This genuine BSA Gold Star scrambler was dispatched from the BSA factory on 17th February 1961 and sold new by BSA works rider Fred Rist through his shop in Neath, Glamorgan. Fred Rist was an eminent scrambler both before and after WW2. By 1939, he was a sergeant in the British Army and rode for the Army team in that year’s ISDT in Germany, getting home with the rest of the team just in time to avoid spending the war in an internment camp. Post-war, he continued to be picked for the ISDT Trophy team and was captain on a factory Gold Star in 1950. He was also a member of BSA’s Maudes Trophy team in 1952. Almost certainly he had retired from competition to concentrate on his motorcycle business by the time this Goldie scrambler was delivered. Continue reading →
Vintage
22
Apr 13
1973 Honda “DCB750″ / Toby Grubb and Justin Lewis
While most garage builders tend to shy away from technology in their quest to produce something achingly beautiful, that was not the case with Toby Grubb and Justin Lewis, members of Portland, Oregon-based digital creative agency Instrument.
Inspired by “the industrial lines of Jonathan Ive’s MacPro G5″ and Apple’s clean design philosophy in general, the Honda boasts a relatively clutter-free look, but without losing any of its functionality. For instance, you get a unique Instrument Mobile Dashboard App that combines a digital speedometer, tachometer, odometer, and a GPS tracking system into a clean and very legible readout that’s displayed on your iPhone. Continue reading →
16
Apr 13
The Last Great Race on Earth / 1979 Iditarod
One of the most difficult races ever devised by the mind of man, the Iditarod is a brutal long-distance winter race that takes place in Alaska between Anchorage and Nome. The annual long-distance sled dog race runs in early March. Mushers and a team of 16 dogs, of which at least 6 must be on the towline at the finish line, cover the distance in 9–15 days or more. The Iditarod began in 1973 as an event to test the best sled dog mushers and teams but evolved into today’s highly competitive race. The current fastest winning time record was set in 2011 by John Baker with a time of 8 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes, and 39 seconds. Continue reading →
14
Apr 13
Photo of the Day / 1938 Indian Chief
Painted in classic Indian-red, this 1938 Indian Chief is one of the finest surviving examples of its kind. Photographed by Jared Schoenemann.
19
Feb 13
1965 Fruin 200cc Racing Engine / Bonhams
During the Fifties and Sixties, independent engineer of Hillingdon, Middlesex, Bert Fruin came up with a series of mechanically superior motors, including a 125cc DOHC twin-cylinder racer and a modular V4/V8 engine. The first Fruin-built 200cc was featured in Motor Cycle magazine in 1962. Continue reading →
13
Feb 13
1963 Garelli 50cc Record Breaking Racer
In the early 1960s, with the reconstituted Garelli now under the control of Daniele Agrati, it was decided to return to the track in search of world records, which had been one of Garelli’s major competition activities in pre-war days. In November 1963, two 50cc Garellis specially prepared by engineer William Soncini, running on alcohol fuel and equipped with large-capacity fuel tanks those cool ‘dustbin’ fairings, set eight world records at Monza, including a new 24 hours mark at an average speed of 108.834km/h, which has yet to be broken. Continue reading →
12
Feb 13
Custom / 1930 Henderson / Frank Westfall
Henderson produced four-cylinder motorcycles from 1912 until 1931 and, at that time, were the largest and fastest motorcycles, finding favour with sport riders and police departments. The latter favoured them for traffic patrol because they were faster than anything on the roads. The company began during the golden age of motorcycling, and ended during the Great Depression. Continue reading →
07
Feb 13
Ducati / Honored Motorcycle / “The Amelia”
Ducati motorcycles will be the honored motorcycle of the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Ducati is the fourth motorcycle marque to be honored by “The Amelia” with a one class display on the concours field of The Golf Club of Amelia Island. The Italian maker of exotic high performance motorcycles joins former honorees Triumph, BMW and Vincent as “The Amelia’s” one marque motorcycle class for 2013. Continue reading →
03
Feb 13
Custom / 1979 Yamaha SR500 / MotoHangar
Another custom from Virginia-based MotoHangar, this 1979 Yamaha SR500 is neither a mega-buck build nor an over-endowed beast, just a beautiful special that’s rideable on a daily basis. Features some bare metal body work, hand-built leather seat, and rear tail cowling. The Yammy is also lowered in the front and tightened up with Hagon rear shocks. Stainless steel braided brake lines enhance retardation abilities. The vintage head light and taillight are modified to accept modern bulbs, while wiring is trimmed of anything unnessary except the bare minimum. Forward electric controls, including the keyswitch, are eliminated and relocated to under the seat using standard rocker swithes. Powder coated wheels wrapped in firestone tires. Topping the build off are a K&N air filter and custom header with Yoshimura silencer. Continue reading →
