Vintage Pics of the Day

[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*

7D37C15C-BFA4-4831-A326-AF50AF42035D.jpeg

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

Nice Shovel Joe. Did you ever have any issues with the clutch actuator arm? My buddy always carried a spare.


image_50013.jpg

[joe fxs fxr]

^^^ New London County HD, Groton CT. Great people, old fashioned shop. Mikes Famous bought them when they retired and made a giant dealership out of an old Coca-Cola bottling Plant in New London, CT.

My first 82 FXR, the second one was a 99.5 restoration.

FXR at NL cty.JPG

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

ezgif-36d383c76e69e543.jpg

[duffeycycles]

Chrome in the parking lot at 1953 Dodge City
Everett Schilling collection

HD at 53 Dodge City races.jpg

[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*

8281D42F-FDC6-44EA-9D2E-00671BFCC7AA.jpeg

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

The-Vintagent-Mike-Corbin-electric-motorcycle-Connecticut-1975-1024x703.jpg DSCN1286.JPG DSCN1285.JPG

[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*

**Mike 'the Bike' Hailwood & James Hunt.
A89843B6-3173-43B1-9CB7-72EF47485DA5_4_5005_c.jpeg

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

DSCN1309.JPG DSCN1312.JPG DSCN1310.JPG DSCN1311.JPG DSCN1318.JPG

[duffeycycles]

#51 Bill Tuman on his Norton at speed
Tuman said it was very unsettling watching Billy Huber ride straight off the track. He said Billy didn't wobble or make any attempt to make the corner. Tuman was having too much heat on the brain issues with another 70 miles to go. Tuman went on to win the race.
1953 Dodge City
Everett Schilling collection

Race numbers839.jpg

[JoJo357]

That's awesome JoJo. I used to look at Dot's memorabilia at the old Indian Museum on Hendee street in Springfield. I would post pictures but Esta Manthos did not allow cameras in the museum. She also claimed that all books written about the Indian motocycle were incorrect and that her upcoming book was the only correct story. That book never came out. Another time I came in and she commented on my American flag on the back of my leather jacket. "Did you know that it's illegal to display the flag on the back of you jacket?" I replied, "So it's legal to burn the flag (which was happening quite frequently in the news of that time) but it's illegal to display the flag proudly on my back?". BTW, her husband Charley wanted to sell me the last Motolamp off the assembly line still in it's original box with the tissue paper for $50.00 for my 47 Chief restoration but Esta stepped in and forbade it. God I hated her.

Years ago, i believe originator Charlie Manthos ran the museum, because friends of mine went there in the 1990's, and they expressed that Charlie was Great! But, in later year visits, they said Este was a real...'Bugger'.

*M.A.D.*

[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*

Bob Leppan a couple years ago at Milan Dragway. Old stories & some new ones, with a few friends. * Aaron Thomas still drag races Leppan's old blue Hagon regularly.

fullsizeoutput_2b2d.jpeg


10363730_627625477326763_7761124434627307655_n.jpg

43500054_1895402830549015_5401576305693032448_o.jpg

[JoJo357]

Going into the way~back machine after the Dot & Earl story. I have another experience with some of the movers and shakers in the past Detroit motorcycle history. I worked for Bob Leppan's Detroit Triumph while still in high school. Although Dot & Earl H-D Dealership was an eye opener, Leppan's Triumph Dealership was more like an earthquake~to say the least! At that time, it was the largest Triumph dealership in the world by sales volume. I had the pleasure of meeting some interesting characters while i was employed there. Just to name a few, Roosevelt Lackey-AMA record setter, Alex Tremulis--ex-ousted Ford Design engineer, Jim Bruflodt--Leppan's business partner & master mechanic, and 'Wild Man' Betz, who was a Detroit painter, and was responsible for Triumph putting Scalloped gas tanks on their motorcycles. Not to mention all the crazy mechanics & sales people~Haha. This was an experience i wouldn't trade for the world! Although i had the prestigious jobs of cleaning bathrooms, taking care of the dog, helping mechanics, and overall menial jobs, i did manage to work up to unloading the crated Triumph's, and even some test riding of brand spanking new Triumph's. All in all, the two dealerships cemented my bond with the love of motorcycles eternally. Thank You for listening.


*Leppan and Burt Monroe at Bonneville Salt flats. Burt pitted next to Detroit Triumph, when the crew was shooting for the record with Gyronaut X-1. Something not a lot of people talk or even know about is that Detroit Triumph were instrumental with some of Monroe's success at Bonnevillle when they pitted next to each other. By no means am i deterring Burt's achievements, but according to Leppan, Monroe, Tremulis & Bluflodt spent a helluva lot of time together on and off the flats.
7822.jpg

*Double trouble twin in front of Scott fountain on Belle Isle.
image_28503.jpg

*A full load of New Triumph's.
fullsizeoutput_e37.jpeg

*Leppan & Jim Bluflodt.
fullsizeoutput_4a35.jpeg

* The old Detroit Triumph dealership. Currently a landscape company.
fullsizeoutput_4a32.jpeg

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

ezgif-4959c193975b6887.jpg

[duffeycycles]

#2 Dick Klamfoth, Norton at full speed. K with lightning bolt or arrow on his helmet
1953 Dodge City
Everett Schilling collection


Race numbers835.jpg