The Cavalry's here!

A truly evocative image of a mid-Twentieth Century cavalry. Here an army rears up on their new BSA M-20 motos heading into the fray! Wonderful artwork in the clean 30's graphic vein.

George Lawrie and his BSA

My grandfather, George Lawrie (1909-1965) served in the Military Police during the Second World War; spending the duration mostly in North Africa. I recall from a very early age pictures of him in the desert on an old motorcycle. Some old photo albums of my Gran recently resurfaced and a photo of him astride an M20 was amongst them. Great Stuff!

It just so happens that there is similar early 40's military spec M20 up for auction at nearby Glenview IL; part of a lifetimes collection by a chap called Lee Roy Hartung of automobile's and motorcycle's. Hartung specialized in interwar items including: Hendersons, Excelsiors, Harleys, Indians, Flying Merkel and a 1913 Pope. Outstanding selection of important bikes from the teens, twenties and thirties. I spied the BSA amongst them on the aution page; here are a few detail shots of it in splendid original patina.

Given the coffers, and space, I would try and get it running as-is, and enjoy its simple thumping ride as my grandfather would have.

The True Dedicated Ownership of a 40 year old British Bike

Well, I thought I'd get out for a spin with this beautiful autumn weather. Leaf colour, blue skies, a slight chill in the air.

A quiet road, sun behind me, all afternoon...

...until the old gal started hicking; I turned for home but only made it halfway through Highland Park... ... Engine dead; a sort wait for a kind fella cycling with his sons, he went home to drive back with his Prius, we tried to jump the bike with his big motor battery; no luck. However Dean called back from a message I left, he'd be up in his Ford Ranger.

In the meantime I pushed the bike down to Bob's Pantry so I could sit and wait. Just as the sun was setting over the Braeside Metra station Dean arrives and we tote the bike back to Evanston. Well that puts paid to this years riding; a strip down of the electrical sysem is in order, a new harness and hopefull all good to go for Spring 2012!

Loaded on the Ranger; lifesaver!

B.S.A. continues tomorrow!

BSA in Wartime

As mentioned in the Che piece a couple of days ago, the British motorcycle industry turned manufacturing over to military needs during the Second World War. As well as Norton and Matchless; B.S.A. (Birmingham Small Arms) were to create some trusty rides that saw action across the globe. The Small Heath works created the side valve 500cc single designated the M20, which became the model of choice by the armed services. At its height 1,000 machines were coming off the assembly line per week - over 126,000 manufactured overall; some still in service today. The M21, a 'big brother' 600cc used for sidecar work was also produced.

Ride like an Egyptian...   ... the telescopic forks confuse me somewhat, so if anyone can enlighten: they are typically fitted with girder forks.

Sturdy looking sidevalve motor:

Here's a great link to the specifics of owning a wartime brit-iron:

SUMP M20

It looks a smasher in olive green, a veritable two-wheeled Jeep!

Red and Silver

Shiny, shiny cafe'd oil-in-frame Bonnie. Red framed and chrome tanked as well as a comfy Corbin seat. Nicely detailed and crafted to be a real head turner!

¡Viva la Revolución!:

Here's where a certain Norton motorcycle changed world affairs; in 1952 a young medical student Ernesto Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado travelled the length of South America witnessing the poverty, exploitation, and economoc extremes that changed the course of his life indefinitely. Their steed, a 1939 500cc model was named El Poderosa "The Mighty One",

El Poderosa (copy)

Norton 16H 500cc Side Valve Single

The iconic Alberto Korda photograph 'Guerrillero Heroico" of Che which became THE defining image of the Twentieth Century.

A wonderfully evocative movie "The Motorcycle Diaries" based on his autoboigraphical book of the same name, starring Gael García Bernal as Che and Rodrigo de la Serna as Alberto. A Norton featured as the third main character.

Triple Cool

What could be more hip than these three tootling about the set of The Great Escape on this German Rig. McQueen 'Hilts' driving; Garner 'The Scrounger' pillion and Coburn 'Sedgwick' sitting lazily in the chair. Director John Sturges looks on.

Apple Green, Rose Red and Triumph Orange

Looking into different variations of a warm orange colour scheme for my new tank: a fiery glow to show off the bike. It has been a staple tone for the Big T for over fifty years: from the first Bonnie; the X75 special in the seventies; through the nineties Hinckley triples to the modern naked sports bikes.

tic-toc

A timepiece bearing the Triumph logo as well as numerous timing, countdown, stopwatch, and alarm functions. Chunky like a James Bond chronograph..

..or something for the Interational traveller perhaps; complete with a second timezone.

Or a little more sophisticated; suits you sir?

The Sun Never Sets...

Around the World across the British Empire the Triumph was considered the chosen transporation for checking in on the locals. "How's the bean crop coming on Carhurst?"

machine

A short docu-film by Matt Harrington: "Machine". Super cinematography, editing and subject.

Machine

Mustang Driver

Last weekend our trip to Upstate NY was meant to be taken driving about in a Mini Cooper Convertible; true Michael Caine style! However the rental place was out of them :-(  Not to worry, they had as an alternate a Black Ford Mustang Ragtop... what could we do? I had to take it, then I could be McQueen-bound a la Bullitt careening around the streets of Manhattan and lanes of the Berkshires! Nope it wasn't as punchy as his '68 Fastback 390 c.i. Mustang, but I had fun on the curvy roads nonetheless!

Catch Me

Red-Headed, Eye-Patched Vixen of the Road. Sailors Beware!

Would make a great upper arm tat; but alas my better 'alf would kill me!

Motorcyclist: Cafe Racer Cover

Back in '73, a Triumph becomes the basis for a seventies period cafe racer: blue and yellow, chesterfiled plush saddle, big disc brakes with alloy rims abd the typical clip-ons and rear sets. The onlookers have an obvious interest in it at least!

Mod Adverts

The fifties and sixties saw a refreshing style in the graphic arts as well as product design. Eames', Saarinen, Nelson et al. Here is a threesome of Meriden product promotion in slick and swift handed period illustration.

The first is a pair of Trophy towed by a Ford Cortina (I recall the tail-light of the Mk 1 my Pa had in the mid 70's)

Carnaby Street revellers enjoy a post Bonneville jaunt.

...and finally a Speed Twin is admired by a cool crowd.

Cafe Racer Gal

The fun of two wheels on the open road epitomized.

Encyclopædia

A new (old) book from Ebay for my slowly expanding collection of motorcycle encyclopedia; this one adorned with a rosy red Speed Twin illustration. A nice survey of the worlds motos up to the late 70's. It'll be useful for determining those esoteric manufacturers from the early days of motor vehicles.

It's an Honor

The truly beautiful Honor Blackman, atop a gorgeous Norton, looking at home for sure. Indeed she is the original action girl with such characters as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger, opposite the one true Bond, Sean Connery, as well as being the first Avenger opposite Steed: Cathy Gale.

Cathy goes undercover in a biker gang in the episode "Build a Better Mousetrap"; donning her usual black leather suit astride a Royal Enfield. Steed, with bowler and 'brolly goes pillion.

A later publicity shot of Honor aboard a Honda (750cc) the very one that usurped the British motorcycle industry in the 70's; though I think it did that itself!

The English rose exudes Italian flair too: here posing with a scooter. Well it has two wheels!

Hill Climb Cover

A Hi-Geared Triumph twin taken through it's paces in skyward pose on a monumental hill climb; this is steep ground!

It's Easy...

Fourth in the series so far: previously a cup of tea at the racetrack, ufo catching and supersonic jet wheel changing! Here we're escaping angry native across a precarious tree trunk bridge. All part of a movie it seems.

The Time by Triumph will be Bike O'Clock precisely.

Norton eye-candy

The quite beautiful French model Audrey Marnay shows off a new accessory from the Longchamps range of fashion luggage sitting atop a gorgeous Norton Moto.

Steve and Mike

Looks Cool lacin' his boots up! Clean Triumph and Mike his Malamute hound sniffs around too.

McQueen Tat

A Very dedicated fan of The King of Cool!

Roland Sands Design Triumph by Tony Hawk

A modern day Scrambler 900 given the RSD treatment for a Skate event in LA on October 2nd. A moto that evokes Big Air, Half Pipes and the like. Subtle upgrades for daily riding pleasure include: suspension, brakes, exhaust, air-intake. Shortened rear fender and recovered seat along with the tasty matt black, red pinstriping give it unique appearance.

http://www.rolandsands.com/wp/2011/09/30/wp20110930hawkized-triumph

Catch the Warm Sunny Days while you can!

A smile forsure after a jaunt up the old Sheridan Road to Lake Bluff. The autumn colour was just starting to appear; the next few days of drier 70's weather will surely make it a feast for the eyes.
The Bonnie rode like a champ on the first leg out then was a little hesitant on the return.

Single Point Perspective

A lovely shot of a late 60's BSA Lightning A65. Evening sun at a low angle gives warm light; a road beyond beckons. Well framed image with a converging line drawing your eye to the machine.