Zero to Sixty in THREE WEEKS

  
Solihull January 29 2016. The last Land Rover Defender rolled off the assembly line after 67 years of continuous production. The US have their Jeep and the British the ‘Landy’. Earlier Series’ models and latter day Defender utility vehicles have been used on farm and battlefield both. Slow, basic, rattly and draughty; it was a basic tool. I remember smaller grouped field trips sat in the rear bench seats of the LWB 12 seater.

Any color as long as it’s green with a cream roof… Desert or jungle expedition anyone?

  
The Pink Panther: effective desert carrier for the SAS. 

Bibendum

   
I’m giving up my period looking Dunlops and plumping for a pair a sleek new Michelins. Pilots to be precise. Mounted to new alloy rims laced with shiny stainless steel spokes. These are gonna stick to the roads like clarts on my Doc Martens…

 
One of the oldest trademarks is the Michelin Man also known as Bibendum (from Horace’s Odes “Nunc est Bibendum!” – Now is the time to drink! Originally with cigar in mouth wearing pince-nez, he reminds me a bit like The cartoonist Giles’ grandma…

Happy Days

 Leather Tuscadero played by Suzi Quatro, was the younger punk sister of Fonzies on again off again gal Punkie.  Suzi was also a pioneering woman rocker in the seventies helped with her growling vocals, big bass slapping and one piece race leather outfits. In her mid sixties she’s still belting out her hits.
Can the Can? You be she can!

  

Charley Biker

  
It’s a spin-off blog starring a tabby cat called Charley. He’s a good workshop assistant and project supervisor. This cat and photo belong to Paul A Weeden from Stormstown PA. 

Let Moto de Paris

  
Racing art of a period British racer tearing through a screen print poster. Two colors is all it takes with the highlighted non printed white to add the sparkle of movement. Tres Bien!

Tonka

  
Tonka was a big deal growing up. The pressed steel bodies could take the typical abuse from a boy in his dirt pile. I yearned for the backhoe tractor with front loader “tractor with four diggers” is what I’d call it. Well I got it and managed to break it . So my sister wrote to Tonkatoys in Minnesota (actually Mound MN on Lake Minnetonka) crying false advertising which stated an elephant could stand on their toy construction vehicles. 

  
So they wrote back in apology and send one of their Dump trucks in compensation. There’s customer service!

 I wonder if I could get them to send one of their Triumph Bonnevilles… 
  

Sergeant Pepper

  
For the benefit of Mr Bike 

A show held in a fortnight in Scotland’s Lanark.

The Triumph crowd will all be there , Norton owners, BSA’s what a lark.

A few Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha will compete with Hondas for the fair oh what a jumble.

In this way Mr B will challenge the world.

Call Agnes’s on the telephone

To assure you sellers have a home to sell your bike.

And of course this is year twenty four 

for jumbles of the two wheeled sort for parts you’ll like.

Opposite the racecourse on the seventy three Mr B flies through heated hall and restaurant.

And at Lawries and Symington mart this gathering is held.

The gathering is on the floor
Through the agricultural center doors way out back

Bob McIntrye race will demonstrate,

That old bikes can circulate around a track.

Organized by the SCRMC limited 
A splendid time is guaranteed in June

But Sunday the Seventh haggis and chips are topping the bill.

(Acknowledgements to Lennon/McCartney)

Kids these days!

  
ABC7 news-

Benjamin and Elizabeth Neufeld’s car somehow ended up on its side on Linda Flora Drive as they were turning into the driveway of their Bel Air home on Friday. Benjamin Neufeld, 87, was able to climb out, but his 85-year-old wife, who was driving, was trapped inside the Honda.

“It didn’t skid, it didn’t slide, it didn’t bounce, it just fell over,” Ben said. 

While neighbors and witnesses rushed to help, the Neufelds posed for pictures. 
“So I’m sending her pictures while she’s trapped in this car, and Ben is right outside the car just kind of going, ‘Hey, you OK in there?,'” photographer and neighbor Cara Steinberg said. 
Elizabeth Neufeld even asked for her purse so she could take a selfie while still in the car. 
Fortunately, the couple wasn’t hurt during the accident. They have been married for more than 60 years.
Old man Ben’s trousers declined to say anything… They were quite embarrassed by the entire proceedings.

Ten Fifty in Three

  
Foggy and another biker nut enjoying the launch of the latest muscle from Triumph. This is the Speed Triple and is a bulldog of a bike. The other fella is globetrotter Charley Boorman.

Crafty Commando

  
Philanthropist Aileen Webb (1892-1979) was instrumental in promoting crafts, handmade goods and the arts. Brought up in the Hudson Valley and married into the Vanderbilt family her influence helped create the American Craft Council and later on the World Craft Council. The latter being formed in 1964 to: “promote fellowship, foster economic development through income generating craft related activities, organize exchange programs, workshops, conferences, seminars, and exhibitions—and in general, to offer encouragement, help, and advice to the craftspersons of the world.”

I like Texas the red hat echoes the Norton emblazoned tank.

Through the smoke a rider appears…

  
Foggy is seen here riding in style on one of the new Triumph at a launch event recently. Former superbike King and Ducati rider seeing him on British fare is a good sight. He won’t the reality show “I’m a celebrity GMOOH!” A couple of years back- probably psyching out the opponents with those intense eyes.

  
That silver Thruxton R is my favorite bike right now.

Home on Wheels

  
“But the place which you have selected for your camp, though never so rough and grim, begins at once to have its attractions, and becomes a very centre of civilization to you: “Home is home, be it never so homely.” – Henry David Thoreau

Rivington Pike Free Festival

Back in ’77 summer was enjoyed at numerous gatherings of hippies and music enjoying earthy fun in the countryside of a bucolic England. 

 
Bring your tent, tie dyes and bell bottoms. However carefree gathering can attract others looking for lawless shenanigans. The Hells Angels turn up on their chopped Triumph, BSA’s and Nortons along with pelt headdresses. Save the Planet! More hash fudge and ‘shrooms.

  
Photo by Chris Hewitt

Desperado

  Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?You been out ridin’ fences for so long now

Oh, you’re a hard one

I know that you got your reasons

These things that are pleasin’ you

Can hurt you somehow
Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy

She’ll beat you if she’s able

You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine things

Have been laid upon your table

But you only want the ones that you can’t get
Desperado, oh, you ain’t gettin’ no younger

Your pain and your hunger, they’re drivin’ you home

And freedom, oh freedom well, that’s just some people talkin’

Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?

The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine

It’s hard to tell the night time from the day

You’re losin’ all your highs and lows

Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?

Come down from your fences, open the gate

It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you

You better let somebody love you (let somebody love you)

You better let somebody love you before it’s too late.

Glenn Frey 1948-2016

The Eagles are one of the best soundtracks of the open American highway . 

How! Di ye diy art de ye?

  
Powerful paintings of icons on Triumphs by John Froehlich. Slight abstraction of classic images depicting Steve McQueen as Hilts and Marlon Brando as Johhny.