tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1561072435547108082024-03-28T20:30:04.486-07:00Smoke and ThrottleVintage MotorcyclesMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-69603265592382419092013-07-11T16:57:00.003-07:002013-07-11T16:57:34.778-07:00Triumph Come Home Rally 2013In keeping with a one-post-every-two-months tradition... yes I know Im a slacker - but things are busy around here. Dabbling in real estate, possibly moving my shop once again - and putting a ton of miles on the Bonnie this summer. One hundred of those miles were to the 20th annual Triumph Come Home Rally in Oley Pennsylvania - my favorite of all motorcycle events since its focus is on my Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com448tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-5270758469016991902013-05-03T22:15:00.000-07:002013-05-03T22:15:19.184-07:00The Quail 2013 Motorcycle Gathering Preview
Where has time gone? 2013 has been a busy year and low and behold I haven't updated this blog in over 2 months. Good things are worth the wait I suppose. Here's a quick sneak preview of tomorrows events at The Quail, in Carmel California which I'll be covering extensively.
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com165tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-17168437786763615632013-02-03T14:07:00.002-08:002013-02-03T14:07:18.208-08:00EVENT: 2.2.13 The Broom Factory, Baltimore MD. Celebrating OSSA motorcycles.
Presentation is everything, at least in my opinion. Mike Slate, Scott Rosenberg, Jimmy Foster, curators of the permanent (and semi private) installation of classic motorcycles at The Broom Factory takes presentation to the next level. The backdrop of early 20th century industrial architecture, with modern renovations and amenities provide a brilliant Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com94tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-54601483586586832222013-01-27T16:04:00.003-08:002013-01-27T19:23:22.224-08:00Shop Stop: Geiger Works, Philadelphia PATheres just something about walking into a warehouse for the very first time and having your vision clogged up with the site of old bikes floor to ceiling. It's a lot to take in and more questions are raised then answered. Where did all this stuff come from? Who owned these? What are the stories behind each and every item. It's a very romantic notion, I know, but I'm a hopeless romantic at heart Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-73971491471008648012013-01-20T17:08:00.003-08:002013-01-20T17:08:18.968-08:002013 York AMCA swapmeet
For those of us living in North East, winter is long, riding is for the brave and foolish (at least until the trees start to bud again) so the January indoor swap meet in York Pennsylvania is a beacon of light when the nights are longer than the days. This particular weekend was jammed packed with events including James Hammerheads NYC Launch party for his custom V7 Guzzi, The International Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-34533357792039415072013-01-12T21:50:00.001-08:002013-01-15T20:43:19.607-08:00Bonhams 2013 Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction.
Las Vegas is the playground for those who like to drink hard and place bets... Neither of which are a part of my life anymore so why am I here? Well, for the avid vintage bike collector (and for the record I barely call myself more than a small time scavenger) - the new year kicks off in the city of sin with a double header of auction-powerhouses, Bonhams and Mid America Auctions- Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com216tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-42156902944042161242012-10-26T09:24:00.000-07:002012-10-26T19:21:39.116-07:00Bob Oswald - Old time machinist making modern components.
I recently had the opportunity to stop by Bob Oswalds machine shop in Parkesburg Pennsylvania which despite being just a few miles from my house, I've never visited before. Oswald, or Ozzie as he's know by his friends, is a master machinist and owner of Quiet Power Drive - the moniker for his proprietary line of primaries and electric start kits for Triumph, BSA and Norton. Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-62870397477244075282012-10-15T20:01:00.003-07:002012-10-16T16:16:30.097-07:00Dave Kings Jawa Manx-replica.The best thing about Barber Vintage Festival is not found in the swap meet, the auction house or the concours - it's the eclectic eccentric and passionate people that come out of the woodwork and the stories they share.
Dave King, the man pitted right next to us, turned out to be one hell of an interesting guy. Born and raised in South East London, Dave got into motorcycle racing in theMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-55605760219963723942012-10-05T16:49:00.002-07:002012-10-05T16:51:17.215-07:00The Royal Enfield that could.The trailer for "The Badger: Made in Trenton" featuring Leon Stanley and his relentless Royal Enfield.
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-24546329903678073962012-10-01T20:32:00.003-07:002012-10-01T20:34:02.716-07:00ECTA Land Speed Racing at the Ohio MileMmmm, the smell of high octane racing fuel and nitrous - the sound of straight pipes and spinning tires - the sight of 175 vehicles line up to do one thing: go as fast as as possible without blowing up. Land Speed Racing brings out all the gear heads who want to see exactly what the limitations of their motors are. Sometimes records are set while other times motors give up the ghost. EitherMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-5535685798468051582012-09-18T19:55:00.004-07:002012-09-18T19:55:54.006-07:00Smoke and Throttle joins Team BadgerIt is my great pleasure to announce that I will be piloting (hopefully not crashing) my friend Leon, from Cycle Icons Royal Enfield "Badger" at the upcoming ECTA Ohio Mile this September 29th and 30th. The East Coast Timing Association runs Land Speed Racing events on an old runway - we will be running 4 classes both fuel and gas in the partial streamlined and un-faired categories.
The Badger Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-85315096639151806002012-09-17T14:34:00.001-07:002012-09-17T14:34:18.875-07:00Mods Vs Rockers, Philadelphia PANever much for themed get-togethers, however the Mods -V- Rockers events have been successful at bringing the scooter and motorcycle worlds together - and when it comes to geeking out on old vehicles, I like 'em all. Put vintage scooters and cycles together and I'm interested. No, there were no fights, sadly.
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-9931787408452948232012-08-19T21:15:00.002-07:002012-08-19T22:21:14.406-07:00Big Bear, Palm Springs run 2012Work and life can get crazy at times. So crazy that it's easy to forget the basic things in life that bring us pleasure. Like riding a motorcycle across the desert and through the mountains with a friend on a long, hot weekend...
Sorting the Triumph at Skratch's Garage.
Matt fueling up
outta LA!
Fiberglass dinosaurs
Ace Hotel in Palm Springs
Lunchtime at the Ace Hotel
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-42472188521809739432012-06-17T09:55:00.001-07:002012-06-17T09:55:17.352-07:00Gary Nixon estate sale, York PA.It was a bittersweet final goodbye to late Hall of Famer, Gary Nixon as Bob Sholly (former racer and close friend of Gary) auctioned Nixon's estate to help Garys widow and children. While the loss of the legend is still an open wound for those who were close to the famed motorcycle racer, the sale itself was a rather joyful gathering of enthusiasts, fans and friends - who told tales (some taller Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-41519143169783759672012-05-22T04:25:00.001-07:002012-05-22T04:27:03.211-07:00Jeff Leighton's "Born Free" build promoGot to know Jeff while living in LA some 10 plus years ago. He's a hell of a nice guy and extremely talented. Heres a promo for a bike he built for the upcoming Born Free 4 rally in Cali:
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-62732482704435233822012-05-19T19:07:00.001-07:002012-05-21T04:34:05.036-07:002012 Gratz Flat Track Reunion.Saturday, May 19th, 2012: Deep in rural Pennsylvania, just north of the Appalachian Trail lies a dusty old half-mile horse-track that saw rubber for the first time in over thirty years. Flat Trackers from as far as Alaska came to participate at the dormant district 6 AMA dirt oval. Old and young, modern to vintage, the grandstands were full, and the competition was fierce. Gratz is a legendary Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-77320319737685751142012-05-11T17:18:00.003-07:002012-05-11T17:18:56.459-07:00Triumph T100 Grand Prix for sale at Oley AMCA swap meet, 2012.Triumph motorcycles was reluctant to enter the world of road racing - it just never interested Ed Turner. However, right after the war, a surplus of generator motors Triumph built for the Royal Air Force turned out to have the key ingredient to solving the Speed Twins over heating problem when highly tuned - a square all-alloy barrel and head. The first T100 to employ the generator top end was Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-88530164197463066052012-05-03T18:38:00.001-07:002012-05-03T19:00:03.918-07:00Barn Find: 1932 32c Harley Davidson Side Valve Single!
1932 Harley Davidson 32C (30.1 cubic inch single)
When New York State EMT, AHRMA Racer and cabinet maker Randy Hoffman got a visit from a neighbor asking him if he was interested in an "old motorcycle" her family was trying to sell, he had no idea what to expect. Old is a relative term, especially when one doesn't know anything about cycles, so this barn-bike could've been an 80's Honda for Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-23084791339066052622012-04-28T20:02:00.002-07:002012-04-28T20:18:07.094-07:00Twenty photos from Oley AMCA swap meet 2012.Oley PA, home of the Perkiomen AMCA swap meet every April. No words, just some sights. Follow-up stories on a few selected pieces coming soon.
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-25410142016142134162012-04-27T03:30:00.000-07:002012-04-27T03:30:42.194-07:00Shop Stop: SpannerLand (NYC Norton &Cosentino Engineering)
In a recent trip to NYC I had a chance to tour one of New York City's greatest collective workshop, Spannerland - home to some of the best vintage race bike building and modification shops in the country. The shop is divided into 5 or more individual spaces where top builders hone their craft and produce champion motorcycles for some of the worlds top racers. While each "space" is run Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-45940871380941823972012-04-21T05:03:00.000-07:002012-04-21T09:39:58.138-07:00Shop Stop: Mike Wambolds paint shop - 66 Triumph T120 gets a makeover.
Mike Wambold, inspects a work in progress while talking to a customer on the phone.
"You never have enough time to do it right, but you have plenty of time to do it over." Mike Wambold, professional painter for 30 years specializing in Triumph, was told this by his father after Mike fixed the wiring on his first car as a teenager - and spent much of the summer re-wirning it every time he Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-37815175584517361522012-04-20T04:13:00.003-07:002012-04-20T04:13:54.256-07:00Catalina GP History up now on TSCMNew article on The Self Centered Man: Catalina Island GP (a brief history.) Get into it!
Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-32760235464794090652012-04-15T19:40:00.002-07:002012-04-15T19:55:38.780-07:00PRPS/TSY "Blackbird" denim collaboration party.It's been a busy month here at S&T - with moving several bikes out the door, taking on a race bike project and plotting the next year etc etc etc.... phew! Had a chance to blow off some steam in Brooklyn this weekend starting with a party put on by The Selvedge Yard and PRPS over at Fast Ashley's Studio on North 10th st. Lots of bikes, totally packed house, a 53 Triumph Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-2937539714673885632012-04-13T04:11:00.005-07:002012-04-13T04:11:53.917-07:00Lapse in updates due to prepping for the Chadds Ford Auction - New Content coming all next week.I've been busy assembling three bikes to sell at the Chadds Ford Classic Motorcycle Auction this Sunday (April 15th at Bunches Auction House). All proceeds go to getting me out of debt and into the rebuild of my dad's T140 Triumph Race Bike - which I will be taking to the track VERY soon. Check back for tons of new content in coming weeks.
65 Triumph T120C, 68 Bridgestone DT175, 1962 Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156107243554710808.post-88852776055017426312012-04-02T14:00:00.004-07:002014-09-04T04:54:17.292-07:00"Crazy" Albert Bold and his MV Agusta'sThere are people, who along the way, have advised me that I cannot do everything on a motorcycle rebuild. Certain things, like fabricating and paint are better left to specialists. Albert Bold was once told that as well and he ignored them.
A highly modified MV Albert is currently working on for a customer.
When Albert got into vintage road racing, he needed some pipes and disk brakes. Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491593493281555698noreply@blogger.com1