Today in motorcycle history, December 31, 2007 & 2008

  I thought I'd share three New Year's Eve leaps from fabulous, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

  December 31, 2007 at the Rio Hotel - Australian daredevil/stunt rider Robbie Maddison, jumps more than the distance of an American football field, setting a World Record with a mind-boggling 322 feet 7 inches obliterating the previous Guinness World Record of 277 feet by Trigger Gumm.

  December 31, 2008 at the Mirage Hotel and Casino - Robbie Knievel was scheduled to jump the volcano at the Mirage Hotel. At the actual 200-foot jump, lame-ass Knievel gave the appearance of jumping the volcano, but limited the stunt to a ramp-to-ramp jump in front of the volcano with fireworks behind him. Lame.

  On the same evening only a cab ride away at Paris Las Vegas - Robbie Maddison, live on ESPN in front of a World-Wide audience, successfully jumped 96 feet up onto the Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas. Maddison caught his breath, took a lap or two around the roof, checked out the view and then descended an 80-foot drop off the monument to return safely to ground level. 

  Plans for your New Year's Eve? Try to not get arrested like last year, will ya?




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Today in motorcycle history, December 30, 1934

  

  

  Former multiple World Champion Speedway rider, Barry Briggs, is born in Christchurch, New Zealand.

  'Former multiple World Champion' barely seems to scratch the surface. Barry Briggs won four World Individual Championship titles – in 1957, 1958, 1964 and 1966. From 1954 to 1970 Briggs appeared in a record 17 consecutive World Individual finals, during which he scored a record 201 points.

 

  He was a six-time winner of the British Championship. He won his first in 1961 and then dominated the sixties winning in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1969. Briggs also won his home title, the New Zealand Championship, twice winning in 1959 and again in 1963.


  He was crowned the London Riders' Champion in 1955, a three-time Midland Riders' Champion in 1966, 1967 and 1970 and was the Scottish Open Champion for 1967.


 Upon Briggs retirement from the sport he became a respected Speedway commentator in England and Europe, as well as the USA.


  In 1973 Barry Briggs was awarded an MBE for his services to sport and in 1990 he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.





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Today in motorcycle history, December 29, 1951

  

  

  Alberto Granado and Che Guevara begin their seven-months long road trip aboard Granado's Norton. A trip that will eventually change the lives of many. 

  On the morning of December 29, 1951, Alberto Granado packed his saddlebags, topped off the tank of his beloved 1939 500cc Norton (nicknamed Ponderosa II) and began what turns out to be a life-changing tour of South America with his friend Che Guevara. Throughout their continental excursion they both kept detailed journals as they witnessed first hand the poverty of disenfranchised native peoples and their frequent lack of access to otherwise cheap and basic medical care. The two men were especially deeply affected in Chile when they visited the American-owned Anaconda Copper's Chuquicamata copper mine and met men working their asses off for nothing more than pennies and suffering from silicosis (a form of lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust).  Granado later lamented that although he and Guevara were impressed by the mine's high-tech machinery, "this was eclipsed by the indignation aroused when you think that all this wealth only goes to swell the coffers of Yankee capitalism."


  The two friends encounters with South America's "downtrodden and exploited" such as the copper miners, migrant sheep shearers, and Indian peasantry were a major influence on both their lives. For Alberto Granado, it confirmed that there was a wider world to see and help than the middle classes of his hometown, while in Che Guevara it ignited a burning desire to tackle the cause of such misery, which he came to see as capitalism. These experiences also galvanized both men in realizing their future vocations — Guevara towards Marxist revolutionary politics and Granado to the pursuit of practical science.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 24-27, 2115

  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Today in motorcycle history, December 23, 2007

 

  Top Gear's Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel.

  Evel died not long before this program was telecast, it was part of  'Top Gear Night' on Britain's BBC2.

 'Top Gear' presenter Richard Hammond travelled to America and arranged to meet the world famous daredevil, and one of his childhood heroes, Evel Knievel. They talked about Knievel's career, family, dreams, fears, crashes and his wild daredevil lifestyle. The program also showed archival jump footage, photos and news articles, all showing not only how famous he became, but also other little known elements to his personality.

 

  Hammond also conducts interviews with Knievel's former bodyguard Gene Sullivan, former daredevil Debbie Lawler and his former publicist Shelly Saltman, who was assaulted by Knievel in 1977, an attack which destroyed Evel's reputation and eventually caused him to declare himself bankrupt. On the final day of filming, Evel asked Hammond to go and view his tombstone which he had paid for himself.

  Sadly though, the viewer can see that Knievel's health was deteriorating, a few times as Hammond was preparing to engage him he was taken away in need of medical attention. 

   "You can't ask a guy like me why I performed. I really wanted to fly through the air. I was a daredevil, a performer. I loved the thrill, the money, the whole macho thing. All those things made me Evel Knievel. Sure, I was scared. You gotta be an ass not to be scared. But it sure beat the hell out of death."

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 22, 2007

  

  Remembering the Suzuki two-strokes.

  I came across this article in Rider magazine dated December 22, 2007 and thought someone would enjoy a short version of it. Enjoy a stroll down memory lane.

  "In the early 1970's there must have been somebody at Suzuki headquarters who was a numerologist, and felt that 185 had to be a lucky number. In 1971 there appeared the TS185 Sierra, a 183cc two-stroke single set up as a woods bike; followed by the GT185 Adventurer in 1973, this 184.8cc two-stroke twin street bike; and then the 1974 TC185 Ranger, a woods bike that was quite similar to the TS185, differing mostly with its dual-range transmission. Now that we have brought up the TS and TC, we’ll ignore them and focus on the GT.

  In 1972 Suzuki began putting the GT (Grand Touring) prefix on its street bikes, from the GT750 LeMans (better known as the Water Buffalo), to the GT550 Indy to the GT380 Sebring, all triples, and then the GT250, GT185 and GT125 twins.

  Suzuki was in its two-stroke stage back then, and had built some exceptional machines in the late 1960's, followed by the excellent triples. One innovation of which the company was most proud was the Ram Air concept, very apparent on this little twin. Take a close look and one sees that this is a vertical twin, parallel cylinders standing upright. The cylinders are perfectly square, 49mm by 49mm, and the air rams are actually built into the cylinder heads. As opposed to being bolted on, as with the 380 and 550 triples.

  The patented Ram Air design was not of any use around town, but out on the open road it allowed these two-strokes to motor along at close to maximum power with no undue side effects, such as overheating. Focusing the air right over the cylinder heads does wonders in getting rid of the heat. The GT185 ran a healthy 7:1 compression ratio, claiming some 21 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, most of which were galloping along when the speed-o needle was at the 75-mph mark..."





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Today in motorcycle history, December 18, 1943

  Keith Richards is born in Dartford, Kent, England.

  What else needs to be said?




  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 15, 1930

  The Meteor Motorcycle Club is founded in Glendora, New Jersey.

   In 1934 the Meteor's would move into a clubhouse on the Black Horse Turnpike in Bellmawr, New Jersey. On November 28, 1934 they held their first official AMA "Night Run", or better known as the Sandy Lane Enduro.


  The Sandy Lane Enduro was started because two Meteor members were big off-road freaks. They had been reading, dreaming about the Jack Pine Gypsy (AMA) runs. They were a two-day, 500-mile National Championship Endurance Run promoted by the Lansing Motorcycle Club of Lansing, Michigan. At that time there were no endurance runs in the East. So the Meteor's decided to bring the Jack Pine, or a reasonable facsimile there of, to South Jersey. 

  The 79th (there were no runs during WW II) running of the Sandy Lane Enduro will be held on April 3, 2016.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 13, 1964

  Been dealing with a bit of Yuletide sickness (hospital type). Trying to catch up so cut me some slack, will ya.




  The South Canterbury (New Zealand) Motorcycle Club held its first Gold Leaf International Motocross round at Lyalldale, Timaru. Nearly three-thousand turn out to see local Kiwi riders battle it out against some of the world's best International riders.



  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 11, 1975

  






  


 

  The American millionaire/publisher/tycoon, Malcolm Forbes buys his first Munch motorcycle, a 1200TTS ‘Münch 4’ Mammut.

  Friedl Munch created the Mammut in 1966 when he fit an NSU 996cc, 55hp, overhead-cam, 4-cylinder automobile engine into his own tubular loop frame. The machine weighed a reasonable 480lbs, capable of a halfway decent (for the time) 115mph. 


  Totally unsatisfied, in 1968 Munch used an 1177cc, 88hp, NSU TTS car motor for his new beast, the Münch4 1200TTS. The new motor was prone to break the heavy-duty spokes on the rear wheel, so Munch developed a unique and much stronger cast magnesium 'turbine-style' rear wheel, while retaining a spoked wire wheel up front. That front wheel would be given a little extra stopping power by using a massive 10-inch diameter magnesium casting front brake. The fuel tank and side panels were made of hand-hammered aluminum, while the seat, headlight nacelle, wheels and brakes were magnesium. Despite the extensive use of lightweight materials, the Mammut weighed an elephantine 650lbs.

  American motorcycle entrepreneur Floyd Clymer invested in the Munch brand from 1968, marketing the bike in US as Clymer-Munch Mammoth IV with the slogan "Built up to a standard, not down to a price". Clymer died before any serious production began. There were only about 500 ever built.

  Malcolm Forbes owned two Munch motorcycles, one of which he allegedly gave to Elizabeth Taylor.  All I can think to ask is, why?

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 10, 1927

  



  

  Rhodesian motorcycle legend, William Raymond "Ray" Amm, is born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.

  For the 1953 season Norton was developing a fully enclosed 350cc racing motorcycle on which the rider took his weight on his knees, rather than his feet, in order to get him lower and reduce frontal area. It was known as the "Norton Kneeler", and Ray Amm took to it with great enthusiasm; it would also be known as the "Silver Fish" because of its long slippery aluminium bodywork, but perhaps the best nickname was the "Amm Sandwich". 

 At Montlhery, a banked concrete track, south of Paris, Ray would record a new outright motorcycle record for the banked track, averaging 145mph, which for the mid-fifties was mind-boggling, hell, damn near heroic. At the time the fastest lap ever achieved on the French "Brooklands" was by a Grand Prix car at 147mph.

  On a dull, overcast November day in 1953, Ray Amm, squeezed into the Kneeler and covered 133.71 miles in a single hour on the same Montlhery concrete saucer. That would be impressive on a current race bike running on a modern, high grip speed bowl. In the damp and danger of Montlhery in early winter, and with only 36bhp, the achievement was incredible.

  The Norton Kneeler is one of the center pieces of the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley Cross Roads, New Milton,

Hampshire, BH25 5SZ

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, December 9, 1998

 

  

  

  Court Takes Custody Of Harley From Unfit Motorcycle Mama.

  After a week of having a 102 degree temperature I thought this piece from "The Onion" would be a good way to ease back into things.

  The Onion, 'NEWS IN BRIEF', December 9, 1998, Vol 34 Issue 19

  TAMPA, FL–Sheila Mimms lost custody of her 1996 Harley-Davidson FXDL Dyna Low Rider Monday, when a court ruled that the 38-year-old waitress is an unfit motorcycle mama. "Ms. Mimms has shown that she is incapable of caring for a young cycle," judge Leon Orem said. "It is the recommendation of this court that the hog be taken into the custody of the state until it can be placed in the care of a more suitable mama." 

  Among the Mimms transgressions cited: infrequent filter replacement, negligent outdoor storage of the bike and inadequate theft-proofing measures.





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Today in motorcycle history, November 30, 1990

  
  

  Sam and Al are at it again in 'Quantum Leap', Season 3, Episode 9 entitled "Rebel Without a Clue - September 1, 1958".               

  Our hero,Sam (Scott Bakula), finds himself in the body of Shane 'Funnybone' Thomas, a biker and member of The Cobras MC, circa 1958. Al (Dean Stockwell) tells him that he's there to prevent the murder of Becky, a young idealist who shows great potential as a writer. Sometime in the next 24 hours she will be stabbed, but Al doesn't know by who. Despite Sam's several attempts to convince her to leave she refuses to do so. She's inspired by Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' and wants to experience life and all it has to offer. Sam decides there's only one person who can convince her otherwise - Jack Kerouac (Michael Bryan French) himself.

  One of the club brothers, 'Mad Dog', is played by Mark Boone Junior who convincingly played Bobby Munson in the smash hit comedy/drama 'Sons of Anarchy'. 

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 24, 1970

  

  Suzuki licenses the Wankel engine and spends the next 3 years scratching their heads, wondering what the hell to do with this.. this...this rotary thing.

  Suzuki engineers finally develop a single-rotor, water-cooled, 62hp, 497cc engine. Styling of the new machine was put in the hands of Giorgietto Guigiaro, the Italian automotive stylist (e.g. Maserati Spyder, Ferrari GG50) and advocate of the 'wedge' trend in cars. Guigiaro's touch extends only to the cylindrical taillight and special instrument 'binnacle' for the RE5 (a cylindrical case with novel sliding cover, meant to echo the futuristic rotary engine) the rest of the bike looked nearly the same as Suzuki's GT750 'Water Buffalo'.


  The modest power output of the engine, combined with the 550lb wet weight, meant performance wasn't exciting, with a top speed of 110mph it's no better than the two-stroke T500 series it was meant to displace, and far more complex, heavy, and expensive. Much to Suzuki's chagrin, the release of the RE5 coincided with the Oil Crisis of '73, and customers suddenly became wary of the rotary's reputation for piss-poor fuel economy. This combined with bikers distrust of anything too new, meant sales of the RE5 were far lower than needed to recoup their investment. With millions at stake in the project, Suzuki was determined to carry on production. Blaming Giugiaro's binnacle, in 1975 the styling was more conventional, but sales didn't improve, and by 1976 Suzuki had to swallow their losses, and cease production. Less than 7,000 were actually built.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 23, 2013

  

  

  'Motorcycle Live 2013' the new bike show extravaganza at The NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Birmingham, (UK) kicks off.

  Every major manufacturer across the globe will be present showcasing their latest 2014 models. The show launches in the UK for the first time with over 150 exhibitors and retail stands offering kit-bikes, accessories, leathers, plastics, rubber, whatever motorcycle-related fetish...oops, wrong show...whatever motorcycle-related products and/or services you need.


  One of the much anticipated dealers this year was the UK debut of the new Indian V-twins. The world-famous American marque was relaunched the previous summer by the snowmobile giant Polaris, who also owns Victory motorcycles.


  There were three models on display: the Chief 'Classic', a traditional bagger/cruiser; the Chief 'Vintage', which has a windshield and soft, removable saddlebags; and the 'Chieftain', which has a half-fairing with adjustable windshield and your normal fiberglass saddlebags.


  All the Indian's are powered by the 'Thunderstroke 111' motor, an air-cooled V-twin that gets its name from its cubic inch capacity, which translates to 1,811cc. Indian/Polaris is trying hard to produce a bike that's reminiscent of the Springfield Chief, it's your money, you be the judge. 

  One cool feature of the Birmingham show was a stand where rug-rats as young as two could get their first taste of two-wheels on the "Kiddimoto Children’s Fun Track", while those bigger kids, aged five and up, could experience a powered two-wheeler in the safe surroundings of Honda's "My First License". 

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 20, 1997

  


   

  Peter and Kay Forwood embark on the third leg of their remarkable ride around the globe.

  Hitting the road for this leg (November 20, 1997-May 16, 1998) that inlcludes stops in Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Monaco, France, Andorra, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Jersey, Guernsey, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria.


  This was an unbelievable fifteen year ride throughout the world! Peter and Kay Forwood started in Australia on February 3, 1996 and finished in October of 2011. In October of  2008 their Harley-Davidson became the first and only vehicle to have been ridden in all the 193 internationally recognized countries of the world that existed at that time. Since then they have continued travelling, visiting places previously missed or returning to places they had a good laugh in. Their bike was purchased new in 1994 and has over 380,000 miles on it. By August, 2009 the bike's original engine required a major rebuild after completing 335,590 miles. It was then replaced with a new engine so the Forwood duo could continue travelling. 

  Their Harley has visited 193 internationally recognized countries and over 414 countries, states, territories, isolated parcels, atolls and disputed territories as identified in the 'Most Travelled Persons' list. This is more than any other vehicle, hence the claim "The World's Most Travelled Motorcycle".








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