TriCor At Daytona 1952

Awesome stuff, footage that makes ya ........................ I dunno..............wish I suppose.

Check out the factory race kit hangin' on the wall about two minutes into the first film! Gallon oil tank, twin carb set up, all there  for sale, not NOS but NNS

Told ya!

Wes White would appreciate a bit of ya time

Wes White of Four Aces is after one of 15 sponsorship deals being offered by Champion Spark Plugs, this will go towards the expense of this year's Salt Assault at Bonneville to . Part of the deal is decided by a "vote off" this means logging onto the Champion site and casting a vote. This can be done each and every day up until the end of January. 

Never met Wes personally but he has always been helpful with enquiries and any other stuff I've mailed him about, Good Man I reckon.

We'd all like to get a shot at glory by running on the Salt Flats I'm sure, but he's out there pointing  his rigid Trumpets at the horizon and doing it.

Check it out HERE

Drag Artist's Delight

Peter has just released these pics of his finished T100 vintage drag bike. You may have noticed the engine detail photo at the top of the page and wondered what the relevance is, well this is it.

Peter, -  and I hope he doesn't mind me saying this - was mentored by The Baron of Speedshop fame during the build, and his exacting eye for detail and period correct parts shows.

Pictures by Gary Margerum

If you need more, and who can blame ya, it's featured in this month's BSH out today.

A Frame Of Two Halves

Over the past year and a half or so a few unattached and, let's say "creatively modified" frame halves have ended up 'round here. No use to man nor beast it was decided to bring them back to the way big Ted Turner intended.

The front half had been raked in an enthusiastically amateur Blacksmith style. The top tubes had been cut and maybe an inch of tube removed prior to the front down tube being heated and bent back until the tube ends met again. The whole lot "strengthened" by sliding bits of gas pipe over the joints and welding up. 

The rear section had the old inch and three quarter slugs added behind the gearbox mounts to straighten the line down the back bone. It's also had some cutting and grinding done around the axle plates. 

They were taken to frame maestro Toddy for a little remedial work on his jig. Top tubes both replaced, down tube back in line and slugs removed, nice work mate. Whilst up there picking it up there was another bloke there who was looking it over and he said "what are you doing about the rear brake pedal pivot?" I've gotta 'fess up here, never even noticed it was missing! Then the Karma kicked in...............

  

............he says "I've had some of them cast up for a GP replica I'm building" and do I want one for 20 quid! You can see my answer above.

As this frame, which is marked up as a '51 by the way, has had so much work and so many irreversible detail modifications done to it, it will become the basis of The Skankweasel project, allowing a little more creativity in the design.

Primary Delight - Todd's Got It Covered

Spent a lot of time lately trawling the world trying to score a good pair of long primary cases, drop me a line if you have a pair excess to requirements.

Looking through the Jockey Journal for leads I came across this jaw dropping set up. Made by Todd at Small City Cycles and promised to be in production and on sale soon, needless to say.....can't wait.

Cliff's a' crackin'.....................

.............on that is.

Latest undercover shots from our man on the scene.

Lookin' nice there mate.

Shortened Sporty front end tuffin' it out in front sits well with the TFMW frame.

Just hope the fat bloke in red's gotta camera in his sack when he nips 'round mate.

The Numbers Are In

The letter's back from the dating fellah, to allow the registration process on Newgate's Knocker to proceed. Frame's earlier than I thought, sure one of the interweb lists showed it as a number from 1951, ain't moaning though. The motor is early '54 which is excellent news as this clipping from the Jan '55 issue of the US mag Motorcyclist shows,

If they weren't released until March to the American press then early May is very early indeed.

Sweet Pre Unit From Yokohama

Pics are appearing from last Sunday's show in Yokohama, Louie posted this sweet rigid on the JJ.

Triumph in Japan

We all know that there's some great work coming out of Japan, without a doubt some of the best Hot Rod Triumphs in the world are originating there. Ironic ? Maybe so, but undeniable all the same.  Came across Sunao's blog whilst trawling for Tiger 100 RR stuff , (again) and was more than impressed with the work he's doing.............................and he's got an RR frame.

Check it out for yourself HERE The Google auto translate struggles a bit but it doesn't detract.

Anybody recognise these???

Browsing the Bay and came across these, any ideas on the middle set? Cool set of yokes, ain't got a clue meself.

HERE

Today's the day...............all change!!!!!

....or "Beware Greeks bearing gifts"

Pic from The Daily Telegraph site.

Driving the car, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Transport Minister Mike Penning MP, in the front passenger seat, and Rt Hon Greg Knight MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group in a 1914 Rolls Royce Alpine Eagle  

November 18th it is then, the day that vehicles in Britain that are pre-1960 no longer require a yearly MOT (safety inspection). Not wanting to be a Killjoy over this, historically governments are not in the habit of giving nowt for nowt. Rather than try to explain the reasons behind this move, here is a copy of David Milward's article from The Daily Telegraph site posted in May this year.

The changes, which will come into force on November 18, will apply to cars the estimated 162,000 cars still on the road which were built before 1960.

Despite their age ministers believe that the loving care bestowed on the cars by their owners mean that they in a better state of repair than more modern vehicles.

It is estimated that two thirds of the cars travel less than 500 miles a year and have a lower accident rate than the national average.

The decision to scrap the compulsory MoT follows the Government’s “red tape” challenge, aimed at scrapping thousands of rules deemed to be unnecessary and outdated.

“Owners of classic cars and motorbikes tend to be enthusiasts who maintain their vehicles well,” said Mike Penning, the roads minister.

“They don't need to be told to look after them, they're out there in all weathers checking the condition of the engine, tyres and bodywork.”

However owners of the cars will still be obliged to ensure their cars are in a roadworthy condition, Mr Penning added.

Greg Knight, who chairs the all-party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group. welcomed the announcement.

“I am delighted by this announcement. Accidents involving historic vehicles are extremely

rare and the majority of owners are meticulous in keeping their vehicles in good condition. “Having to have an annual MOT test for a vehicle which may only travel a few hundred miles in a year was costlyand absurd.”

However there has been some opposition to the changes. Nigel Case, owner of the Classic Car Club, described the move as ridiculous.

“Scrapping the MoT on any car is pretty daft,” he said.

Just gotta wait and see.

1953 Thunderbird

Looks pretty honest.......doncha think?