Note: this is being written in a David Attenborough nature documentary semi-whisper, so you need to read it the same way.
1914 Monarch - yes, it goes! Magnificent!
In the genus Motorcyclista there exists a somewhat peculiar species of enthusiast known as the motorcyclo aficionado superretro. Often (but not always) characterised by grey hair and an ingenious emergency toolkit, individuals of this species are solitary creatures, often spending months – even years - secreted in large backyard sheds and garages with their ancient machines, performing fascinating rituals with spanners and oxy-torches, paints and polishes, and pistons, plugs and points, or scouring eBay for spare parts.
Once there, they indulge in time-honoured rituals like beer-drinking and bike-judging, and they tell restoration sagas and breakdown stories in the lost and lyrical language of imperial measurement. Iconic names trip from their tongues - Rudge, BSA, Ariel, Indian, Vincent, AJS Matchless, Triumph, Harley Davidson, Ducati...
They go for short rides that culminate in magnificent morning teas. (A keen eye can identify their feeding places by the spots of engine oil that speckle the car parks where they have congregated).
They have a Presentation Dinner that honours the most perfect and noble among their number.
Individuals of the species trailerus breakdownii exist in happy symbiosis with the aficionado superretros, and can often be seen retrieving those unfortunate superretros whose ancient machines have broken down in ways that will not be remedied easily by the roadside. Nobody sneers or scoffs. Instead, they applaud the pluckiness of the individual and the bike, and thank the Powers That Be that it wasn't them.
On our journey this weekend, one fortunate BSA devotee had his sidestand returned to him from whence it had fallen off on the Cotter Road, but the owner of the lost Triumph footpeg cover remained elusive, as Triumph devotees often do.
1923 Rudge - the King of the Rally.
Yes, that is carpet on the footboards - carpet your great gran would be proud of!
4 comments:
The Rudge is king of the rally, and deservedly so! Love those bonkers old bikes.
Lov ,n your work,copya,Popeye
Cracker post Sue - thanks so much for the photos. I came over all weak looking at the Hailwood replica!
I really must take issue with you about Triumph owners being elusive. The only time I display that trait is if the red and blues start flashing in my vicinity ;-). Not surprised that things fell off the Triumph; all the nut threads on my old T100 were coated in Loctite to avoid unplanned losses en route!
lol Geoff, I don't know what came over me when I wrote that - channelling David Attenborough is exhausting *chortle* Given the number of Triumphs there on the weekend, they weren't elusive at all (until you tried to find the one with the lost footpeg cover!)
My fav bike of the weekend (and I didn't even get a pic!) was a Trumpy... although I was also rather taken with a BSA that had a lovely cylindrical fuel tank... and a beaut box on the back labelled 'Spares'. If you check out the VVCMCC website over the next couple of weeks, I bet there'll be pics.
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