J.N. Roberts

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James Nelson "J. N." Roberts is a semi-retired off road motorcycle racer from Southern California. In the 1960s and 1970s he was a top desert racer on two wheels in the United States.


Roberts won the Barstow to Vegas race four times in a row. He also won the Mint 400 three times and the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 twice each. He teamed with Malcolm Smith to win the motorcycle division in the 1967 Mexican 1000, later to be known as the Baja 1000.


Roberts also represented the United States at the 1971 and 1972 International Six Days Trial, a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics. After his racing career, he became a stuntman in the American Film industry. Roberts appeared in the 1971 film On Any Sunday in the 2005 film Dust to Glory, and in the 2008 film, Full Circle, The Legend Lives On, playing himself.


He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2009, Roberts was inducted into the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame.



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Vintage bikes shine

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The Albany Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Club Hill Climb on Mt Clarence attracted 86 competitors on Sunday.

Riding a variety of bikes ranging from the oldest, a 1926 Norton 500, to the youngest, a 1980 Honda 125, they competed in three groups to first record their best time.

This then had to at least be equalled for any chance to win.

The motorbikes started on Apex Drive then screamed their way, often in a cloud of smoke, up to the Mounted Corps memorial.

Two of the rarest bikes on the day were Rob Berryman’s 1974 Laverda 750 and the 1979 Hagon 500 Special ridden by Derek Kelly, one of only two believed to be in Australia.

Alan Auburn’s 1927 Harley Davidson 350 last competed in a race in 1939.





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Dutchmann Photos

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Today i would like to present the work of my friend Maurice van den Tillaard from Netherlands. Maurice is a self taught photographer and mostly works under the name DutchmanPhotos and concentrates on shooting downhill mountainbiking and BMX, motocross and other motorsports, newer or vintage motorcycles and automobiles, and more...

http://dutchmanphotos.blogspot.com

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Just in Style

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Unionmade gives their Varsity Jacket collaboration ($295) with Golden Bear a refresh this fall with Melton Wool that should keep you properly warm and stylish for the colder temperatures.

The very limited collection of Hilary Tenzing Explorers (none of the watches are officially associated with Rolex) is getting closer to release and they just lifted the curtain on the first of the three watches and we think its a stunner.

Another solid release from Alden and Unionmade's custom shoe collaboration is the good ol' Workboot ($450) with an upper of tan grain bison leather with a matching goodyear welt.

Unionmade and Golden Bear collaborate again on a exclusive collection ($220-$350) just in time for the holidays. While the popular varsity jacket gets an update, the new collection adds two wool and cotton vests as well as a slim-fitting peacoat.

Via : www.acquiremag.com

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Bikes : Café Mania

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By : John Cerilli

Over the past few years, I have noticed a rather dramatic increase in the café motorcycle movement around the globe. I don't really believe it ever went away...this historic 60's style from the days of the British “Rockers and Mods” and “The Ton-Up Boys” has just been quietly simmering underground.


Young, immortal teenagers (as we all were during those years) wanted not just stock, but personalized, stand-out motorcycles to ride. Less is more. Thus, clip-on handlebars, solo humped seats, rear-set foot-pegs, custom tanks, and louder-than-stock modified exhausts were the way to make you cool and FAST!


Wikipedia says this about the “Café Racer” movement:

“A classic example of this was to race from the Ace Cafe on The North Circular road in NW London to the Hanger Lane junction as it then was - it is now the more famous Hanger Lane Gyratory System - and back again.


The aim was to get back to the Ace Cafe before the record you'd put onto the jukebox had finished.


Given that some of the Eddie Cochran tunes that were in vogue at this time were less than two minutes long, the racers would have had to traverse the three miles round trip at extremely high speed - most of the time, over 100+ mph - and thus the term “Exceeding the Ton” (aka “The Ton-Up Boys”) ... Read more





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Don Castro

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Don Castro is an extraordinary dirt-tracker and roadracer who battled handlebar-to-handlebar with some of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time during the 1970s.


Many consider the early 1970s as one of the greatest periods for dirt-track racing in the history of the sport. Castro competed against famed racers and Hall of Famers Gary Scott, Kenny Roberts, Mert Lawwill, Chuck Palmgren, Gene Romero, Dave Aldana, and others. His win at the 1973 San Jose, Calif., half-mile is considered to be his greatest victory .


Born on Dec. 28, 1949, Castro grew up in Hollister, Calif. When he was almost 16, he got a Honda 90 so that he would have a means to get to-and-from work. But Castro didn't just use the small bike for transportation—he began racing around town on it, drawing the attention of the police, who reported his shenanigans to his father.

"He made a deal with me to buy me a 500 Triumph if I would stop running around town on the Honda," Castro says.


So at the age of 16, Castro began racing in Sportsman TT races as well as competing in hillclimb. At the age of 18, he transferred to the Expert Sportsman class. He turned pro novice in 1968, and then junior in 1969.

"I did well until I broke my leg at the Triumph factory," Castro recalls. "I signed with Triumph to get free parts and a motorcycle, and then [Hall of Famers] Gary Nixon and Dick Mann invited me to play soccer. We both kicked the ball at the same time and Dick broke my ankle. I couldn't race four nationals, and then I won six in a row. That was 1969. I was in the running for the title of Junior of the Year but Dave Aldana beat me out on points."


In 1970, Castro became a pro expert and got a Triumph factory ride. His first roadrace was at the famed Daytona track in Florida, where he finished third on a three-cylinder Triumph.

"I didn't want to get beat. I just loved to go fast," Castro says. "I'm kind of dyslexic and don't know if that helped, but when you go 120, 130, 140 mph, everything slows down.

In 1971, Castro raced short track, TT, half-mile, mile and road races. He finished ninth that year aboard a Triumph.

In 1972, Castro was a privateer aboard Triumphs and had his van and equipment stolen.


"I tried to regroup but I didn't regroup very well," Castro remembers. "I asked K & N if they had an extra bike I could ride, and they did. So I flew to Tulsa [Okla.] and got the Yamaha running. I rode for them for the rest of the year."

1973 proved to be a good year for Castro. He got a factory contract with Yamaha, teaming with Roberts. At the San Jose, Calif., half-mile during the time trials, five riders broke the old lap record. Roberts beat the record by a full half-second by turning a lap of 4:26:08. Hall of Famer Mark Brelsford turned a 4:26:43. Also coming in under the old record were Hall of Famers Cal Rayborn, Mert Lawwill and Gene Romero. Castro was the sixth fastest qualifier.

All but one of the 12 competitors in the 20-mile National final would be be future Hall of Famers: Kenny Roberts, Castro and Chuck Palmgren on Yamahas, Rex Beauchamp, Lawwill, Jim Rice and Brelsford on Harley-Davidsons, and Gary Scott, Mike Kidd, Eddie Mulder and Romero on Triumphs. Randy Scott was also on a Triumph... Read more




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The Sunday Movie

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Ron Bishop smoking a cigarette on the starting line while the banner drops! Mid 1960's 8mm action in California. Old cars and trucks, old bikes, young people. Song playing is "Ashes and Dust" by the group "Menchen".




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Old-School Joules on an Electric Enfield

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The Volta 102 is not your typical motorcycle. But James Hammarhead is not your typical motorcycle builder.

Hammarhead is a clinical neuropsychologist and expert in fMRI paradigm design. When he isn’t doing research at University of Pennsylvania, you’ll find him riding or wrenching on an old-school motorcycle. He’s got a thing for British bikes and usually has a project in the works.

That passion for vintage iron led him to launch Hammarhead Industries, a boutique builder creating retro British bikes with a twist.

And, in one case, a cord.

The Volta 102 that Hammarhead built in just three months is one in a growing field of electric street bikes but the first to go retro.


The old-school aesthetic follows Hammarhead Industries’ mission statement, which comes down to “keep it simple, stupid.” Hammarhead isn’t interested in fuel injection or ABS or carbon fiber components. His love affair with minimalism was cemented riding a Royal Enfield through India. The bike was elemental and irresistable.

By Chuck Squatriglia via : www.wired.com




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"Pops" Yoshimura

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Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura (October 7, 1922 - March 29, 1995) was a motorcycle tuner, race team owner and manufacturer of speciality motorcycle accessories. He is remembered for his ties to the beginnings of AMA Superbike racing and the Suzuki factory racing team. He was born in Fukuoka City, Japan.


Yoshimura was called into military service during the Second World War where he was trained as an aircraft mechanic. After the war, he began tuning motorcycles for American servicemen stationed in Japan and in 1954, he opened his first shop, with his wife and children helping him. In 1971, he moved his business to Los Angeles at the beginning of the four-cylinder superbike era. He gained a reputation as an excellent motorcycle tuner.


In 1976 the AMA introduced a racing class for production based bikes and Yoshimura established himself by entering fast, reliable Kawasaki Z1 bikes. In 1978 he switched to Suzuki bikes and began winning races. Steve McLaughlin won the 1978 Daytona Superbike race while Wes Cooley and Mike Baldwin won the prestigious 1978 Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan. With Wes Cooley as his rider, Yoshimura claimed the AMA Superbike national championship in 1979 and 1980. Yoshimura formed a close relationship with Suzuki and eventually his team became the official Suzuki factory racing team in the United States. His company experienced success as one of the world's largest performance aftermarket sportbike exhaust manufacturers.


Yoshimura died of cancer in 1995. He left a legacy as a master craftsman, tuner and fabricator and was one of the pioneering personalities of superbike racing. In 2000, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. His son continues to operate the company which still enjoys success in the AMA superbike class with rider Mat Mladin winning six championships in seven years, and Ben Spies winning the 2006-2008 championships.





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Vintage Drag Racing

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Vintage Drag Racing by : Cynthia Meyer Art

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Vintage Flat Trackers

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For sale via : www.vft.org

1976 Bultaco Astro, Runs great. Will need some cosmetics to be a show bike.

1 Borrani 2.15 Spool $150
1 Astro tank and Seat primed and Ready to go $300
1 Champion Seat w/ thick pad $100
1 New champion seat pad thin $25

a nice 73-74 Honda Elsinore alloy fuel tank,has the usual dings and a shallow knee dent on the right side,includes the cap and petcock,will look great on your vintage Honda flat tracker...

1975 Honda XL350 with 412 kit, Kennedy spool front wheel, Sun rims, new Dunlops, Jemco exhaust, Redwing shocks, 36mm Mikuni,
Barnett clutch springs, and too many other new parts to list. This bike has not had gas in it since rebuild, so the new owner gets
to break it in.

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The Sunday Movie

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The pace that thrills

Director:
Leon Barsha
Writers:
Robert Lee Johnson (screenplay), Robert Lee Johnson (story), and 1 more credit »
Stars:
Bill Williams, Carla Balenda and Robert Armstrong
Release Date:
March 1952 (USA)

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Triumph Introduces Vintage Apparel Line

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Homage to Steve McQueen in new clothing.

Triumph Motorcycles' Autumn/Winter line of casualwear and technical riding gear builds on the British motorcycle manufacturer's popular line of vintage-themed t-shirts and motorcycle jackets that look and perform great whether your riding or just relaxing with friends. Each garment features a classic style that fuses vintage-inspired fabrics and colors with modern riding garment technologies.
The Stockton Jacket ($399.99) has retro styling that combines black leather with vintage red and ecru stripe detailing alongside subtle detailing, such as the Union Jack flag embossed zip cover. The jacket's constructed from a soft and supple 1.2mm cowhide and features hidden ventilation panels, a removable thermal lining and removable soft compound Knox® CE elbow and shoulder protectors... Read more




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Butler and Smith leather bags

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This is a collection of photos and information from BMW riders and collectors.

These bags were supplied by Butler and Smith for both the /2 and /5 series. Only the mounts were different. The leather was very thick and stiff. The mounts were well known to break, but that was mostly because they were overloaded. They were not highly waterproof and users would wrap the contents in plastic bags. They were probably the least expensive bags one could buy for a BMW. The 1971 parts book shows two sizes of leather bags and no Krauser bags.



These bags came in slightly different shapes and got distorted by use. I think that over time, different contractors made them for motorcycles and they were imported by Butler and Smith.

via : http://w6rec.com

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1979 CCM 540

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1979 CCM540 (Clews Competition Machines). Frame number 79097

This bike pulls like a tractor. it has the Three speed Quaife transmission

The header pipe has been wrapped to reduce some of the heat from the exhaust

Want to know more ? Go to : www.vintageworksbikes.com

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The Sunday Movie

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Mario Andretti at Anderstorp in Lotus 79





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Motorcycle meeting held in town

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By: Jeremy Nolais via : cochraneeagle.com

Vintage motorcycle enthusiasts from across Canada rolled into the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre for a historic gathering Oct. 23.

More than 50 individuals gathered for the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group’s (CVMG) 2010 annual general meeting — the first in the group’s 43-year history to be held west of Ontario.

Bob Wardle, who has lived just north of Cochrane for 30 years, took part in the day’s festivities and was extremely pleased to see the meeting held so close to home.

“These guys are real enthusiasts,” Wardle said of the attendees, who were representing vintage motorcycle delegations from every province.

“All they’re interested in is preserving history.”

Wardle’s prized possession is a 1949 MK 1 Trojan, which he acquired shortly after the Second World War. He explained that, because factory production was slow following the war effort, a British company developed a motor that could be used on a bicycle and the MK 1 Trojan was born.

“You got 200 miles to a gallon of gas at 25 miles an hour, and gas was 14 cents a gallon,” Wardle proudly recalled, adding his wife won’t allow him to own more than three bikes at a time, and therefore the others he has restored are on display in museums.

Jim Kelsall sits on his 1947 Sunbeam S7 motorcycle in front of Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre Oct. 23. Kelsall, who lives in Calgary, was participating in the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group’s national annual general meeting. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

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Gary Nixon

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1967 and 1968 AMA Grand National Champion

Gary was inducted into the Motorcycle hall of Fame in 1998.

Gary Nixon's AMA racing career was marked by both extraordinary success and courage. Nixon's perseverance and talent at home and abroad made him one of the most popular and most respected racers in the history of the sport. Nixon rode a Triumph to back-to-back AMA Grand National Championships in 1967 and 1968.








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