Surfs Up!

Tube and chopper rider, Scotty Stopnik takes to the air with an adept balance on his lightly bobbed Bonnie.

 

Equality on Wheels

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!

961 Norton Commando

A litre of reborn Norton heavy metal.

Mini Cooper

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.

ZAP!

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!

Double You Six Fifty

Another Kwak: this time a retro twin from the folks at Kawasaki Heavy Industries..

Kawasaki Z1 Redux

Sublime big Zed…

Thruxton

Week off blogging due to family commitments.

There’ll be an intermission filled with some two-wheeled “eye-candy”.

I have a life; and it only goes in one direction: Forward.

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…

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

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!

HE IS THE LAW!

And you’d better believe it! At last! What seems by first impressions to be a proper film interpretation of Ol’ Stoney Face himself. None other than Judge Dredd. (this has got NOTHING to do with the Stallone debacle from twenty years ago; that must vanish into movie limbo). Karl Urban plays the lawman with a tough gruffness befitting the surly character created nearly 35 years ago by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra. The Lawmaster bike looks correct befitting these law enforcers of Mega City One.

Motorcyclamatic

When processing a couple of yesterday’s photos through Instagram an effect evoking the original days of Triumph Bonneville ownership in the late 60’s or early 70’s is created. Snapshots on an instamatic.

September Skies

September weather hits it’s stride this weekend. Perfect skies… Gotta make the most of it before winter thwarts road going efforts and maintenance beckons…
Dean and I took Sheridan up to Zion just before the Wisconsin border then hung a left westward along Rt 173 across the bucolic Lake Co. (well the odd patch and roadside glimpse!) we reached Hunt Club Road, typical horse country with stables, barns and paddocks lining the lanes. A few winding stretches with a the heady late summer wildflower meadows scent following our Triumphs twins crackling engines. A few meanders along River Road and St. Mary’s and back into Highwood. A tremendous wee jaunt on a smashing day. Both ‘cycles running good. I attempted on-board photography with my Nikon mounted on a spar in front of the handlebars; my beam was too springy so some images came out somewhat juddery looking…
However a few worked:

Moto Mouse

Cover artwork for the classic Ralph story by Beverly Cleary about a mouse who takes off for greener fields atop a mini-moto and encounters adventures. Lovely ink lifework of the rodent and his bike with a two-ink color backdrop and highlight. I especially like the rear paw clutching the foot pedal; and watching out for his tail he conveniently slings it over his shoulder.

Runaway Ralph The Movie

 

Go on lad, get t’kettle on!

Further to our article recently in regards to the fiery crash Guy Martin had a couple of years back, he’s yet again raising money for spinal research (he did it last year too!)

Guy Martin Big Brew

Of course copious amounts of tea are involved, as are the cultivation of manly sideburns. A worthy mutton-chop growth will possibly win a chat ‘n’ chai with our man Guy.