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.

The Sand Pebbles

A McQueen film from '66 was The Sand Pebbles; seeing him play a gunboat engineer, Jake Holman, parolling the Yangtse River in the twenties amidst the turmoil of a chinese revolution. He received his only Oscar nomination for this role.

Here's a great shot as the actor relaxes with co-star Richard Crenna, who played the 'boat captain. Steve atop a fresh loooking Triumph, Crenna a rickshaw.

Tank-a-tanka-tank

Cleaned up the large british Triumph tank; couple of dings filled and smoothed; liner applied (after 2 attempts!), and rubben down.

Placed on bike to see how it looks...

Much more solid looking, nearly Guzzi-like even; the longer 70's frame's line need this tank to give it a visual balance.

The seat sits okay, but a wide nosed one will improve the line too.

Foursome Triumph ....

Scrambler; Thruxton, Speed Triple and a Bonneville: what beautiful models to admire.

It's Easy on a Triumph - the further adventures!

Whether running against a stagecoach, ascending an alp, laying bricks (with a hod), or eloping to Gretna Green, it is, as they say " Easy on a Triumph!

Slap a Sloper

Whilst searching for the M21 outfit information I happened upon this item needing much TLC. It's the earlier M33 'sloper'; the early thirties model with distinctive engine angle. About 6 hp thumping from the single pint sized jug just enough low end to haul around a chair. Suitable for the country lanes of England at the time for sure!

Here's a happy owner on their BSA enjoying the delights of a countryside jaunt.

n.b. "slapping slopers" is a climbing move practised in the rounded but rough gritstone edges of the Peak District. Here's a climber craggin' on a Stanage Edge classic: Congo Corner HVS 5b stretching out on a long reach sloper. "Slap it youth!"

Pull a Chair up and have a sit down!

The combination wartime ride was the enlarged BSA single, the 600cc M21. Again my grandfather George Lawrie is seen atop this machine during traffic control and other MP duties in Egypt, through Tunisia and Libya. No doubt shadowing Monty's Eighth Army as they chased Rommel 'The Desert Fox' back through El Alamein into Tunisia. Amongst his medals and cap badge is a cloth badge of the Jerboa, used as the Desert Rats insignia of the 7th Armoured.

Here's a recently restored hack with sidecar trunk in lieu of the chair; also emblazoned with the AA (Automobile Association) emblem. George was an AA man both before and after the war, the roadside assistance skills being useful for MP work; and, indeed many AA men ended up in that branch of service.