A Fairer Race Line-Up.

Rosie the Riveter watch out! Here are some gals ready for the off at a period hare across some sun drenched desert. Hair scarves to keep the locks in check, bikini (see the second one on the Triumph dressed for a tan) as cooling attire.

A mix of British and Yankee Iron.

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!

Thunderbirds are Go! x3

A stunning image of three styalized Thunderbirds at blurry speed. Great airbrush work expressing the clean bodywork and lined Triumph badge of one of the finest 650's from Meriden.


And the signifigance of 3x90x500? The 6T Thunderbird was launched publicly at Montlhéry near Paris where three standard production bikes were ridden around a circuit by a team of riders who between them averaged a speed of 92 mph (148 km/h) over a distance of 500 miles (800 km). All three machines were ridden to the circuit and back to the Meriden factory.

In the Round

A couple of really sharp race roundel signs. One displaying unstoppable #9 Gary Nixon 'flying' on a dirt oval steed; the other is Eddie Mulder #12 (The Squirrel).

Motorcycle Safety #2: ATGATT

All The Gear All The Time: wear your leathers! No, not your skin, a thick cow hide! A racers know, there's a compelling reason to wear good quality gear, especially when you may need to take a bikeless trip along the road!

Image from "Waking Ned Devine"

Triumph Tiger

Further to yesterdays post regarding the 'ideal' modern 500cc; here's a beaut of a 500cc Triumph. The '71 Tiger set up with reproduction Avon fairing and race seat. All in a nice carmine red and black scheme. I'd love to put a nosepiece like this on the Bonnie.

It would be a tricky set up: the subframe, fairing in right colour, bubble screen, healight and indicators. Here's a fairing available in white or black...

A Man's Machine...

From period racing advert...

...to modern AHRMA racing machine. What a beautiful track moto, and with a current provenance of success on the circuit; especially the recently late, but undoubtedly great Gary Nixon.

Gary Nixon 1941-2011

Gary was one of the greats who made Triumph a big name in performance motorcycles in the'States. Taking flat-track and road race set up motos to numerous victories such as the Springfiled Mile, Daytona and other great venues. (he was also a Burns Birthday lad; same as me January 25th)

In later years remembering good times on his steed of choice...

Triumph Triple at Daytona.

Nuff Said!

Our Hero Baz haring around the Goodwood tracks on a vintage Norton; adorned with his No. 7! Pure Majesty!

Percy Tait

An evocative painting of Percy Tait aboard a racing Triumph in the late 60's. One time Triumph road tester he also raced the bikes; including Slippery Sam, which gained its name when the oil pump spewed Percy's boot with the black stuff at a Bol d'Or 24 hour race. Percy was at the very sharp end of Triumph testing in the sixties especially the powerful triples racking up an estimated million miles around the roads and racetracks of the UK for Triumph.

Painting by Derek Sparkes.

Vintage Race Posters

Bright prints, graphic imagery and excitement guaranteed! A couple of the race posters seen at the Wheels Through Time museum. The lower poster does seem to have British singles racing...

Wheels Through Time: the museum that keeps on runnin'

Last couple of fun items from the museum: the Coca Cola Chopper, customized in true sixties style as well as a gas tank with cool looking ice cubes built into the metal...

A ride sitting out in the sun, where it should be, looking road weary; it certainly should be after the thousands on miles from its ride across the US in the Cannonball Run last year. Bikes had to be older than 1920 to run. Dedicated bikers indeed! This was Dave Walkslers 1915 Harley Davidson, he came in 11th after 3292 memorable miles.

http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com/

Field of Dreams...

A McQueen fix, here's wor Steve looking on at the ISDT rides quarantined from the riders pre-race. His is the one in front no doubt "278". Pensive before the six days ahead!

Thrills Spills!

Looks like a good time to be had by all: competitors and spectators alike! Love the orange & blue scheme.

Wot no Triumph?

... yup it's wor blokey bloke Barry Sheene, two wheeled racer boyhood hero. Great shot on this ealry 70's Yamaha with a ginormous dront 4LS drum. Duck helmet icon evident also. V for Victory!

Minkie the Motorbike

When I were just a wee lad... one of the early motorcycle inspirations was a Ladybird book called Tootles the Taxi; within its thin tome was a page with this picture on it with a small verse.

I'm Minkie the motorbike

Off for a run,

Gathering up speed

Can be glorious fun !

For I am a racer

And run with a zest,

To win all the races -

North, South, East and West

A zippy, smilin', Norton Manx droning around a racetrack, rider crouched for speed, front wheel slightly loft!

An early edition had the boy, girl and dog on the track ~ removed from later versions due to safety concerns of kids wandering around Brands Hatch during races....  where are those stewards!

What doyou get if you multiply two by three?

A hot rod racer set up for a sub 10 second run... 1950cc at least! What a sound this must have made!

Desert Sleds

A great image of the Triumphs used for desert racing in south California. That first fella looks a lot like Bud Ekins; west coast bike shop owner and racer as well as pal to Steve McQueen.

Here's an early Dunlop promotional shot of Ekins and his Trumpet Iron; look at that front wheel!

...and here he is with Steve havin' fun on a Sunday desert race no doubt.

A proven performance

With the Trimph models being used extensively in racing of the period, especially endurance at speed, the engines proved themselves to the daily riders as reliable, strong units. No wonder they sold by the truckload.

Florett Gulf

Another twho wheeled adorned with Gulf colours; this time a lesser know German make called Kreidler ~ although in the late fifties one third of German mped were Kreidler. This is a 50cc moped, so quite a diminutive example of the race colors, especially with clubman bars.

Here's the bike in regular livery:

Although a small cc'd engine they did specialize to be Grand Prix winners in the 50cc class. Their better know model of this "Florett" line is the earlier one, nearly Italia in its design lines.

...and here's the racer, a svelte marvel!