 50's, Sidecar, Travel, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 13, 2012
A study in highlight and shadow: a dimly backlit moto showing off its fine classic lines, clean outline and balanced form. The perfect combinations of circles, curves and engineering to create the epitome of two-wheeled transport.
Posted in Photography, Triumph Bonneville |
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January 12, 2012
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.
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January 11, 2012
De rigueur of the Triumph rider in the past; when roads were quiet lanes and the speed limit was a little over 42 mph, the jacket of choice for a Brit Iron moto was a heavy cotton waxed jacket such as the Barbour. A cloth cap and goggles usually finished the look.
… roll-on the sixties and a certain International Six Days Trial. Our Man McQueen and the rest of the US team doffed a Barbour to compete in the rain and mud of on and off road motorcycling competition. Belstaff make a modern version of it too, as well as a contemporary wax jacket by Aerostich, the Falstaff. That Thunderbird 6T looks pretty spiffy too!
Posted in 60's, Steve McQueen |
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January 10, 2012
So where did the Bonneville get its name? The salt flats in northwestern Utah were named after Benjamin Bonneville, a french born Army officer known for his expeditions to the intermountain region of the United States. Though mapped in the 1830’s it was a century later when its long flat hardpacked surface was seen as the optimum location for speed records. Then in 1956 a motorcycle racer by the name of Johnny Allen brought his Triumph twin 650cc powered “Texas Ceegar” streamliner and took it for a run on ‘the salt’ attaining a speed of 214.40 mph. The bike was built by Stormy Mangham and tuned by Jack Wilson and their savvy engineering was able to tromp the dominating NSU factory team. Triumph took this victory over the germans to heart and within a couple of years named their fast new twin-carb 650 the Bonneville. The rest is history!
Sadly the original Ceegar was severely damaged in the infamous fire at the British National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham UK in 2003 however it ashes were resurrected by a determined team in the US. After a brief sojourn to Bonneville it returned to its home in Birmingham.
Here’s our man on an unfaired speed machine obviously set-up for going top velocity in a straight line.
Here he is with racing pal, Peaches Hainer; hardtails, high boots, big twins and a grin.
Posted in 50's, Racing, Triumph Bonneville |
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January 9, 2012
“Rebellion is the Only thing that keeps you Alive!”
Rebecca from The Girl on a Motorcycle (la motocyclette) – a 1968 film starring Marianne Faithful.
Posted in Gals, Triumph Bonneville |
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January 8, 2012
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.
Posted in Music, Steve McQueen, Triumph Motorcycle |
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January 7, 2012
It’s been a year since a crazed gunman opened fire in a public space in Arizona, killing several and severely injuring Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. It’ll be along road to recovery; but she has an adventurous spirit as seen here on her many bikes over time. Racing, scootering and travelling. The open road surely beckons for this Superwoman.
Posted in Gals, Superhero |
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