a dhà

Special Three – polished to a high speed. Isle of Man custom racer with blown engine from 1981 built by scot Alistair Laurie. Hailing from Dalbeattie, Dumfries in The Borders he took great pains to ensure integrity with lightness and style.

See Through

X-Ray Spex – cutaway engine with internals visible. Typically the sliced faces are in red and a hidden motor drives the contraption so the workings can be seen in motion. Best way to see engineering at work!

Hold On!

Alley Cats – a couple of greased hair rockers compare their Triumph machines in an atmospheric image.

Snow Recovery

Winter is Here. As January draws to a close we’ve had a couple of unseasonably warmer days here in Chicago. Don’t let that fool you! It’s forecast to snow later this week and plunging temperatures are anticipated again. Here’s a classic image of an AA officer coming to the help of a broken-down Hillman Minx.

Side by Side

Combination Lock – ready to drive around the Ring of Kerry with your partner by your side is this emerald patterned sidecar outfit a la Trident. Quite daring in its appearance but back in those days all this psychedelic were the rage.

“Oh, we ain’t got a barrel of money,

Maybe we’re ragged and funny

But we’ll travel along

Singing a song

Side by side.”

cycle guide

‘Zine Cover- sunny lemon backdrop and a profile portrait of a racing green Trident and coo’ing model in pure sixties vibe. Fifty years ago when the T150 was introduced.

Blau Neun

Number Nine – Today also sees the birthday of Gary Nixon, 60’s & 70’s Triumph team roadracer who took the hearty triple to good results. In his own words: “Watch the starter, get a good start, ’n then in a few laps, start lappin’ guys. An’ then you win the race.” Sound easy? Well it was for him.

Oh, it’s my birthday too!

Phil the Hitman

The Driver – today is primo stunt driver Bill Hickman’s Birthday. Born in 1921 he is most known as the assassins getaway driver in Bullitt. Driving a ’68 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum R/T through the streets of San Francisco whilst being chased by Steve McQueen in his Highland Green ’68 Ford Mustang 390 GT . Here is Bill keeping an eye in the rearview mirror for Frank Bullitt. Considered one of the greatest car chases in moviedom it could never be achieved in this day and age as modern action scenes are created with unreal CGI tomfoolery. The second greatest chase is in William Friedkin’s 1971 The French Connection which was also helmed by Hickman.

Hickman was friend and driving master to James Dean. Being was first on the scene to Deans fateful crash in his 550 Spyder, and sadly the one who was at his side when he died.

Party for Hitler

Undercover Hero – “Soft Beds, Hard Battles” a little known Peter Sellers movie from 1974. He takes on several roles, including a very convincing Hitler, but the main character is Major Robinson who, due to his BSA M20 WD breaking down, ends up as an an Intelligence officer in a Paris brothel. Thank Zarquon for his last film “Being There”.

Volpe found!

Inspector Clouseau – Britt Ekland sits pillion whilst Peter Sellers takes the captains saddle on this classy Moto Guzzi V700. It may have been whilst they were filming the joint British/Italian film “After the Fox”. The best bit in that film is a restaurant scene where Maria Grazia Buccella plays the beautiful Miss Okra.

Gina Vanucci & the Fifth Earl of Lichfield

Lords & Ladies – I was kindly informed that yesterday’s post were society photographer Patrick Anson, also known as Lord Lichfield, and Swedish actress, and ex-wife of Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland. Being in the thick of the swinging sixties he was always surrounded by beautiful women. A better view of that Honda.

Mr & Mrs

Stylin’! – Motorcycle clothing can ensure unqualified coolness; but make sure you have the hair-do, heels and neckscarf to compliment the look otherwise forget it! Cafe’d moto is a late Sixties Honda CB450 Black Bomber. Sunglasses are aviator. Silk cravat? Pure Carnaby Street…

Legs Eleven

Hipster – with my recovery from hip surgery going splendidly I am now swinging around on a pair of crutches. Luckily being in the clutches on winter here in the Midwest my riding is otherwise thwarted. Hopefully I’m back to full leg strength by springtime so I don’t have to scoot around like our chopper chap here…

We Can Do It!

Sassy Siren – sunny smile under a blue sky. Personalized scrambler with funky tank graphics and well lagged pipes. Workmanlike clogs too. Rosie the Riveter lives!

Bike British

NVT – as the motorcycle industry’s last gasping breaths rattled across 70’s Britain the offerings from the combined Norton Villiers Triumph were what held the meager company together. Commando’s, Trident, & John Player Racer. Classic stuff. Powerstuff!