SOMETHING WICKED THAT WAY WENT...

Readers of the last issue of BSH could not fail to remember the 'Macbeth bobber' that graced the cover and centrespread. In that article, it was mentioned that owner, Ian, was thinking about going off to the HOG Rally in St Tropez, France.

Well, Ian reports back that yes, he did indeed ride the stunning Harley down to the south of France and that not only did it behave itself perfectly, but that it went down a storm with the French. Nous élevons notre chapeau à vous, Ian!

CYRIL HUZE ROCKS!

In BSH 295, our 'Web Site of the Month' was Cyril Huze's splendid blog. In just a couple of years, the Florida-based bike builder has made his blog into essential viewing for everyone in the custom industry. If it's news, it's on Cyril's site. And we are pleased as pleased things on Pleased Day to find that our humble fledgling blog has been mentioned on the Huze blog. As young American people would say, way, way cool!!

HURRAH - THE NEW ISSUE!

BSH 303 has just landed here in the office, and it's full of splendid things. It's positively twintastic, with Harley twins, Indian twins, an XS650, the wonderful cover Bonneville and even a Moto Morini, plus there's pages and pages of the NABD and Into The Valley. If you're a subscriber, the new magazine should have dropped onto your doormat this morning; if not, you'll have to wait until next Thursday 4th June 2009 when it will be in all good newsagents.

ICE CREAMED!

A Buell 1125R and a frozen Swedish lake. Perhaps not your ideal riding combination ... unless you're extreme stunt rider Craig Jones. Last month, Craig Jones clocked 148.7mph on Lake Dellen, just a couple of inches of ice separating him from millions of gallons of icy water. This is how he did it...

A NEW BRITISH MOTORCYCLE

A collaboration between one of the UK’s leading motorcycle design studios, Xenophya Design and Ellis Pitt has led to the launch of a new British motorcycle company called ‘Mac Motorcycles’.

Ellis has collaborated with the team at Xenophya for the past nine months to design a small range of lightweight, air-cooled singles using the 500cc Buell ‘Blast’ motor in a tubular backbone frame.

Ellis explains “Between us we’d designed, modified, built and ridden all sorts of motorcycles over the last 30 years and thought it was time to produce a motorcycle that reflected our philosophy. Our influences have been diverse and we’ve made unusual connections between genres of motorcycles such as choppers, Italian singles from the 1950s, flat-trackers and competition specials. What underpins Mac Motorcycles’ philosophy though is the belief that the riding experience and the stories that go with motorcycle journeys seem to have been hijacked by technology and plastic.”

There are 4 different models ; ‘Spud’, for dossing about on, ‘Ruby’, the motorcycle equivalent of ‘the girl-next-door’, ‘Peashooter’, for blatting to your favourite pub and gassing with your mates and the ‘Roarer’, a modern-day dinosaur-chaser! The company initially plans to produce a few hundred bikes in small batches, increasing production as appropriate.

Based in the small English town of Upton-Upon-Severn in Worcestershire, Mac Motorcycles planS to market this unique new range of motorcycles throughout the world. Bikes will be made in small batches for markets in the UK, North America and Japan, with customers in France and Australia in mind too. Depending on your preferred specification and tuning options, you could expect to buy any one of these bikes for between £8000 and £10,000.

NCC BERKSHIRE & SOUTH BUCKS SHOW

This Sunday - 31st May - see NCC Berkshire and South Bucks's Custom & Classic Show at the Queen's Head, Windsor Road, Water Oakley, Windsor in Berkshire. There's be all the usual attractions like live bands, trade stalls, a splendid bike show and a barbecue. It all kicks off at 10am and will cost you a mere two quid to get in.

CRIME SCENE CHOPPERS NEW AIR FILTER

The latest in Crime Scene Choppers’ range of aftermarket parts is this Art Deco-styled air filter, the CSS signature fins tapering into a teardrop shape. It’s available in a fine satin finish (as seen here) as well as in show chrome. Included is the brushed stainless backing plate, stainless hardware and a washable Uni-Filter foam element and a wide range of fitments are offered including the H-D™ 2001-up Fuel Injection and pre-2001 Magneti Marelli EFI plus stock CV, S&S Super E & G, Linkert and Mikuni carburetors (fitment for Mikuni HSRs does require a Mikuni #HS42/001 air box adaptor). Its approximate dimensions are 10.5" W X 2.5" D X 4.0" H. For more information visit www.crimescenechoppers.com. Here at BSH, we’re very fond of head CSS honcho Joe McGlynn’s creations – he’s brought innovation and style to custom parts and shown that you don’t have to be a huge company to make your mark on international customising.

VERN 'N' PETE'S BUY US A PINT RIDE FOR THE WELSH MOTORCYCLE SHOW

We’ve received this from Vern and Pete who say,

‘We’re a just a couple of ordinary blokes who ride bikes who want to try and help out other bikers who are in the **** through no fault of their own.

‘We are riding non-stop from John O’Groats to Lands End on the 27th August to raise money for the Welsh Motorcycle Show’s fighting fund.

‘As you will probably know, after many years of putting on two fantastic rallies - the Welsh National Motorcycle Show and the Isle of Anglesey Show, both of which had massive attendances – WMS was forced to cancel both events, leaving WMS in severe financial difficulties. (If you want to find out more please visit the Rally Action Group web site at www.rag-cymru.co.uk).

‘The point of our ride is to raise as much money as possible for the fighting fund which is being looked after by the Rally Action Group. We will only be making fuel stops, there won’t be any additional stops to eat, drink or poo; this will be done during the 15-minute fuel stops - if there is any time! Vern will be doing the ride on his XJR and Pete will be on whatever he’s got working that week – none of which are what you would call cruisers.

‘We are asking everyone who wants to support us to donate the price of a pint where they live – or a half, or whatever you can spare. We are funding the ride out of our own pockets, none of the donations made will be used for funding of the trip. If someone is good enough to donate us a set of tyres, we wouldn’t say no for obvious reasons. We don’t want any parts, equipment or clothing donated; we would prefer it if a donation was made to RAG instead.

‘We won’t be handling any donations ourselves. We ask that all donations are sent directly to Rally Action Group by Paypal (websales@rag-cymru.co.uk) or by cheque or postal orders (payable to ‘Rally Action Group’) to WMS Fighting Fund, c/o Rally Action Group UK, PN Box 189, Cardiff. CF5 1BL.

The route will be posted up on the RAG web site. We will be wearing WMS t-shirts over our gear on the ride so if you see us, give us a wave.’

Vern ‘n’ Pete

ACE OF SPADES

Among the small gardens at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show was this 'Biker Garden', designed by David Domoney. It used bike parts, oil drums and old tyres, as well having a centrepiece of a large pit shaped like a giant ace of spades, as well as a Harley as a garden ornament. Oh dear. Yet another bit of amusing (sic) stereotyping chicanery to entertain the masses. Some of the most beautiful small gardens I've seen have been owned, planted and maintained by bikers without a single bit of dodgy artwork or scrap metal to be seen. Incidentally, we're pretty keen on gardening ourselves here at BSH and we've just been planning our annual works outing ... to Kew Gardens.

BSH 303 READY TO ROLL

Phew, another issue all fettled and patted into shape and sent off to the printers. It's not looking bad, if I say so myself, with luuuuurds of cover of Into The Valley and the NABD Rally, as well as the trickest and subtlest Triumph for ages and the Medaza from Ireland. You don't know what a Medaza is? Well, you're going to have to wait and find out. Now I am going to go and sleep for twenty-four hours...

BRITAIN'S MOST PROFITABLE SPEED CAMERA

A temporary speed camera in Hanworth has been named as the UK's latest highest-grossing Gatso – bringing in fines of almost £1m in just six months.
16,213 motorists – more than 100 a day – were caught breaking the temporary 30mph restriction imposed on the A316 Country Way between June and November last year. The road usually has a 50mph limit but average speed cameras operated during roadworks to improve signage, street lighting and resurface the road. The 30mph restriction has been criticised by motorists who say the limit was too drastic a slowdown just a few hundred metres after coming off the busy 70mph M3 motorway. The camera caught 11,010 motorists breaking the limit heading out of the capital and another 5,203 heading into London, but has now been removed after the completion of the roadworks.
However, in its six month stint, with a normal speeding offence resulting in a £60 fine and three points it means the camera site was responsible for £973,000 worth of fines and almost 50,000 penalty points.

STRATFORD UPON AVON COUNCIL BACKS BULLDOG BASH

A meeting of Stratford upon Avon councillors has concluded today that Warwickshire police has produced 'insufficient evidence' to warrant a review of the licence for the Bulldog Bash, and has denied its request for a review.

Don't think for a moment that this will be an end of Warwickshire police's objections to the Shakespeare County Raceway event, but hats off to the good burghers of Stratford for supporting the Bulldog Bash.

WESTBURY HOT ROD GAS CAPS

Yes, I know it should be petrol caps because we're not American, etc, but, in this example, 'gas cap' just sounded way cooler. Anyway, these two caps are part of Westbury Hot Rods' product range and are rather spiffing. Cheap they're not, at $175 a piece (which probably works out to about two hundred quid, what with the pound being weaker than a weak thing), but we likes them. More information and other stuff at www.westburyhotrods.com.

PETER FONDA TO GUEST AT GOODWOOD

Legendary star of 'Easy Rider' and 'The Wild Angels', Peter Fonda has been announced as one of the guests at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed on 3-5th July. Fonda will, apparently, be reunited with a replica of the Captain America Harley and will ride up the famous Goodwood 1.16-mile hillclimb. Now, the gentleman is close to seventy years old, and making him kick over a Panhead in front of thousands of people seems kind of mean.


His appearance is to mark the 40th anniversary of Easy Rider which Fonda co-wrote, produced and, of course, starred in as ‘Captain America’. However, there's another side to this announcement; this year's Cartier 'Style et Luxe', which is possibly the most prestigious concours event in the world, will feature a clutch of custom choppers, including Krazy Horse Custom Cycles' 'Zeroesque' (pictured here with owner Paul Beamish) and Speed Parts Supply's 'Speed Demon', both past BSH feature bikes.

Find out more about the Festival of Speed - and it really is one helluva event - at www.goodwood.com.

WARWICKSHIRE POLICE SEEK REVIEW OF BULLDOG LICENCE

Well, it was hardly unexpected, but, on 18th May, Warwickshire police issued a press release formally stating its intentions to object to this year's Bulldog Bash, in spite of the fact that last year's £1.4 million policing operation netted an entire four - yes, four! - convictions for very minor offences. This is the Warwickshire police statement:

18 May 2009 15:11

Warwickshire Police confirmed today that it has applied for a review of the licence for Bulldog Bash, the motorcycle event which is due to be held at Long Marston airfield near Stratford upon Avon from August 6-10 2009.

Assistant Chief Constable Bill Holland said:

"We are applying for a review of the licence because we have serious concerns about continuing and, in fact, rising levels of violence between criminal members of motorcycle gangs.

"Warwickshire Police has made clear that their preference would be that Bulldog Bash does not take place following the shooting of Gerry Tobin by members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in 2007 and violence which has occurred since, both in the UK and abroad.

"The decision to seek a review of the licence is in no way connected with the law abiding majority of motorcyclists who attend the event.

"Law abiding motorcyclists are welcome in Warwickshire and there are many locations in the county where bike enthusiasts meet on a regular basis.

Our objection to the Bulldog Bash is about criminality and the need to protect the public from harm here in Warwickshire, across the UK and abroad.

"We consider that the actions of a minority could jeopardise the safety of the public and this is why we are seeking a review.

"We have already been working closely with local people and businesses to try to minimise the impact of the significant policing operation we anticipate will be required if the event does go ahead.

DEATH OF FATHER BILL SHERGOLD

One of the founders of the legendary 59 Club, Father Bill Shergold, has died aged 90 years.



Born in 1919, the late Father Bill Shergold was ordained in 1942 in Poplar, East London. He passed his motorcycle test in 1952 at a time when motorcycles were overwhelmingly being bought by teenagers. In 1962, wearing his clerical collar, he rode into the cafe’s car park on his Triumph motorbike and, despite his initial trepidation, received a warm reception. The 59 club formed a motorcycle section, but, as the number of youngsters joining kept increasing, the motorcycle section simply became the club.The club moved to St. Mary’s Paddington and subsequently to still larger premises at Yorkton Street, Hackney, where the club continued to grow and flourish.
Father Bill moved to Dover, assisting in 1969, in the forming of The 69 Motorcycle Club. After retiring, Father Bill lived until his death in Wells, Somerset. His funeral will be held on 22nd May at St Cuthbert's Church, Wells, Somerset at 4pm.

COMING UP IN BSH303

A motorcycle that really does straddle the worlds of art and engineering, and the winner of the Irish AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building at the Irish Motorcycle Show, this is Don Cronin's 'Medaza'.

NEW DAY, NEW BLOG

Welcome to the Back Street Heroes blogemporium of, well, things...