California Style in the Desert circa 1952

John McLaughlin, Triumph and Ariel rider.

Dottie Ellison, Triumph TR5 racer.

AMAL & S.U. For 1952

Some reading material for when you want to pretend your working behind the computer screen.

New Triumph Speed Kit, Tiger & Trophy for 1951

One of the best looking Triumph parts ever made.

How to set up your T100 race bike by Triumph man Pete Colman.

This is my alloy close pitch fin motor. It's a 1957 TR5 basically unmessed with since the early 1970's and is in complete ready to restore condition. The carb on it now is a rare Amal 289 with a custom made thick alloy velocity stack, but I also have a dual carb manifold for it and a matching pair of chopped float monoblocs off of a 1967 Daytona 500 that I want to use on it. I need to get a couple other projects out of the way before I get to this one. It's currently stored vertically against the back wall of my garage with a cycle tie down strap holding the neck up.

The Bill Johnson Story

This first story is from a 1950 issue of American Motorcyclist.

And this one entirely in his own words from a 1951 issue of Motorcyclist.

Winning Triumph Riders for 1951

1951-52 era JoMo Superior Flanders Anderson MCM & Dale Brown

Stripped and Tuned T-Bird's

Cool two into one pipe, unknown non stock headlight, California bars and no front fender.

Looks like alloy sport fenders, tank badges removed, P-K tail light and cocktail shaker mufflers.

1950 Triumph Thunderbird

I don't have any issues of Motorcyclist magazine from 1950 and I know there must have been some good Triumph stuff in them with what Bobbie Turner and others did with the 6T during its first year. If I get my hands on any 1950 issues I will add stuff to this post in the future. For now a couple scans from American Motorcycling. The pic above is from a 1950 Daytona visit. It is the first image I've seen of the left side of this bike. Dig the open primary with chromed clutch. Other details include the smaller competition gas tank, dual carb manifold with remote float bowls and the bitchin' headlight fairing, not to mention the sneakers.

Shorty Thompkins & Vern Gardner

The caption says Tiger 100, but this bike looks like a GP model to me. The next bike Vern set up for him is one sweet Tiger 100.

Full time worker during the week, flat track glory on the weekends.

The Tiger 100 with steel spool front hub, chromed legs, Hellings Dog Bone risers, small California bars, a Sprung rear Hub in the Mobil Oil picture and once again the Mustang gas tank.

1940's Motorcyclist Magazines on ebay

Selling the Motorcyclist Magazine collection. Click ebay link on the right column.

AVON Motorcycle Tires

Early 1950's era Avon tires ad. I collect vintage tires for the period correct builds. I have 50 year old tires that look like they could have been made yesterday, and then there are the tires I have in use now that are covered in sidewall cracking that were only made a couple years ago. It all depends on what they've been exposed to and the quality of the rubber I guess? Avon's are my favorite brand with the 4" Drag Slick and 2.75" and smaller front Speedmasters being some of the most desireable. Some of the rarest would be the Bonneville land speed tires and the early 1950's models above. Anyone have any of these?

September 1949: Triumph Thunderbird

What a great publicity stunt and with impressive results. The first 650 cc twin weighing no more than its 500 predecessor. Goodbye to the Triumph chromed gas tank, hello maximum high speed on long American Highways.

1949 TR5 Triumph Trophy