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VINTAGE RACING HEROES

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The remains of an AJS K7 350cc OHC.  How do they look when finished?  Check here.
As generations of motorcycle collectors grow up, hoard machines, and finally pass to earth, the metal gems which so attracted them, their 'precious', those not ground to dust by the constant churn of oxidation, spousal disgust, familial ignorance, or simple forgetting, become available once again, emerging to light like long-abducted children, blinking at the glare of publicity and the passage of time, worse for their journey but still recognizable.
A Norton International M30, awaiting rescue
The least of these motorcycles never recovers from the neglect of decades, and carry on disintegrating in situ, or simply head to the skip.  The best of them - recognizable heroes, stiff and rusting in their armor - will be resurrected with the mingled application of time and treasure.
King of the auction, the stunning and very rare British Anzani 8-valve 1098cc  motor, ca.1924, waiting for a McEvoy chassis!
We may decry or delight in rising motorcycle values, depending on which side of the auction hammer we sit, but the simple truth is, the scent of lucre has drawn yet more intrigued collectors to the party, and all thoughts of economic uncertainty scatter before the undeniable reality of the Rare and Collectible.  The bottom line; if that pile of rust has a sexy history, it Will be restored.
The AJS K7, loosely assembled, and all the more evocative for being so
And so, I present a few long-lost Heroes, returned for the consideration of the motorcycling public, blinking in the light after a long confinement, waiting to become what they once were, and should be again.
The timing chest of the AJS K7, showing the Weller blade tensioner which made the simple chain-drive OHC system possible
These machines will be sold at the Bonhams 'Banbury Run' auction in Oxford on June 15th.  Oh, how I would love that Anzani 8-Valve motor!

MIKE 'THE BIKE'; THE SKETCH

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Mike Hailwood aboard his Sports Motor Cycles Ducati 900SS at his big comeback race, the 1978 Isle of Man Formula One TT
You might have caught motoring artist Paul Chenard at last year's Goodwood Revival marketplace; he typically specializes in sports/racing cars from the 1930s-60s.  As with many 'car guys', he has a secret love of motorcycles too, and sent this pastel drawing of Mike Hailwood's legendary comeback win at the 1978 Isle of Man TT on his Ducati 900ss.  
Behind the GT Class-winning N.A.R.T. Ferrari GTO, Luigi Chinetti chats strategy with Phil Hill. In the background is the race-winning 250 TRI/61 of Jo Bonnier and Lucien Bianchi.
Paul, how about an older racing motorcycle to test your motor-sketch skills?  If you want to stick to Italian, the supercharged Gilera 'Rondine' winning the 1935 Tripoli GP would do nicely!
Luigi Fagioli en route to winning the 1935 Monaco GP in his Mercedes W25

WHEELS AND WAVES: PART 1

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Hanging out, post-downpour, on the cliffs of Biarritz, under the lighthouse.  The rabble are beginning to arrive, and it's estimated 4-500 bikes will be here by tomorrow...hard to imagine, as there have been plane and train strikes, cancelled flights, and scrambles to find transport.  It was a planes trains and automobiles kind of week thus far, after my flight from London was cancelled and I was left sorting out the Eurostar to Paris, before the train strike shut down service!  
But, it's cleared up on the coast, the ride-to's are here and dirty, and we're ready for whatever comes next... to be continued.

WHEELS AND WAVES: THE RECEPTION

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The Southsiders MC have included an art gallery in the Wheels & Waves concept, to celebrate the many visual artists who enrich our motorcycling world - photographers, sculptors, bike builders, musicians, etc.  Thursday night's kickoff party took place at Gallerie 13 Avril in Biarritz, a former paint factory, the old warehouse space underneath a residence built in a charming 19th Century southern France style, complete with an elderly tenant upstairs, who, while fascinated with the commotion on his small, normally quiet street, ultimately latched his wooden storm shutters to get some peace from the happy celebrants below.

This year's roster of artists included photographer Bill Phelps (featured previously on The Vintagent), painter/musician/preacher Brian Bent, Spanish photographer Alberto Garcia Alix, and photographer Alain Duplantier. El Solitario showed their latest Ducati-based custom, looking like nothing you've ever seen, and surely their best work to date. 

Surprise guests of the evening included the prototype BMW R90S built by Roland Sands (and recently debuted at Villa d'Este), accompanied by Roland himself, and Ola Stenegard, head of BMW motorcycle design.  Also on show, thanks to the foresight of Sebastien Lorentz, was the equally spectacular BMW R7 (also much discussed on The Vintagent).  More on the BMW show-up later...

The art was all top notch, the venue quirky enough to satisfy  everyone, and the hugely international crowd was thrilled to meet up.  BikeExif's Chris Hunter arrived from New Zealand, plus Jordan Kightley from the Gentleman Racer rides and  Sydney Cafe Racers, plus lots of Americans/Brits/Dutch/German etc riders.  Next: Friday's ride and illegal sprint race!



NEW CROCKER DOWN UNDER

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This just in from Sydney; confirmation of many months of rumors that a'1346Venice' will produce a new Crocker in Australia, with 'a maximum of 24' reproduction Big Twins per year. No prices so far, and I'll relate the story as I learn it. Are there enough paying customers for so many new Crockers? It's an interesting question, and certainly depends on the final sale price.

Michael Schacht of the LA-based Crocker Motorcycle Co. has intentions to build an additional 10 machines (beyond the one I test rode last year). Looks like Crocker fans will soon be spoiled for choice, if the choices aren't spoiled by litigation...

Below is the press release from 1346Venice:

"Beasts of a Bygone Era - The 1930s Crocker Motorcycle

Icons of 1930s Los Angeles have found a new home in a small Waterloo cul-de-sac nestled in the midst of what is fast becoming Sydney's arts precinct. A little- known restored warehouse, named 1346 Building, bearing a red neon sign and wooden doors, is harboring treasures seen by few in the world - the largest private collection of original Crocker motorcycles. The owner of these exquisite motorcycles, Chilli (as he's affectionately known), sets out to preserve a rare piece of automotive history by offering the same bespoke experience as back in Crocker's prime at 1346 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles. 

Known as the 'Deusenberg of motorcycles,' the Crocker is the definitive American motorcycle - hand-built, powerful, and fast. Very much a Hollywood "hot rod", the Crocker was created in and shaped by the culture of pre-WWII California, by former Indian motorcycle engineers Al Crocker and Paul Bigsby.

When the road-going V-twin debuted I. 1936, the upstart founder brazenly challenged world dominators Harley Davidson, boasting superior technology, performance, handling, and raw power. In fact, Al Crocker famously advertised that if any of his bikes were ever beaten by a standard production Harley or Indian, he would refund the owner's money.

No refunds were ever requested.


Before World War II forced the original firm's closure, it's rumored that only 125 Crockers were ever built, including the early speedway bike. Today, approximately 66 V Twins are accounted for, making Crocker motorcycles extremely rare. After fading into relative obscurity for half a century, two major auction events transpired, vaulting Crocker into the sights of collectors worldwide. The attention provided by these two events - highlighting the marque's unique history, success and rarity - suddenly made Crocker one of the most desirable and expensive motorcycles in the world.

As Chilli rebuilds the Crocker Motorcycles in all their powerful, roadworthy glory; he offers his clients tailored specifications to maintain the value and uniqueness of these immaculate machines. This costly and time-intensive approach means that quality remains high and production output low. A maximum 24 Crocker Motorcycles per year will ever be built by Chilli's company, 1346 Engineered.

Chilli's parent company, 1346Venice, is also documenting the amazing story of these incredible steel stallions. Many who know and have experienced the full history of Crocker have sadly passed away, this it is important for Chilli and his team to collect and compile stories from those who are still around, most residing in Los Angeles. Chilli's team comprises of photographers, engineers, marketers, designers, artists, filmmakers and a restaurateur, all exhibiting the same passion and persistence to create and document the rebirth of this revered Hollywood Hot Rod. "

WHEELS AND WAVES: THE VIDEO

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From the Southsiders MC - the 'official' video compilation of their fantastic event.  I'll have more reportage on the event, but this certainly captures the uber-cool artist-outlaw vibe created by the international crowd.  Wheels and Waves touches the vital heart of a collided art/motorcycle aesthetic, with a uniquely European spin.

Southsiders present: Wheels & Waves - second edition from Douglas Guillot on Vimeo.

NARDI-BMW RACERS

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The Nardi-Monaco 'Chichibio' of 1932, with big JAP OHV V-twin engine and front wheel drive
Enrico Nardi is probably best known today for his sporty motoring accessories (a 'Nardi' steering wheel is a big plus in a 50s Ferrari), but his career as a builder of racing cars is his real metier.  His 'Chichibio' of 1932 (built with Augusto Monaco) used a 998cc JAP V-twin with 65hp as the basis of a super-light (672lbs!) monoposto race car, with 10hp more than rival Alfa Romeo 1750 or a TT Replica Frazer Nash.  The big JAP motor sat transverse in front of the driver, and used a 5-speed gearbox to the front wheels.  Radical stuff for '32, and it set the pattern for Nardi's work to come.

Between 1936-48 Nardi worked for Scuderia Ferrari, and co-drove (as a mechanic) the first 'Ferrari' racer in the Mille Miglia of 1940. Previously he had worked at Lancia in Torino, and eventually established his small factory just down the street, on via Lancia, no doubt taking advantage of the many connections he made with the firm in building his own sports-racing cars.

Postwar, after breaking with Ferrari, he partnered with Renato Danese to create the firm 'N-D' (Nardi-Danese).  Their frirst effort was the ND 750, an ultralight monoposto racing car which used a modified BMW '75M' military 750cc OHV motor.  The engine was modified with unique cylinder heads, with their carbs facing forward, and seems to have retained the BMW gearbox and driveshaft, using conventional 'live axle' rear wheel drive.  The chassis wasn't a true space-frame, but was triangulated using short tubes between two main frame members.

The ND 750 was very successful, winning many hillclimbs and short races in the hands of future racing stars, and as late as 1953, when Ferrari and Lancia had really sorted themselves out, an ND 750 placed 8th overall in the 22km Susa-Moncenisio hillclimb in the Alps, with a speed only 2% slower than the fastest 2-liter Ferrari racer.

Apparently, Nardi himself revised the BMW R75/M engines for racing, and cast new cylinder heads etc.  The 750cc BMW engines were popular with motorcycle racers in the immediate postwar era, being fairly common and robust, and were often installed in BMW R51 motorcycle chassis to race in the 'unlimited' classes.  A few were even built with home-made OHC cylinder heads, which look like giant's fists!


'DIRTY OLD TIMES' FILM

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Since 'On Any Sunday' celebrated its 40th birthday, it's a good time to revisit the golden era of Motocross.  A new documentary, sponsored by Husqvarna, explores the stories of 1960s racing legends.  Can't wait to see it!

"Dirty Old Times" Trailer from OVER/EASY FILMS on Vimeo.


ALBERTO GARCIA-ALIX ESSAY W+W

BREDA - PARIS MOPED RECORD SHATTERED!

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The Breda-Paris moped rally in an 'unsanctioned' (ie, secret and probably illegal) event held every two years, and is something of a legend in vintage moped circles.  Typically, 5 teams (pairs of riders) compete to see who will be fastest between the start and finish points, which are kept secret until the start of the rally.  The event has been organized by the Puch-Tomos Club of the Netherlands since 1991.  


I met Floor at Wheels+Waves, whose team the 'Voodoo Vultures' (Floor and her boyfriend/mechanic Mike - who share a photographic company - fotofloor.com) won the last event - Floor was the first woman to compete in Breda-Paris (two years prior), and the first to win the race, cutting two HOURS from the previous record!  She was kind enough to share some words and images with The Vintagent, describing her epic race:

"The Race:
Breda(NL) to Paris (F), a vintage moped rally/old-fashioned cat-and-mouse game.  The best 374.4 minutes/440 km/1200 cobble stones/45 hills/3 traffic diversion/66 squawked flies/2 police chases…of our life.


Competitors: 
Mostly Puch aficionados, but sometimes Tomos; 50 to 60 CC fan-cooled motors (2 to 5 speed) without many restrictions...which results in hybrids between a lawnmower, pigs in purgatory and coughing horses.

Preparation:
- Grow a beard ;-)
-Tuning! Mutant Machines, our jack-of-all-trades was responsible for a serious case of quality-acceleration.
- Bikes stripped for less weight
- Low handle bars for aerodynamics
- Cheater 5 speed gearbox, with a dfferent sprocket setup for the ultimate waltz between our 2 mopeds.
- Extra large petrol tanks for less stopping time.
- Lightweight packing policy; no luncheon,no clean undies,no cameras, only candybars/energydrinks in the pockets of our waxed cotton jackets for quick pitstops.
-Crossexamening each other about the route while on our honeymoon (in a hammock) the week before...’so where do we go after the gas station in bla bla’...

The Start:
Midnight in the center of Breda (Netherlands) in teams of 2, at 10 min intervals. The final destination/competition # is always kept a secret until the very last minute for an extra sense of challenge/adventure, but is always a landmark (Eiffel tower, Sacre Couer, Notre Dame etc).


The Race:
Breathtaking rural landscapes reminiscent of Hieronymous Bosch, cobblestone towns, misty forest scenes and yellow panoramic coleseed fields, just before hitting Paris. Potholes the size of Albany. By the time we hit Brussels, one headlight had hiccups, resulting in some moustached gendarmes dropping their coffee & waffles...and us making a unwanted detour.

It lifts the heart to see the sun come up along the way, old French women sweeping the stoops in the brisk morning air, the smell of freshly baked baguettes. Chin on the fuel cap, a blissful smile, despite our dehydrated mouths and hollow eye sockets, black from the fumes, eyes on extended hyper alert while slipstreaming mudguard-to-mudguard, blurred asphalt flies beneath our wheels. The suspense coursing though our bodies like a nerve current as we put distance between us and our nemesis.
We repeat the mantra: must.be.first.at.Sacré-Cœur... 



Our Result:  We broke the old record of 8.5 hours by 2 HOURS, dropping it to 6.24 hours total!  Just over 400 km, that’s a good 64 km on average...topping around 80 km/h.  I was the first gal to ever finish this race.  
We made History!"


And if you think moped aren't cool, perhaps this Puch video from the late 1960s will change (or blow) your mind!

BILL PHELPS PHOTO ESSAY W+W

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Photographer extraordinaire, the enigmatic and moody work of Brooklyn's Bill Phelps has been featured previously on The Vintagent.  He brought those images, and quite a few newer ones of women in the sea, to Galerie Treize Avril in Biarritz, as a featured artist for this year's Wheels+Waves.  Bill was a quiet presence during the event, stalking photos and taking portraits, keeping all of us mesmerized as he shared his latest images...even in the tiny in-camera view screen, we could tell he was producing a stunning body of work, and all of us with cameras (that seemed to include most participants at times) were inspired to do better work ourselves!  Without further ado, The Vintagent is very proud to present Bill's photo essay, just a sampling of the many hundreds of amazing compositions he carried away from the sea, the mountains, and the motorcyclists.





'PENDINE' AT PENDINE

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The Vintagent's very irregular correspondent Mike Jackson sends these notes regarding the inaugural Pendine Sands racing weekend last June:
The beautiful new Brough Superior SS101 Pendine
"The newly-formed Pendine Landspeed Racing Club (LRC) draws on the significant history of a very historic stretch of beach in Wales, the site of many World Speed Record attempts in the 1920s. The LRC held its inaugural Speed Trial on the weekend of June 21/23rd, and the revived Brough Superior was present to test its pair of Bonneville-bound racers; Brough Superior last used the sands for this purpose in 1928! 


Since Anthony Hopkins’ film The World's Fastest Indian, interest in Land Speed Record (LSR) racing has grown exponentially, and further increased in the UK due to BBC 2's show Speed Dreams; The Fastest Place on Earth, which showed five UK riders prepping for and racing at Bonneville, in August 2012. Among the racers featured in the series was John Renwick, the charismatic and intrepid pilot of a streamliner Vincent with 3 wheels; 6-meters long! It was exciting to see every ‘Speed Dreams’ crew entered at this inaugural event at Pendine, which one hopes will become annual. 
Henry Cole was filming for ITV and the Discovery Channel; he'll ride at Bonneville
In late 2012, Paul James descended on Pendine with a small group of LSR enthusiasts for a 2-day session of timed runs. The bureaucratic obstacles thrown in their way would fill volumes, but eventually 50 entrants arrived on Friday for scrutineering, with an eclectic selection of speed-tuned motorcycles and outright projectiles. Paul James hoped to make a symbolic Opening Run on Saturday morning at 8am, but the schedule was postponed repeatedly with high winds, lousy visibility, and rain. After calling a Rider's Meeting on the sand, the LRC announced that poor weather would confine the event to demonstration runs. That blustery 15 minute meeting was blessed with both rain and watery sunshine; when it’s wet, Pendine is a special kind of hell! 
Brough mechanic - and isn't that a rare job description - Sam Lovegrove
Most competitors managed two or more demonstration runs, including Eric Patterson, the popular Kempton Park Autojumble organizer, who rode a new Brough Superior ‘Pendine’ model, appropriately enough.  Brough Superior is planning its own assault on the Bonneville Salt Flats with two new Broughs, to be ridden by Patterson, Henry Cole, and Alan Cathcart. More details on the Brough Superior run of August 24-29 2013 can be found here."
Eric Patterson models his new Lewis Leathers 'Brough Superior' kit
The Team: Sam Lovegrove, Michael Jackson, Eric Patterson, and an Italian film director, Marco Superiori, shooting a documentary on English weather.

'THE RIDE' HITS THE BOOKSHOPS

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Apologies for being near-absent a few weeks on TheVintagent, but I've been finishing my contribution to the BikeExif book, 'The Ride', published by Gestalten in Berlin, which I co-wrote with Chris Hunter, David Edwards (Bike Craft, Cycle World), and Gary Inman (Sideburn).  Gestalten publishes big, beautiful art books; this is their first motorcycle book, but as 'The Ride' is already #1 on Amazon's 'motorcycle' search results, they'll likely publish another!  I met with Robert Klanten (publisher at Gestalten), in both Biarritz (for Wheels and Waves) and in his offices in Berlin; as a lifelong rider, he's the perfect guy to pursue the subject.

'The Ride' is a survey of contemporary Custom motorcycle-building culture via the BikeExif slant - ie, what's cool and new-school, and the current trends in various 'styles' - Cafe Racer, Bobber, Board Tracker, Street Tracker, Chopper, etc.  And finally, of course, it's possible to hold a book in your hands to look at these machines, rather than pixellated images limited to 250kb/32dpi....

The book is available on special offer via Amazon.com now.  And of course, I'm in the middle of writing a second book!  Based on the 'Ton Up!' exhibit which I'm installing -right now- in Sturgis, for Bike Week, all about Cafe Racer culture from the 50s to today - bikes, art, photography, writing.  It will be published by Motorbooks, and I'll keep you posted on developments!

Here's the unwieldy link to the Amazon order page (sorry, my iPad Blogger app doesn't do hyperlink text!) http://www.amazon.com/The-Ride-Custom-Motorcycles-Builders/dp/3899554914/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375367499&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=the+ride+bikeexif

JEFF DECKER'S 'BLACK LIGHTNING' AT AUCTION

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From the Bonhams Quail Lodge auction catalog (which I wrote!):
Jeff Decker is rightly famous for his sculpture, the motorcycle equivalent of Frederick Remington, which has earned him the position of ‘official Harley Davidson sculptor’; his twice life-size ‘Hillclimber bronze statue outsidethe Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee is truly magnificent and a testament to his tremendous artistic talent.  Mr. Decker is also a collector of rare motorcycles (Crockers, genuine racing Harleys from the 1920s onwards, Speedway machines, etc), motorcycle memorabilia, motoring artwork, and ‘1%er club cutoffs’, the sleeveless vests emblazoned with motorcycle club logos.  All of his obsessions with the art and culture around motorcycling have made him a legend in his lifetime, especially for his outspoken opinions on these same subjects.

Jeff Decker is equally outspoken regarding his ultra-famous customized motorcycle, a 1952 Vincent Rapide which he calls ‘The Black Lightning.Decker uses the term ‘Lightning’ to emphasize his machine’s full-race specification, and to puncture any inflated notions that the infamous Vincent Black Lightning – of which only 31 were built – was the greatest motorcycle ever.  In truth, the men who made Vincent famous by setting numerous speed records and winning ‘drag races’ all across the Southwest - Marty Dickerson and Rollie Free – used race-tuned Rapide and Black Shadow models.  

The fact that the most famous Vincents are not actual ‘Black Lightnings’ is critical to understanding Jeff Decker’s motorcycle: the parts used in its creation are mostly ex-Marty Dickerson, as used in his Bonneville Salt Flat record attempts and drag-racing career. They were gathered from archVincent collector and recognized authority Herb Harris, who supplied the ex-Dickerson crankcases, two front cylinder heads, and genuine Black Lightning wheel hubs.  Most parts used are genuine Vincent, and the engine is tuned to Black Lightning specification, with MkIII racing cams, and two ‘front’ cylinder heads.  As the important parts of his machine were actually used in competition, Jeff Decker says “my bike’s got more racing history than 90 percent of the Lightnings out there.”

After collecting the necessary basics, Decker set about narrowing the fuel tank by 4.5” and lowering that tank as much as possible onto the engine to emphasize the brutal beauty of the Vincent V-twin engine.  The tiny ‘banana’ seat is cantilevered from the rear engine mount, and makes the saddle height nearly 8” lower than stock.  He fabricated a custom exhaust system with terminates in a ‘waffle box’ silencer underneath the engine.  The handlebars are straight, with Decker’s own custom-fabricated controls.  The headlamp is a tiny unit tucked well into the girder forks, which use a custom hydraulic shock absorber.  The alloy wheel rim flanges are ‘Deckerated’ with aesthetic drilling, along with the brake cooling ribs, andan original Black Shadow speedometer crowns the front girder fork.  The complete machine is amazingly compact and light, weighs significantly less than a standard Vincent, and looks lean and tough.


Jeff Decker’s “Black Lightning” is a rare thing; a custom motorcycle built by an actual artist, with his hands and by his own design, as an homage to the machines which passed into legend through their racing and record-breaking success.  It is especially rare being a ‘sculpture’ by a famous artist which can actually be ridden down the road, and ridden hard.

IAN BARRY AT KOHN GALLERY: FROM THE NYT

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While I was in Sturgis installing the 'TonUp!' exhibit, this article cropped up in the New York Times, which I reprint here in its entirety, with the accompanying photos.  I'll post my own photos and story of the exhibit soon.


CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES AS SCULPTURE: 'THE WHITE, THE BLACK, THE KESTREL'
[the White installed in the Michael Kohn gallery in Los Angeles]
The artist Ian Barry’s newest sculpture could easily be mistaken for a mere motorcycle. It is an impressive piece of hand-built machinery, but that’s not how Mr. Barry sees the newest creation in his Falcon Ten series. To him, his custom motorcycles exist on a different plane than the two-wheel conveyances people drive on public roads. His bikes are the gasoline-powered embodiment of living, breathing, moving art.
In 1998, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum presented “The Art of the Motorcycle,” an exhibition that focused on vintage motorcycles as sculptural objects. The new exhibition “The White, the Black and the Kestrel” by Mr. Barry at the Michael Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles, adds fresh traction to that line of thought. The exhibition includes three of Mr. Barry’s functional motorcycle sculptures. It also includes eight framed works he has culled from raw materials, including industrial clay, aluminum and solvent-dewaxed heavy paraffinic in his Los Angeles studio.
The centerpiece of the show is the public introduction of the White, a completely custom motorcycle built around a a 1967 Velocette Thruxton“Squish head” racing engine, held above floor level at its center on a very slender cylindrical mount. It is the fourth motorcycle in Mr. Barry’s Falcon Ten series, a sequence of 10 custom motorcycles he plans to complete over the next several years. The three displayed at Kohn will be there until Aug. 31.
The Black.  photo: Ian Barry
“One thing I can say about that particular engine is that it’s extremely rare,” Mr. Barry said in a phone interview. “Only nine of them were ever made. It was made specifically to compete at the Isle of Man. That exact model holds the record for averaging 100 miles per hour in an endurance race. That one point was an interesting fact to me. It was an extreme; it’s done something in its history that carries a certain energy. It’s a charged object.”
Mr. Barry has built a following among vintage motorcycle enthusiasts since he helped found Falcon Motorcycles in 2007 with his partner, Amaryllis Knight, an industrial designer. The Bullet was the first motorcycle in the Falcon Ten series and was based on the 1950 Triumph Thunderbird. It was the recipient of the Custom Culture Award at the 2008 Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’Élégance in Pebble Beach, Calif.
Mr. Barry produced the Kestrel in 2010, based on a modified 1970 Triumph Bonneville. The Black originated from a 1952 Vincent Black Shadow in 2011.
“Each one carries a particular meaning,” said Mr. Barry. “They are breeds of falcon. That particular naming applies to the work itself. There is an extreme nature to a falcon. They mate with the same partner for life; there are a lot of facts surrounding falcons. They deal in extremes.”
The Kestrel.  photo: Ian Barry
The White is the standout among the trio and is Mr. Barry’s most involved creation. He said the White was built over 6,000 hours during the last two and a half years. The shiny, futuristic finished work bares no resemblance to the monochromatic, utilitarian Velocette racing motorcycle it was originally.
“It starts with foam, clay, modeling, but there is no methodology,” he said. “That’s by design.”
Unlike the other motorcycles in the series, the White strays from historical context. He said he fabricated the parts almost entirely by hand, apart from the engine and the tires.
“Each one is an evolving concept,” he said. “On the first three I chose these historical references, and now I’m choosing to ignore those things and move forward. They will all complete a bigger story of the whole. It’s more about forms and a study that’s not linked to history in any way.”
The White finds Mr. Barry pushing boundaries on the motorcycle-building and sculptural processes, flirting with lightweight, exotic alloys — like unusual types of aluminum, copper and titanium – sometimes used in aircraft construction.
“The fact that I have to research all the mechanical properties informs the work in a way that traditional sculpture doesn’t,” he said. “After I got the materials, the specs disappear and I focus on what I’m trying to communicate.”
Mr. Barry said he was introduced to the Michael Kohn Gallery, which provided a more ideal setting for his vision than a motorcycle show, through the artist Case Simmons.
The Bullet.  photo: Ian Barry
“I made a decision to not ever show at a motorcycle concours again,” Mr. Barry said. “While I appreciate that environment, and those people are enthusiastic and appreciate what I’m doing, it’s something that carries history.”
The Falcons are very much functional works of art, though Mr. Barry shies away from sharing the more technical components of the engineering.
“I’ve ridden the Black over 100 miles per hour and for a couple hundred miles, and I love that riding them is part of their possibility, but it’s beside the point for me,” he said.
Mr. Barry said he had his work cut out for him to top the intricate production process in the remaining six motorcycles.

“I’d imagine that it’d be a decade or more before I close the chapter on this series,” he said. “I hope I get to see them all together one day.”


'TON UP!' EXHIBIT IN CYRIL HUZE POST

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This has been an incredibly busy summer for The Vintagent: writing a big chunk of the BikeExif/Gestalten book 'The Ride', organizing the 'Ton Up!' exhibit for Sturgis Bike Week, and writing the 'Ton Up!' book for Motorbooks.  Cyril Huze stopped by the 'Ton Up!' Michael Lichter exhibition hall at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis, and filed the following report on his mega-popular Cyril Huze Post on Aug. 6th, 2013.  It's worth a click-back to his site, to read the comments attached, which are always an entertaining mix on CHP...

From the Cyril Huze Post, Aug 6 2013:

TON UP EXHIBITION: SPEED, STYLE AND CAFE RACER CULTURE EXHIBIT AT THE STURGIS BUFFALO CHIP 
[Robert Carter painted sign]
An exhibition focusing on the origins of the Cafe Racer movement is certain to draw huge crowds. Especially it is organized by internationally renowned photographer Michael Lichter. Mike’s 2013 Sturgis Buffalo Chip exhibition to celebrate motorcycles as art is called “Ton Up – Speed, Style and Cafe Racer Culture.”
[Paul d'O with Michael Lichter]

Co-curators Michael Lichter and historian Paul d’Orléans have assembled a comprehensive display of 35 machines from 12 makes and 6 decades. Included in the show are original or modified machines by BMW, BSA, Ducati, Honda, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, Norton, Rickman, Triumph, Vincent and Yamaha.
[the Godet-Egli Vincent of Mars Webster]

 In addition the exhibition features never-published photography from the original café racing scene in 1960s England to the present, paintings by Triumph ‘resident artist’ Conrad Leach, images from the Ace Café Collection, vintage leather ‘Rocker’ jackets from the Lewis Leathers archive, the “One-Show” 21-helmets display of custom painted helmets, paintings by Andrea Chiaravalli and photography by Erick Runyon with other artists to be announced.
[the 'Klock Werks' modified Triumph Thunderbird Storm]
Each year, the “Motorcycles as Art” exhibition garners tremendous media coverage from around the globe and last Sunday 4th, a record breaking of over 1000 members of the industry attended a media reception offered by Michael, Paul and their sponsors – Hot Leathers and Keyboard Motorcycle Shipping. This not-to-be missed exhibition is now open for the public to view free of charge until Saturday August 10th at the legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip.
[Klock Werks headlamp]
[Lossa Engineering CB77]











This year’s exhibition will get even more recognition as it will live on in the coffee-table book “Ton Up – Speed, Style and Cafe Racer Culture,” published by Motorbooks International. Michael Lichter will photograph all the motorcycles in his Sturgis studio for the book, which will also include the jackets, artwork, and photographs from the exhibit.
[Brad Richards' 'Sporty TT']
Paul d’Orléans is writing a comprehensive history of the Café Racer movement for the book; from its deep origins in speed-modified road bikes from the ‘Teens, to the ‘classic’ period in England in the 1950s/60s, through its various resurrections in the 1970s, 80s, and especially, with the advent of Internet motorcycle blogs, TV shows, and ‘Café Racer’ magazines, the explosive popularity of the style in the 21st Century.
[Cyril Huze with Paul d'O]
[Willie G. Davidson]
Among the featured builders: Herb Harris (Harris Vincent Gallery), Yoshi Kosaka (Garage Co), Mark Mederski (National Motorcycle Museum), Gordon McCall (Quail Motorsports Gathering), plus Willie G Davidson’s #0001 1977 XLCR, and machines from Alain Bernard, Arlen Ness, Bryan Fuller, Brian Klock, Dustin Kott, Greg Hageman, Jason Michaels, Jay Hart, Jay LaRossa, Kevin Dunworth, Ray Drea (Harley-Davidson design director), Roland Sands, Skeeter Todd, Steve “Brew Dude” Garn, Steve “Carpy” Carpenter, Thor Drake, and Zach Ness. Included in the show are original or modified machines by BMW, BSA, Ducati, Honda, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, Norton, Rickman, Triumph, Vincent and Yamaha."
[Champions Moto 'Brighton']
[Bryan Fuller of Fuller Hot Rods]
[Text and photos copyright Cyril Huze Post]

'BEHIND THE TON UP BOYS', A 1964 FILM

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YouTube provides endless opportunities for your motorcycling entertainment!  This film, from the BBC's 'Look at Life' series, dates from 1964, and while it denigrates the 'Ton Up Boys', they certainly look like they're having fun!

GESTALTEN'S 'DO THE RIDE THING'

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Shot mostly in Biarritz during Wheels+Waves last June, this short film includes many of the machines featured in the the Gestalten/BikeExif book, 'The Ride', which arrived at the publisher's offices in Berlin just yesterday.  The film has interviews with Roland Sands, Ola Stenegard (BMW chief designer), David Borras (El Solitario), Vincent Prat (Southsiders), and Chris Hunter (BikeExif).


Do the Ride Thing – The Bikes, the Builders, and the Book from Gestalten on Vimeo.

Myself, Chris Hunter (BikeExif), Gary Inman (Sideburn), and David Edwards (BikeCraft) wrote the text for the book, which is available here: artist Maxwell Paternoster (Corpses from Hell) made a sew-on patch for the limited-edition slipcase version of 'The Ride', which is pretty good in itself (Max is painting up an outrageous motorcycle jacket for me at the moment - I'll post it when it arrives!).  As I was riding a loaner BMW K1300S at Wheels+Waves, I wasn't cool enough to make the film!  Still, there's a shot of me behind Nico/Ornamental Conifer (with a slingshot) from last year's W+W...

Here's the link to Gestalten's web page to buy the slipcase edition of 'The Ride'. 

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'TON UP!' - CAFE RACERS IN STURGIS

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When photographer Michael Lichter invited me to co-curate a show of Café Racers for Sturgis Bike Week, I immediately said yes.  I'd met Michael while he was the official photographer of the Motorcycle Cannonball last September, and have been constantly impressed by his good nature, the his amazing photography, and his renown in the motorcycling world.
Riding around Sturgis; Bear Butte state park - South Dakota's Black Hills are amazing
I had no idea he'd been putting on exhibits at Sturgis for 12 years, as I'd never been to Bike Week, and didn't follow the press surrounding the event...it's safe to say I'm a fish out of water among 250,000 Harley touring rigs.  But Café Racers are very much the waters I swim, and I've long wanted to mount exhibits of motorcycles and related art...and almost as soon as he brought me on board as co-curator, he'd secured a deal with Motorbooks to produce a coffee-table book (called, naturally, 'Ton Up!') documenting the exhibit, with my writing on the genre and its 50 year development.  My dedication to the project was secured.
Willie G's 1975 blueprint (with talking points) of his 'XL- Café Racer'
Michael's reputation in the Industry meant word leaked quickly of our subject matter, and Custom builders clamored to have their machines included,  among whom were Willie G. Davidson himself, who brought his 'Serial #1' XLCR, and his successor at H-D, Ray Drea, who built an updated version of Willie's machine - his 2013 'XR Café' - just for 'Ton Up!'  Also, BMW promised 'Ton Up!' would be the US début of their 'Concept 90', built in conjunction with Roland Sands.

I used my contact list for the historic bikes - the BSA Gold Star, Velocette Thruxton, Egli Vincent, Triton, and other seminal machines, to lay the foundation for our historic survey.  While the name Café Racer conjures repeated images of English riders from the 1950s/60s - the 'Ace Cafe/59 Club' era - the style didn't freeze in 1969. We love those Gold Stars and Tritons, but riders have carried on modifying all sorts of motorcycles with Café Racer cues for 50 years now.
The '21 Helmets' display, which grew to 27 helmets!
Sorting through the dozens of bikes offered to us, we had to set down 'The Rules' - what makes a Café Racer.  We boiled it down to the look of a 'racer on the road', with clip-on 'bars, rearset foot controls, a humped racing seat, and performance modifications.  Every Café Racer has most if not all those boxes ticked.
Mark Mederski's low-mile, original-paint '62 Norton Manx, included as the benchmark against which all Café Racers were measured...
The point of 'Ton Up!' was never 'how to make a proper Café bike' - we showed examples from 50 years of Café Racing, 1962 - 2013, to showcased the development, changes, and growth of the genre over several generations of rider/builders. A few of the machines were factory-built Cafés (BSA Gold Star, Velocette Thruxton, and Harley XLCR), but most were modified to achieve 'the look'. The 35 bikes we eventually displayed came from England, Germany, Italy, the US, and Japan, and ranged from 1950s Triumph motors in Tritons, to 2013 Triumph, Victory, and Harley-based customs.
Kevin Dunworth of Loaded Gun Customs with his 'Bucephalus' with unique alloy-plate chassis
As I installed the exhibit, with help from the Buffalo Chip's excellent crew, I heard nary a peep of criticism for bringing an 'it ain't a Harley' collection to Sturgis for Bike Week, and when the show was up, even the most inebriated accidental viewer was agog at the display of beautiful bikes.  While 35 motorcycles and a dozen artists sounds tiny in the context of the hundreds of thousands of bikes outside, the show was too much to take in a single visit.  Each of our motorcycles deserved close study; the ideas explored were sometimes radical, and generally quite beautiful.  The exhibit was an oasis of calm in the midst of Sturgis, a pleasant spot to hang out, and thousands did just that.
Mars Webster's Godet-Egli-Vincent
Here's a gallery of the bikes exhibited, followed by a bunch of random photos from my Sturgis expedition:
- Alain Bernard (Santiago Chopper)' 1996 Moto Guzzi 1100 'Patton Café'
- Arlen Ness; 1987 HD-XR 'Ness Café'
- Brad Richards (Ford Motor Co); 1999 HD 'Sporty TT'
- Brandon Holstein (Brawny Built); 2003 HD 'Brawny Sportster'
- Brian Klock (Klock Werks); 2013 Triumph T'Bird 'Café Storm'
- Bryan Fuller (Fuller Hot Rods); 1974 Ducati 750GT 'Full Sport'
- Chris Fletchner (Speed Shop Design); 1965 BSA 'Beezerker'
- David Edwards (Bike Craft editor, former Cycle World editor); 1975 Triumph T140V
                    'Trackmaster Café' (built by Danny Erickson)
- David Zemla; 2003 HD 883 'DZ Sportster'
- Deus ex Machina; 1978 BMW R100S 
- Dustin Kott (Kott Motorcycles); 1969 Honda CB450 'The 69'
- Gordon McCall (McCall Motorworks); 1965 Dunstall Norton Atlas
- Greg Hageman (Doc's Chops); 1982 Virago SV920
- Herb Harris (Harris Vincent Gallery); 1962 BSA DBD34 Gold Star
- Jason Paul Michaels (Dime City Cycles); 1968 Honda CB450 'Brass Cafe'
- Jay Hart; 1972 HD XL 'XLMPH'
- Jay LaRossa (Lossa Engineering); 1967 Honda CB77 'Lossa CB77'
- Jonnie Green (Ton Up Classics); 1965/7 Triton
- Kevin Dunworth (Loaded Gun Customs); 1967 Triumph 'Bucephalus'
- Kim Boyle (Boyle Custom Moto); 1971 Norton Commando 'Ed Norton'
- Mark Mederski (National M/C Museum); 1962 Norton Manx, 1970 Velocette Thruxton
- Mars Webster; 1950 NorVin Comet, 2002 Godet-Egli-Vincent
- Ray Drea (H-D head of design); 1984 HD XR1000 'XR Café'
- Richard Varner (Champions Moto); 2004 Triumph Bonneville 'Brighton'
- Roland Sands/BMW (RSD); 2013 BMW prototype 'Concept 90'
- Shinya Kimura (Chabott Engineering); 1974 Ducati 750GT 'Flash'
- Skeeter Todd (OCC); 1979 HD XR1000 'American Café'
- Steve 'Carpy' Carpenter; 1969 Honda CB750KO 'Tenacious Ton'
- Steve 'Brewdude' Garn (Brew Racing Frames); 1974 Yamaha RD350 'Streak'
- Thor Drake (SeeSee Motorcycles); 1985 Yamaha RZ350 'BH347'
- Willie G Davidson (retired head of H-D design); 1977 HD XLCR Serial #1
- Yoshi Kosaka (the Garage Co); 1967 Triumph-Rickman Metisse
 - Zach Ness; 2013 Victory Judge 'NessCafé Victory'


I'd like to thank the Buffalo Chip for opening their wallet big-time to ship over 30 bikes from around the US, and paying a crew to help me push 35 bikes and plinths around a 7000 square foot hall.  It was exhausting even with the help of four strong men!  I also need to thank Keyboard Motorcycle Shipping for their amazing flexibility in picking up all the non-Cali bikes from their owners, and bringing them all in perfect condition.

Zach Ness' 'Victory NessCafé', Shinya's 'Flash' Ducati, and the SeeSee '21 Helmet' display
Gordon McCall's '66 Norton Dunstall with the BMW/Roland Sands 'Concept 90'
Wild variations of feminine dress - and occasional undress - at Sturgis
Brad Andrews' 'SportyTT' faces off with Mark Mederski's Norton Manx
Closeup of SpeedShopDesign's 'Beezerker' - jewel-like precision
The full shot of the 'Beezerker' by Chris Fletchner, the only Anglo bike customizer currently working in Japan!
'Bikini Bike Wash' was among the most tame entertainments in town...$20 for a wash, which seemed a bargain to me - they were doing a great job!
My '65 Triumph Bonneville; not part of the show, just a helper for an easy commute thru Sturgis traffic
If you want to go around the incredible congestion at the heart of Sturgis, there are plenty of roads through the fields and parklands, all dirt.  The Triumph didn't mind, and the Black Hills are full of wildflowers
Portable art-hanging table, a job Edward Turner never envisioned. 'It's easy on a Triumph!'
Herb Harris' BSA DBD34 Gold Star and Dustin Kott's CB450 Honda
Loaded Gun Custom's 'Bucephalus' being un-loaded, from Keyboard Motorcycle Shipping, who did a terrific job hauling 35 bikes from around the country
One of the most popular machines in the show, judging by the reactions I gauged: the 'Tenacious Ton' by Steve 'Carpy' Carpenter, a very early Honda CB750 'KO', but not a 'sandcast'
Silkscreens from Conrad Leach, courtesy Subvecta Motus Gallery
A few of the 1280 people Michael Lichter and I addressed at the show's opening; kinda cool discussing Cafe Racers with Willie G Davidson in the audience!
The temporary HQ of The Vintagent while installing 'Ton Up!', keeping all the shipping boxes straight with the art we unpacked, where the bikes needed to go, press releases, etc.  Not a bad office.
David Zemla's 'DZ Sportster' in Michael Lichter's photo studio
One of my Tintypes on exhibit, of Shinya Kimura's 'FireBall' HD-based special, which now lives in England, so couldn't make 'Ton Up!'
Jonnie Green's Triton, a lovely machine, and excellent example of the species
Like schools of fish they stood, waiting for their final placement, being herded from this side of the hall to the other as plinths were shifted to and fro, finalizing the layout for the show
Such variety!  Arlen Ness' 'NessCafé', Mars Webster's NorVin, Mark Mederski's Manx, Webster's Godet-Egli Shadow
More variety; David Edwards' 'Trackmaster Café', Champions Moto 'Brighton', Boyle Custom Moto 'Ed Norton', Skeeter Todd's 'American Café', Carpy's 'Tenacious Ton'
Bryan Fuller's Honda CB550 with amazing Ukiyo-E engraved bodywork and chassis
Herb Harris' Gold Star with Jay Hart's XLMPH and Brawny Built 'Brawny Sportster' in back, with a Triumph tank on a Sporty - a combo I've never seen before...
The fantastic Buffalo Chip crew who helped install the show; Everett, Kevin, Kevin, and Dave
Jason Paul Michaels (Dime City Cycles) chats with Steve 'Brewdude' Garn...it turned out 'Ton Up!' was a good place to introduce builders for the first time
Lovely Michael Lichter shot of filmmaker Karen Porter in front of the Ace Café, part of his display of photography, which I hung next to David Uhl's fantasy painting of a Triumph-riding woman in the very same spot. 
Michael Lichter with Mars Webster's Godet-Egli-Vincent in his temporary studio
Michael Lichter in action with Shinya Kimura's 'Flash' Ducati 750 round-case
Cyril Huze stopped in to say his and discuss the show; here with Michael and the 'Beezerker'
Michael, Willie G Davidson, Nancy Davidson, the Vintagent.
Mars Webster's NorVin Comet and Bryan Fuller's 'Full Sport' Ducati 750 round-case
Wetplate shot of Ola Stenegard, BMW chief of motorcycle design, taken in Strugis: I brought my mobile darkroom hoping to shoot a few images for my 'MotoLand' project for MotoTintype.com
Roland Sands and Ola Stenegard, in town to premier their 'Concept 90' BMW at 'Ton Up!'
Hilarious reminder of the 'redline' on Mark Mederski's Velocette Thruxton.
My Wet Plate shot of Ray Drea and his 'XR Café' outside the exhibit hall at the Buffalo Chip: thanks for being so patient Ray!
Ray Drea, the Vintagent, and Willie G: present and past Directors of Styling at Harley Davidson
Ray Drea and Willie G discuss 'Ton Up!' as they exit the opening party
Wet Plate shot of Roland Sands in Sturgis, part of the 'MotoLand' series for MotoTintype.com
Bright spot in a tough work week; Sarah Brunner of the Buffalo Chip on her 'Ton Up!' favorite, the Champions Moto 'Brighton'
The 'SeeSee' Portland sisters team checking out the 'Beezerker', which plenty of other people checked out too!  It was the most radical expression of a Cafe Racer we exhibited in 'Ton Up!'
Shinya Kimura's 'Flash' Ducati in Michael Lichter's studio
Brad Richards' 'Sporty TT' in the studio; a truly professional job, and no wonder, since he designs Ford trucks by day
The Buffalo Chip crew in action, giving a sense of how easy it is to completely fill up a 7000sq' exhibit hall...we were tucking bikes everywhere while sorting out the display order
1280 visitors for the exhibition opening, August 5th, 2013
Willie G Davidson with his 1975 concept for a Harley Café Racer: universally agreed as a design ahead of its time, and ahead of the capabilities of the machinery inside all that excellent styling.  His concept was right on, though: 3000 examples were sold in 1977/8, a sales 'failure' in HD terms, but any European factory in '78 would have been thrilled with such numbers...
My Wet Plate shot of Willie's 'Serial #1' HD XLCR, taken outside the exhibit hall, on the exit road to Sturgis, for the Mototintype.com 'MotoLand' series
Click here for Michael Lichter's gallery of the ART displayed in 'Ton Up!'

Click here for Micheal Lichter's gallery of the MOTORCYCLES included in 'Ton Up!'

Click here for  Michael Lichter's gallery of the 'Ton Up!' Exhibit INSTALLATION



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BROUGH SUPERIOR 'RETURN TO THE SALT' PREVIEW

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Rider Eric Patterson aboard the 1150cc Brough Superior 'Roadrunner' with new, shapely streamlining, similar in feel to the 1930s Brough record-breaker 'Leaping Lena'
The Ace Café sponsored a preview party for Brough Superior's second Bonneville invasion at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA yesterday, bringing along the pair of salt flat racers they'll be campaigning.  Jay Leno hosted the event, and unveiled a surprise - a completely new all-carbon-fiber sports machine with a Brough Superior logo!  I'll get the full story on this machine, and BS Chief Mark Upham's intentions, when I head to Bonneville next week.

Here's Mark's note on last night's event: 

"Dear Paul,
 I am sorry you were not able to come across to the party; here are a few words and pictures.
The revamped Brough 1150 'Roadrunner', showing the minimal streamlining allowed for specific categories of record.
Mark McKee very kindly hosted the Ace Café/Brough Superior Party "Return to the Salt".
Unveiled was the redesigned and very radical streamlined Brough Superior  1150cc formally known as the Retro Brough, now renamed "The Roadrunner". This bike is campaigning for 4 class world titles at BUB 2013.
The 'Baby Pendine' Brough Superior, with a 750cc MkII engine
The second bike unveiled - formally known,as the 'Baby Pendine', is also fitted with a MKII engine but of only 750cc capacity. Due to its manorial type windshield, holding the coat of arms of the Brough family, it is been renamed "The Black Knight", and is campaigning for 2 categories of titles, two FIM and 4 AMA.
 
The previously unseen Brough Superior entry into Moto2 GP racing, built by John Keogh and Paul Taylor
The 3rd motorcycle unveiled, and a great shock for many there, was the extremely radical Moto2 carbon-fiber Brough Superior. This motorcycle has a full monocoque chassis, designed by John Keogh, and was engineered by Paul Taylor of Taylor Race Engineering, USA, specifically to race in the Moto2 GP Class, and will be entered in the GP series as a wild card in 2014.
The bike is tried and tested, it was seen at Goodwood [Festival of Speed] in demonstration runs, driven by Alan Cathcart. No one knew it was a Brough Superior, since until now it is only ever been raced and tested without any Brough Superior livery. The bike was unveiled by Jay Leno.

Thank you,
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