Old footage of back in the day and what we are into.

Well, I have seen this footage before but cannot remember for the life of me if I have Blogged about it, thats old age catching up you see.

I grew up with Motorcycles and many being just hand me downs or something I have managed to resurrect over time as I simply didn’t have the money back in the 1970’s, I left school in 1978 but in 1972 and 1974 Arthur Scargill put the Coal Miners on strike and again and a  decade later, he led the union through the 1984–85 miners’ strike, a major event in the history of the British labour movement. It turned into a confrontation with the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in which the miners’ union was heavily suppressed.

Many people were unemployed over 3 million to be exact, and seeing as we only had 50 Million people as the population that was a huge loss in the countries earnings and it was hard to afford anything at all, especially new.

Then we discovered Hire Purchase, the never never as we called it, you can buy something new on tick and just pay for it out of your wages every month, how cool was that.

1-Ton-Up-770x472

But watching this video I realized how lucky I was to have just the piece of crap bike and do my own wrenching to make it stand out from the rest but- apart from that, I wanted to be the fasted bike around and did all I can to squeeze every last possible drop of HP from my machine, no matter if it made the motorcycle regularly break down, you knew your bike and had parts to fix it.

2-Ton-Up-770x472

I can relate to this Ton up crew, they may of been 10 years before me but the working class folk didnt change at all for another couple of decades, now we have a middle class and consider myself to be in that guise but I am not embarrassed at what we didnt have as I was super stoked with what I did have.

599593_10151505896031760_1958686537_n

So I wanted to share a few videos with you today to show the good old British spirit and even as it may seem a little suppressed, we made the most of what we had and still do today. And below you will see some News reel that shows what went on at the Bank Holidays in Britain.

Now my Old Man is a Cockney, a bit of a hot head and was a Teddy Boy in the East End of London, Walthemstowe to be exact, a real Cockney as he was Born within the sound of Bow bells.
Now, everyone talks about the fights at Brighton with the Mods and the Rockers, its well documented indeed these days.

Screen Shot 2014-01-15 at 14.40.56
My old man went there once in a blue moon but would prefer to go to the other Beach resorts of Clacton on Sea or Southend on Sea, and that is where many dust ups occurred between Mods and Rockers, many big seaside resorts had these Bank Holiday brawls and many flocked to be part of it as with failing Youth clubs and strict families, Teenagers needed to blow off steam and this is what they did.

1953 Newspapers Clapham Common

Not just them, in the 70’s and 1980’s thats what me and My Brother did too, I’d go to Brighten or up the East coast to Great Yarmouth and Mods and Rockers would get into it there, looking back I am a little embarrassed about it but its my life and my old Mans- And I wont hide the fact that is what went on in my youth, just part of life at that time I suppose.

Also we had Whitsun Holidays just like another bank holiday we would all go to the Sea Side and they were known back then as the Battle on the beaches.

So I wanted just to show a few Videos on here to give you a little understanding of what went on, its all water under the bridge and I have some fantastic mates that were Mods, we all get on but back then we were like 2 opposing football teams.

Plenty here for you to watch and take in and see if you can get your head around this rebellious era that was so much a part of my life.

Some of the videos will show real footage etc and just goes to show how the Young generation were rebelling, when positives and Negatives touch, well, of course you are going to get sparks.

And now we see more and more women riders and I really love it, my girlfriend Jennifer rides and so enjoy seeing her take off down the tarmac.

Lets get more Women on Machines its so much fun, when the two of you do the Ton.

RE

We meet up and go on rides and even have a camp out soon at Joshua tree its going to be fun riding with my Girl.

Jennifer

 

Thanks for reading my Blog today, be safe out there and if you ever want to join us you can check out our rides on meetup.com we have one this Thursday too.

Meet & Greet

Thursday, Jan 11, 2018, 7:00 PM

11 Rockers! Went

Check out this Meetup →

 

Have a great Wednesday and if you want to come check us out at the 59 Club Orange County Section, it will be great to see you.

poster

 

Happy Monday, Here’s some cool Video’s

Wow- Monday already and I guess it was a hard start for you lot today as it was for me too, and I think today I shall continue with a few more videos to try and help your workday fly by, or at least give you something different to look at on your lunch break etc.

road safety6

Below is a video from back in the day about road safety, always fun to watch as our machines have changed a lot , as well as the traffic speeds too.

road safety5

It is from Los Angeles in the 1960’s and boy, to see no traffic in the towns is weird these days, it also makes me laugh when the public service film and the AMA both tell you to. “Dress Neatly” as they want you to give a good impression to your neighbors. ha ha ha

 

And how about this, some rare footage called “Rode Safely” This was filmed back in 1955 in Liverpool, and its some cool footage to watch on a Monday and shows how things were so much different back then, compared to today’s traffic and Laws etc.

rockers12
I had to laugh at the “staged crashes” and the Old style of hand signals that have changed in the highway Code back home. This is as funny as hell to watch and I am certain that these 13 minutes will have you cracking up.

Onto part 2 now of “Rode Safely”

16 minutes of awesome footage, and for me this was thoroughly entertaining, showing me what Back home like in 1955, when there was only half a million Motorcycles being ridden on the British roads.

road safety3
Enjoy

Be safe out there but you don’t have to dress neatly OK? LOL.

road safety4

 

Southern California Motorcycles Spring Open House Show! SATURDAY 2nd APRIL

Well, Only a few days away and the BIG event to be held at North America’s biggest Triumph Motorcycle dealer will soon be upon us.

We shall be having a small Booth there,, showing parts and Apparel from our shop and be great to see you in Person. Maybe have some headlights, Seats and other cool parts for your british iron. So we sure hope that you will ride over to this Open house and come enjoy this fun Saturday with more Triumphs than you will know what to do with.

 

Where:Southern California Motorcycles
515 W Lambert Rd
Brea, CA 92821
When:Saturday, April 2 – 10am-5pm

 

This is a big and fun event, so jump on your Trusty Trumpy and head over to Southern California Motorcycles in Brea on Saturday the 2nd April for some great bargains, heck, you might even fancy buying a New machine as they can hook you up right there and then if so needed.

 

 

I have bought Three Motorcycles from them there and have always given me a super deal and an easy Transaction too.

Bring you and the Family as there will be all sorts of stuff going on and know that you will enjoy yourself.

 

Here is a Bit more about their show for you to read:

 

Jennifer is digging her new seat on her Bonneville. #triumph #triumphamerica #triumphmotorcycles #triumphmotorcyclescalifornia #triumphmotorcyclesuk #unionjack #t100 #carpyscaferacers #59club #59ckuboc #jenniferstriumph #girlsridetoo

 

 

Southern California Motorcycles invites riders and enthusiasts of all ages, as well as their family and friends, to join us for our annual Spring Open House. The event will take place on Saturday, April 2nd from 10am to 5pm at our dealership located at 515 W. Lambert Rd. in Brea, CA. Attendees can enjoy free food and drinks, live music, and the chance to win prizes from free raffles and a Best Bike contest. Vendors will be displaying the latest and greatest in motorcycles and more. We will have a bikini bike wash, photo booth, and tons of great deals throughout our showrooms. Our Service department is now taking appointments for an exclusive offer for onsite suspension setup. For only $40, riders can have their suspension set up (an $80 savings) in about twenty minutes. We will have over 20 motorcycles ready for demo rides from all our brands; sign-ups are on a first-come first-serve basis.

We shall be there with a few of our own Motorcycles too, so make sure you can come by and say hello, maybe even buy some products from us too?

My Girlfriends Trunpy has A New seat today- Jennifer designed it and her mum made the Union Jack top- upholstered with marine waterproof canvas- came out great , she loves it. #triumph #Bonneville #t100 #trumpy #tonup #59club #59ckuboc #acecafe #unionjack #GreatBritain #carpyscaferacers

Hope to see you pop by and have a chin wag on Saturday as the weather will be perfect for it. We shall be there early and stay until the end, so please come out and say hello, we support all businesses that are local and love to see some of you there. Ride safe.

 

Triumph Motorcycles, it’s all in the branding!

Hey there gear heads

 

Well today I shall write a short blog on branding, as many people like to watch my blogs, even my competitor reads my website everyday to see if he can cash in on any idea’s. LOL!

 

But today I wanted to add some videos, seeing it is Friday and thought that this would be a good day to have a few snippets of movies, documentarys or commercials that show the Triumph brand.

 

First up is this unusual snipet, a little boring but it says Branding of the Trumpy all the way.

 

 

 

Well not all that interesting as it was to and fro on a few occasions but next up for your entertainment is this video.
Just a Thruxton going around downtown LA and through the old Bladerunner tunnel.

 

 

Now, this Girl rider Lauren Richards from cold and wet Wales, takes the New Ace Thruxton for a little blap around her area and gives a nice run down on how she likes this Motorcycle. More power to you as we need more girl riders.

 

 

Now, this long winded Brit chin wags about his Machine, albeit a wee bit too dangerous if you are riding on busy roads as you tend to lose concentration whilst riding a motorcycle, but, again if you have a few minutes its great for me to check some of the countryside out of back home, but click past if you feel the geezer rattles on too long.

 

OK, lets whiz off to Austria and check this fella’s Trumpy out.

 

Break into a little bit of Music for this one to get your weekend off to a great start with these Scramblers.

 

Have a great Friday everyone.

Socal Norton Club‎ 36th Annual Hansen Dam Ride and Show SUNDAY!

 Ok, this Sunday is coming around super fast and I shall be heading down to Hansen Dam for the Norton Owners Club 36th Meeting that is annually and boy what a treat this is.
Last year was my First attendance at the Hansen Dam ride and boy did I have fun there, a few hundred bikes turned up and the ride through the canyons was brilliant fun, no need to race but you could give it an ear full if you so required, but I sure did have fun on My Thruxton.
I will be going again with my crew from the Orange County 59 Club and take in the atmosphere of this well represented Norton club.
What time:
at 7:00am – 3:00pm
3 days from now · 85°F / 60°F Clear

Where:

Hansen Dam Recreation Park

11770 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, California 91342
Schedule of events:
8-9:45 Coffee, Donuts and Show Bike Info
9:45 Riders Meeting and Announcements
10:00 Ride leaves via Osbourne/Foothill/Little Tujunga
1:30-2 Return to Dam for ride pins and Best Bikes Show and lunch
2:30-3 Show Bike Awards in six catagories
Catagories are:
Best Norton
Best Triumph
Best BSA
Best British Custom
Best British Other
Best of Show
Bikes in show must participate in ride.
This is the best motorcycle show by a dam site.
Directions: 210 to Osborne St. exit #8 Foothill Blvd. west, left on Osborne St., left on Dronfield Ave., right then left to lower parking lot.
This is a great event and for all classic Motorcycles, if you want a fun day out on your two wheeled machine on Sunday, then this is the place to be at.
You will see a few faces you may know there, I saw Barry Weis there and he is such a fun guy to chat too.
Also you will see Many unique machines from Norton, to Greeves, it will all be there and a great hang out before the ride into the twisties.
 If you see us, please come and say hello as this is one of the friendliest meets I have never been too, other than the VJMC as their events are super cool too.
So get ya arse down here if you can as it is a memorable ride and so many cool classic machines to look at.
I hope to see you, give us a wave if you are on the run as this sure is a fun day to ride your motorcycle.
carpy-tonup
If you would like to ride with us , then get up early as we shall be at Alea’s Cafe on the corner of Miraloma Ave and Miller at 7am remember you have to change your clocks on Sunday morning at 2am.

Alea Cafe

3371 E Miraloma Ave, Anaheim, CA

ROYAL ENFIELD BOBBER

How cool is this, I saw this write up on Bike EXIF and had to share it as this is

a really well built

Bobber and something I really like and thought that you would too.

 Not much for me to say really but just read and admire, as this is definatly

a head turner.

 

SIDEBURN ROYAL ENFIELD BULLET

Royal Enfield Bullet

By  | Sideburn Magazine

After 50 years of production in India, Royal Enfield had worked hard to update their range, first with a unit construction engine, then fuel injection and after all that the only thing on Sideburn magazine’s mind was making the 2009 Bullet Classic look like a mid-‘60s flat track racer.

Only half the frame and the engine remains from the original bike that was supplied to Sideburn by UK Royal Enfield specialists, Watsonian-Squire.

 

 

 

Royal Enfield Bullet

 

 

Lots of parts came from friends. Or we already had them, and were waiting for the right bike to come along. The alloy tank was custom-made for a friend’s dirt track race bike, but he was never happy with it, so we bought it for a fraction of having one made. The Bimota YB9 triple clamps and Paoli forks were £120 off eBay.

The wheels, Excel 19-inch rims with Honda CRF450 hubs and Maxxis tires, were bought from a friend who was selling his dirt tracker. The tractor headlight was a gift; so was the bobbed Indian Sport Scout rear mudguard and the rear four-piston Performance Machine caliper.

 

Royal Enfield Bullet
The hardtail loop is by David Bird from Lowbrow Customs, but we had Co-Built shorten the bottom rail to retain the stock wheelbase. Co-Built also made the stainless exhaust.

CFM of Lincolnshire, UK, did a great job of making all the very disparate parts fit together, fabricating brackets, footrest hangers; finding used Japanese master cylinders, switchgear and footpegs on the cheap; repositioning the battery; making the rear fender struts; cutting down the original twin seat and converting it to act as a sprung saddle. Steve Adams then covered it with a panel of real stingray skin.

 

Royal Enfield Bullet
The biggest challenge was converting the ignition to work with the Mikuni carb, rather than fuel injection. EFI is good, but we really wanted a simple loom and no fuel pump for this bike. Rupe’s Rewires made the loom.

When this bike was built there was no off-the-shelf kit to convert the ignition from EFI, like there is now, but CFM worked it out. The brake discs were special orders from Discacciati in Italy.

The final touch was the Ornamental Conifer paintwork on the blue base, one of the first customer bikes he painted.

 

Royal Enfield Bullet
The bike has competed in Sideburn’s Dirt Quake event twice, finishing on the podium in the Street Tracker class both times.