LE BIG TOP

Possibly the worlds most elaborate bike rally invitation. If you got one of these this morning you will know what i mean. Roll on summer.

HOTRODS V SHEEP

Our local Hotrod club has a membership of one, Mike. He owned the 302 powered '39 Coupe in the top pic up to about 10 yrs ago and has been building a Zephyr since the birth of Christ. Every few years he has a rush of blood to the head and rests a spanner or two on it, hopefully this may stir him into action.
Mike's words: "the Zodiac's been back-halved with a narrowed 4-linked 9" axle on coil overs and 12x15 Centerlines. The front suspension consists of Gaz adjustable platform struts in purpose-built towers, Cossie Granada hubs, calipers and discs, Sierra TCAs with triangulated compression struts, a Capri rack and cross-member, a Sierra 4x4 steering column and 4x15 Centerlines. It's now got a re-built 302ci Ford with Canfield ally heads, a Comp Cams camshaft, Holley 600cfm carb and a new TCI 'box. It'll be returned to its original two-tone grey with all the chromework reinstated, bench seats etc so it looks fairly stock. Needs plumbing, wiring and paint. Supposed to be going to the bodyshop at the back end of the year, like I've said for the last 4 years...."





Although the sole member he does have two cars, just shows what an enthusiastic club it is, remember the Escort ?

THE TUESDAY TRITON

ANGEL FOUR

Rick West's Honda CB750. It featured a Kustom Korner frame and tank while 6" over fork tubes, exhaust and electrics box were down to the owner. Almost a kit bike of its time using many of the standard Honda parts.

WARHORSE

Got this in for a bit of fettling this week, im not big into military vehicles but it's a fine old beast.

PROPHECY

Found today in a 1966 copy of The Dalesman, a sort of Yorkshire Readers Digest, dont ask.

MORE LOOKING BACK WITH PHIL

Panhead choppers are almost commonplace in our virtual world now but in 1976 Dave Lane's was possibly the only one in the UK. Built for him by Leon Wallace Customs at their little shop in Putney Bridge Road.

CHOPPER SPEEDWAY !

SNOT PIE

Brian Matthews played Humble Pie on the radio this morning, i rarely listen to Radio 2 but when i am out in the van and the CD's jammed i dont have much choice. After nearly a week of headaches and more snot than Neil in the Young Ones (Sick) it was uplifting. 1973, loon pants, sideburns and a BSA permanently in bits.
It also occurred that 50 yrs ago as a little lad i would have been listening to Brian Matthews on Saturday morning radio at home, i guess 1961 would have meant The Shadows and Frankie Vaughan while we patiently waited for everything to kick off in 1963.
Just how old is Brian Matthews anyway ?

J W MOTORCYCLES

John Warrington's here in Malton is the place for big horsepower motorcycles, he builds engines, sets them up and sorts them out....and if you bring your bike here it is he who does it, there's no staff no tea boy even, just the worlds hardest working bloke. He can and will do anything from developing your turbo Hayabusa to straightening a bent Triumph chopper frame (he has done both for me). He permanently has a several month backlog of work for loyal customers so i'm not giving out his phone number, if you need him you will know him.
His tiny workshop is a cave with no windows and the dyno room backs on to a supermarket car park where shoppers can hear strapped down bikes running at close on 200mph just a few feet from their Nissan Micra, hopefully they dont know that.










The 1500cc Z1000 in a Spondon frame was making 170+ bhp when i was there with more to come.
....and he is building himself a ZX12 engined chopper if he ever gets time.

DRAG RACING 1963.

Great old Ford film of Drag Racing in the early '60s with good footage of the first UK Dragfest. There's a few of these old Ford Racing films on Youtube with plenty of dry lakes and circuit stuff as well, worth a look while you keep out of the cold.

THE PHIL MATHER FILES

Trevor Edwards' A10 complete with Triumph sprung hub and another questionable seat.
Great street shots featuring MK1 Transit, Marina, Escort van and flares with sew on badges, yes i did do that.

READERS RIDES. ME.

Not often people send me photos of myself but Kev sent this one. Dalby forest probably Crystal Stages September '93 or '94.

THE PHIL MATHER FILES.

No better place to start than Jack Nuttall's Old Blu'.




Bugger, what did i do ?

THE TUESDAY TRITON

HELMET SALE

Having only one head i have decided to go through my helmets, renovate a few and slim down the collection to the ones that actually fit me. This is a random selection, there are more than this. Keep an eye on eBay if you are a vintage helmet freak.

SNOWY BEEZAS

Fitted the tyres this morning and probably ready for the road now but it was so cold i couldnt tell if i'd trapped my fingers let alone the tube so quite prepared to walk in tomorrow to 2 flats.


Jon's Goldie last winter, just an excuse for another photo of this fab bike.

NEWARK ANTIQUES FAIR 3rd FEB

Think Newark Autojumble x 10.

THE PHIL MATHER FILES

In the mid '70s journalist Phil Mather did a number of photo shoots and features on the top UK custom bikes of the era, most were featured in a long gone magazine called Motorcycling Monthly and 18 years ago were repeated in BSH as a series titled Rearview Mirror.
Phil (and BSH) have been good enough to give me the OK to re-run them on here and i will be posting them over the next few weeks. I dont propose to imprint the photos with a logo but please remember these are all copyright to the owner and he is keen to keep it that way so no re-blogging without permish', ya.

DJs BIKES

After seeing his bike on yesterdays post DJ sent me a few photos of the bikes he (and his Dad) have built. The Z is still my favourite but the GS1000 with the club foot swingarm runs close.