1959 LISTER-CHEVROLET

The 1959 Lister-Chevrolet is one of those remarkable historical curiosities that most of us have never heard of, the eye-catching design was the work of Frank Costin, a man who is almost certainly the most underrated automotive designer of the last century.

“This car offers the best combined price to performance, power to weight, and power to frontal area ratios available anywhere in the world for a sports car. The 1957 racing season has now ended and out of the 14 races for which they were entered Scott-Brown and the Lister-Jaguar won 11, finished second in one, and had minor mechanical trouble in the other two when in the lead, nevertheless setting up the fastest lap in both races. They have also either equalled or broken the existing unlimited sports car lap record during either the racing or at practice on all circuits where they have appeared.”

- Lister Press Release, October 1957 -

The Lister-Chevrolet is currently valued at approximately $440,000 – $500,000 USD, it’s powered by a classic, American Chevrolet V8 and is said to be one of the finest handling and aerodynamically superior cars of the 1950s. As is often the case in the automotive world, a British car with an American V8 is a tour de force both on the race track and on the showroom floor.

The car has had a renaissance of late after having been restored in the winter of 2007-8 by Mark Lewis Design Engineering in England the Lister-Chevrolet went on to win the  BRDC Championship. It’s been entered into dozens of classic races since then and has either won outright or placed highly in all of them with a memorable win at the Sussex Trophy held at Goodwood at the end of the season in 2011.

Photographs courtesy of RM Auctions.

Classic Driver Motor Show 1954: The most important cars of the year

With some of history’s most memorable cars launched in 1954, that year’s motor shows offered a spectacle like no other. Combining the best of New York, Geneva, Turin, Paris and London, we imagine the Classic Driver Motor Show ’54…

That year, the New York motor show was one of the first events of the automotive calendar – and it didn’t disappoint fans of European metal. Thanks to importer Max Hoffman, the revolutionary Mercedes 300 SL was launched to the world in front of an American backdrop, one that also included pretty showgirls (to demonstrate its unorthodox gullwing doors), and a prototype 190 SL roadster. The Touring-bodied Hudson Italia was another example of a Euro-American collaboration; meanwhile, Luigi Chinetti oversaw the debut of the Ferrari 250 Europa crafted by Vignale. A 225S and 375MM Pinin Farina Spider were also on hand to remind show-goers of the striking Vignale coupé’s competition-derived underpinnings.

New York to London, via Geneva, Turin and Paris

Later that year, Jaguar employed the same tactic at the Earls Court show by stationing its new XK140, one of the fastest cars of its generation and much improved over the XK120, alongside the new D-type. An example of the latter had not long returned from an impressive performance at Le Mans in the hands of Duncan Hamilton and Tony Rolt.

Between New York and London were the Geneva, Turin and Paris shows to provide a platform for continental manufacturers – and indeed, to give Bentley the chance to market its updated R-Type Continental. March saw the reveal of the Ferrari 375 America in Geneva, while compatriot Alfa Romeo dominated its domestic show in Turin by presenting not only the B.A.T. 7 concept car, but also the Giulietta Sprint sports coupé. Both memorable for their own reasons, they were the work of Bertone designer Franco Scaglione; perhaps he was in competition with fellow Italian pensmith Giovanni Michelotti, who was said to have had no fewer than 30 cars bearing his influence on display in Turin that year.

From B.A.T to Bergman

In Paris, Ferrari was active as ever. As well as showing the 250 Europa GT – the marque’s first road car to employ the legendary Colombo V12 – another coachbuilt one-off was shown. Probably one of the most famous, this particular 375MM became known as the ‘Bergman Ferrari’, with movie director Roberto Rossellini buying it for wife Ingrid, on the spot, following a joint inspection on the Paris show stand.

With so many would-be exhibits at our theoretical Classic Driver Motor Show, 1954 was clearly a vintage year in the automotive world – its influence is still felt today.

Photos: Getty, Rex Features, Mercedes-Benz, Bonhams, Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, Alfa Romeo Automobilismo Storico, Centro Documentazione (Arese, Milano) 

Plenty of 1954 cars can be found for sale in the Classic Driver Market.

Rallying’s Winter Games! / Ca sent la poudre (euse) !

This year’s Rally Sweden, the fortieth snow rally in WRC history, will visit both the host nation and neighbouring Norway. Can last year’s winner Sébastien Ogier become the first ‘Latin’ driver to make it two in a row? Or will the men from the big white North claim revenge?

After the Monte Carlo’s tough choices, selecting tyres for the snowy Värmland and Finnskogen stages will be far simpler. Like its rivals, Michelin will have a single option for the event: the X-Ice North 2, complete with 384 studs that protrude 6.5mm from the tread blocks.

This year’s Rally Sweden route is a traditional offering, with just two new tests, namely Torsby (SS1/7, 7.03km) and Hara (SS17/21, 11.32km), plus one that has been slightly modified (Varmullsasen, SS20/24). The others – classics like Lesjofors, Fredriksberg, Rammen, Torntop and Vargasen – are unchanged compared with 2013.

Their order has been revised, however. After the start ceremony and super-special in Karlstad, competitors will begin with the Norwegian stages where the snow tends to be fairly deep, so Ogier could find himself at a disadvantage running first on the road. The first leg ends with a night-time visit to Torsby. The action on Friday and Saturday – including Vargasen, which features Colin’s Crest – will stay closer to Hagfors.

It was here last February that Ogier and Volkswagen collected their first win together after a splendid battle with Sébastien Loeb. The ranks of those most likely to prevent the Frenchman from making it two in a row this year are led by his team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala (winner in 2008 and 2012) and fellow Finn Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC), winner in 2010 and 2011.

Despite claiming eight Manufacturers’ titles, Citroën has won only once in Sweden, a decade ago already. This time, its hopes rest chiefly on Norway’s Mads Ostberg (DS3 WRC) who has finished on the podium three years running. Other likely front-runners include his compatriot Andreas Mikkelsen (VW Polo R WRC), Pontus Tidemand (Fiesta WRC) and Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Juho Hanninen (i20 WRC). It will also be interesting to follow the performances of Rally Sweden rookies Robert Kubica (Fiesta WRC), Kris Meeke (DS3 WRC) and Elfyn Evans (Fiesta WRC), as well as those of Craig Breen (Fiesta WRC), Ott Tanak (Fiesta WRC) and Henning Solberg (Fiesta WRC) who is starting the event for the 16^th time.

In addition to the fight between tyre firms, the WRC-2 class promises an interesting competition between the favourite Jari Ketomaa (Fiesta R5) and the likes of Yazeed Al-Rahji (Fiesta RRC) and Yurii Protasov (Fiesta R5). Anders Grondal (Subaru) and Karl Kruuda (Fiesta R5) usually go well in Sweden, too, while former factory driver Kristian Sohlberg is making his comeback in a Fiesta R5.

Wednesday morning’s Shakedown (Rada, 4.3km) will not be followed by a Qualifying Stage this year, and the Priority 1 and 2 drivers will start in championship order (Ogier, Meeke, Ostberg, Latvala, etc.). Competitive action begins with Wednesday evening’s super-special at Karlstad’s hippodrome, followed by serious business the next day.

Quarantième rallye sur neige de l’histoire du WRC, le Sweden Rally 2014 va se dérouler la semaine prochaine en Suède et en Norvège. Vainqueur l’an passé, Sébastien Ogier sera-t-il le premier Latin à y signer un doublé ? Les Nordiques vont-ils renouer avec la victoire ?

Après le casse-tête pneumatique du Rallye Monte-Carlo, les choix seront beaucoup plus simples pour affronter les pistes du Värmland et du Finnskogen recouvertes d’une belle couche de neige. Comme tous les manufacturiers de pneumatiques, Michelin ne propose à ses partenaires qu’un seul produit, le X-Ice North 2, doté de 384 clous de 6,5 mm de protrusion.

Le parcours du Rallye de Suède 2014 est des plus traditionnels avec seulement deux nouvelles spéciales, Torsby (ES1/7, 7,03 km) et Hara (ES17/21, 11,32 km), et une modifiée (Varmullsasen, ES20/24) sur 2,84 km. Les classiques Lesjofors, Fredriksberg, Rammen, Torntop ou encore Vargasen sont strictement identiques à l’édition 2013.

En revanche, les étapes sont inversées. Après la cérémonie de départ et la Superspéciale de Karlstad, les concurrents attaqueront par les spéciales norvégiennes où la neige est généralement très épaisse. Premier sur la route, Sébastien Ogier (VW/Michelin) pourrait donc jouer les chasse-neige et être désavantagé. La 1^ère journée se conclura par un passage nocturne dans Torsby. Vendredi et samedi, les concurrents disputeront les spéciales autour d’Hagfors, dont Vargasen et sa célèbre Colin’s Crest.

Sébastien Ogier et Volkswagen avaient remporté leur 1^ère victoire mondiale commune ici-même l’an passé, au terme d’un superbe duel avec Sébastien Loeb. Qui va donner la réplique au pilote VW, toujours très à l’aise sur la neige, cette année ? Double vainqueur (2008/2012), son équipier Jari-Matti Latvala aimerait remonter sur la plus haute marche du podium, tout comme son compatriote Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC), lui aussi double vainqueur (2010/2011).

Huit fois championne du monde, Citroën n’a remporté qu’un seul Rallye de Suède, il y a dix ans déjà. Cette année, le Norvégien Mads Ostberg tentera d’imposer sa DS3 WRC, après trois podiums d’affilée. On attend aussi beaucoup de son compatriote Andreas Mikkelsen (VW Polo R WRC), de Pontus Tidemand (Fiesta WRC) et des pilotes Hyundai i20 WRC, Thierry Neuville et Juho Hanninen. On suivra avec intérêt les débuts suédois de Robert Kubica (Fiesta WRC), Kris Meeke (DS3 WRC), Elfyn Evans (Fiesta WRC), la prestation de Craig Breen (Fiesta WRC) et les retours d’Ott Tanak (Fiesta WRC) et d’Henning Solberg (Fiesta WRC) qui dispute son 16^e Rallye de Suède.

En WRC-2, le rallye s’annonce très disputé entre différentes marques de pneumatiques. Jari Ketomaa (Fiesta R5) fait figure de grand favori face à Yazeed Al-Rahji (Fiesta RRC) et Yurii Protasov (Fiesta R5). Anders Grondal (Subaru) est une valeur sûre en Suède, tout comme Karl Kruuda (Fiesta R5). Hors-championnat, l’ancien pilote d’usine Kristian Sohlberg effectue son retour sur une Fiesta R5.

Le Shakedown est programmé mercredi matin sur les 4,3 km de Rada. Il n’y a plus de Qualifying Stage. Les pilotes prioritaires 1 & 2 s’élanceront dans l’ordre du championnat le 1^er jour (Ogier, Meeke, Ostberg, Latvala…) et dans l’ordre inverse du rallye les 2^e et 3^e jours. Départ mercredi soir sur l’hippodrome de Karlstad avant d’attaquer les choses sérieuses jeudi 6 février.

Would you pay €300,000 for a Renault 5?

At Artcurial’s 7 February sale at Rétromobile 2014, a Renault 5 will go under the hammer – but this is no normal French supermini. The Group 4 Renault 5 Turbo is expected to command an impressive €280,000 – 320,000…

According to the French auction house, the valuable Group 4 rally car is the sole existing Calberson-liveried R5. As one of the official works cars, chassis B000036 competed in the Tour Auto and Monte Carlo Rally in the early 1980s, and remains in excellent condition.

We’ll be keeping an eye on the flying Frenchman during the Rétromobile sale – perhaps we can persuade the new owner to take their maiden voyage along the Champs-Élysées?

Photos: Artcurial

The Renault 5 Turbo and all other lots from Artcurial's 7 Feburary auction at Paris Rétromobile 2014 can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

vous montez ??

ERC: slides to Latvia victory: Lappi tout schuss en Lettonie

Latvia’s Rally Liepaja, round two of the 2014 FIA European Rally Championship, was won by Finn Esapekka Lappi (Skoda Fabia S2000/Michelin), ahead of Russia’s Vasiliy Gryazin (Fiesta S2000) and Irishman Craig Breen (Peugeot 207 S2000).

Le Finlandais Esapekka Lappi (Skoda Fabia S2000/Michelin) a remporté la deuxième manche du Championnat d’Europe des Rallyes FIA 2014, le Rally Liepaja (Lettonie), devant le Russe Vasyli Gryazin (Fiesta S2000) et l’Irlandais Craig Breen (Peugeot 207 S2000).

After skipping the opening round of the ERC, Skoda Motorsport was in Latvia with a factory Fabia S2000 equipped with Michelin X-Ice North tyres for Esapekka Lappi, winner of last season’s final round.

Still buzzing from his second place in Monte Carlo, Frenchman Bryan Bouffier (Citroën DS3 RRC) was fastest on SS1 but damaged his radiator in an ‘off’ on the following test. That handed first place to Russian youngster Vasiliy Gryazin in his Ford Fiesta S2000/Michelin.

A sequence of three fastest times allowed Lappi to take control by the end of Day 1, however, 2.6s clear of Gryazin. Craig Breen, who said he didn’t feel confident in his Peugeot 207 S2000, was third, ahead of Pole Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Fiesta R5) and Germany’s Sepp Wiegand (Fabia S2000).

The fast stages suited the top speed of the Mitsubishi Lancers and, on Saturday evening, Estonia’s Siim Plangi figured in sixth spot overall and in front in the Production class, ahead of Martins Svilis (+4.2s, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX). Plangi even claimed the next morning’s SS7, despite the fierce battle for the lead between Lappi and Gryazin.

Another three stage victories saw the Finn pull out a handy cushion to win the Latvian event, following in the footsteps last year’s winner and fellow Skoda driver Jan Kopecky. Second place was the best ERC result to date for the 20-year old Gryazin, while Breen celebrated his birthday and the final factory appearance of the Peugeot 207 S2000 with a podium finish. Kajetanowicz and Wiegand were fourth and fifth.

Plangi and Svilis both retired on Sunday, which handed the Production victory to local driver Janis Vorobjovs (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X), ahead of Vitaliy Pushkar (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X). The Junior classification was topped by the Czech Republic’s Jan Cerny (Peugeot 208 R2/Michelin), ahead of Finn Risto Immonen (Citroën C2). Stéphane Lefebvre (Peugeot 208 R2) was eliminated by an engine failure.

Following the postponement of the Sibiu Rally Romania (perhaps until October), the next round of the ERC will be late-March’s Acropolis Rally.

Absente au Jännerrallye, l’équipe Skoda Motorsport était de retour en championnat d’Europe ce week-end sur les pistes enneigées de Lettonie avec, au volant de la Fabia S2000 officielle chaussée de pneumatiques Michelin X-Ice North, le Finlandais Esapekka Lappi, vainqueur de la dernière manche européenne 2013.

Sur son élan du Rallye Monte-Carlo, le Français Bryan Bouffier (Citroën DS3 RRC) a remporté l’ES1, avant de commettre une petite faute dans la spéciale suivante et d’endommager son radiateur. C’est le jeune Russe Vasiliy Gryazin, qui court sous licence lettone, qui s’est retrouvé en tête au volant de sa Ford Fiesta S2000/Michelin.

Mais Esapekka Lappi a signé trois meilleurs temps consécutifs pour prendre les rênes du rallye à l’issue de la 1^ère journée, avec seulement 2s6 d’avance sur Gryazin. Peu en confiance au volant de sa Peugeot 207 S2000, Craig Breen pointait à la 3^e place devant le Polonais Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Fiesta R5) et l’Allemand Sepp Wiegand (Fabia S2000).

Sur ces pistes très rapides, les Mitsubishi Lancer ont profité de leur vitesse de pointe : l’Estonien Siim Plangi était 6^e du général et leader de la catégorie Production avec 4s2 d’avance sur Martins Svilis (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) samedi soir. C’est d’ailleurs lui qui a signé le meilleur temps de l’ES7, le lendemain matin, alors que le duel Lappi / Gryazin battait son plein pour la victoire.

Le Finlandais a enchaîné une série de trois meilleurs temps pour prendre ses distances sur Gryazin et remporter le Rally Liepaja 2014, succédant ainsi au pilote officiel Skoda Jan Kopecky au palmarès de cette épreuve. A 20 ans, Vasiliy Gryazin signe son meilleur résultat en ERC avec la 2^e place finale, devant Craig Breen qui s’est offert un podium pour son anniversaire et pour la dernière course officielle de la Peugeot 207 S2000. Kajetanowicz et Wiegand complètent le top-five.

En catégorie Production, Plangi et Svilis ont tous deux abandonné dimanche. La victoire revient au Letton Janis Vorobjovs (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) devant Vitaliy Pushkar (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X). Le Tchèque Jan Cerny (Peugeot 208 R2/Michelin) remporte la catégorie Junior devant le Finlandais Risto Immonen (Citroën C2). Stéphane Lefebvre (Peugeot 208 R2) a dû abandonner (moteur cassé).

Le Sibiu Rally Romania étant remporté à une date ultérieure (peut-être octobre), la prochaine manche ERC 2014 se déroulera fin mars sur les pistes du Rallye de l’Acropole.

Classement Rally Liepaja

1. Lappi/Fern (Skoda Fabia S2000/Michelin), 2h13min11s5 – 2. Gryazin/Chumak (Ford Fiesta S2000/Michelin), +34s7 – 3. Breen/Martin (Peugeot 207 S2000/Michelin), +1min36s8 – 4. Kajetanowizc/Baran (Ford Fiesta R5/Michelin), +2min35s5 – 5. Wiegand/Christian (Skoda Fabia S2000/Michelin), +3min16s1…

NEPAL’S RS MOTO GC125

As far as most people are concerned, Kathmandu in Nepal is about as far away from Western civilisation as it’s possible to get. It conjures up images of lost Himalayan citadels, ancient legends, monks, Yak’s milk tea, impassable trails and the Yeti… So we were more than pleasantly surprised to get this sweet like 125cc build from Raajib Sayami of RS MOTO in the ancient mountain city. …Who knew?

“I wanted to do something with motorcycles but I was just playing bass in a band with pretty much no idea about building machines.  This is my attempt at least to start learning. And I’m still learning”

The bike is a 1982 Honda CG125, but remaking her into something more desirable wasn’t going to be straight forward in a place with strict rules that no-one quite understands. “The rules and laws are crazy in Nepal. You can’t change any parts on the motorcycle, and if you do change anything, it’s considered modification, which is illegal. So if you do anything to a motorcycle, it’s on your own risk when you drive in town. No one knows how much you gotta pay for what you did on your bike..sometimes just changing a different type of mirror cost you Rs 5,000. Traffic police in Kathmandu just don’t like to see bikes that look different.”

“I did what I love to – it’s my freedom. I started working on my bikes, people got interested looking at my bikes and then I helped a few friends and friends of friends. I always get help from people when I need it. Working with motorcycles became a way of educating myself. The last two years or so my life has been motorcycles. Last year I decided to give name my operation a name: RS MOTO.

…All I remember is the frame and few parts of the engine in a box on my friend’s basement floor. Everything I needed was there, it was just in pieces. Then I decided to make something new that was true to the original motorcycle. I wanted to make this bike alive and running.”

The tank comes from a CG110 mounted to the standard frame, although the swingarm has been lengthened. The front forks are from a Honda CBZ and the rear light is made by Stanley and the front from an XL. The engine is standard but has been rebuilt, and free breathing carbs suck in the air while burnt gases exit through a wrapped pipe with home built custom exhaust. Wiring is all new. The handlebar is from a Ducati 796.

Despite the bike’s remote roots, it’s not here for any other reason than we like it. It’s a well-made custom bike worthy of sharing on The Bike Shed. Thanks to Raajib and RS Moto. See more on his Facebook Page. “This bike is light and small and easy to ride in a traffic and gulli way (small alleys) of Kathmandu… Just a fun everyday city ride.” What more could anyone want?

The Great Australian Ride 2014

Red Bull Stratos - The Full Story

October 14, 2012, Felix Baumgartner ascended more than 24 miles above Earth's surface to the edge of space in a stratospheric balloon. Millions across the globe watched as he opened the door of the capsule, stepped off the platform, and broke the speed of sound while free falling safely back to Earth. Felix set three world records that day—and inspired us all to reach beyond the limits of our own realities, and reimagine our potential to achieve the incredible. 
 
GoPro was honored to be a part of this epic achievement, with seven HERO2 cameras documenting every moment. From the airless freeze of outer space, to the record-breaking free fall and momentous return to ground—see it all through Felix's eyes as captured by GoPro, and experience this incredible mission like never before. No one gets you closer than this.

Shot 100% on the HD HERO2® camera from http://GoPro.com.

Vous pensiez avoir tout vu du saut de Felix Baumartner, le parachutiste autrichien qui a battu le 14 octobre 2012 le record du monde de saut en chute libre ? C'est raté. L'un de ses sponsors, la marque de caméras embarquées GoPro, a mis en ligne vendredi 31 janvier une nouvelle vidéo de l'exploit, avec des images inédites.

Celles-ci, vertigineuses, permettent de suivre au plus près le saut de plus de 39 000 mètres du casse-cou. On apprend également, grâce à l'enregistrement de la conversation entre Baumgartner et l'organisation au sol, que le parachutiste a failli s'évanouir lors de sa performance.

En un peu plus de 24 heures, la vidéo de GoPro a été vue à plus d'un million et demi de reprises. De bonne augure pour la marque, qui compte exploiter ces images en diffusant une publicité dimanche lors de la finale du Super Bowl, le championnat de football américain.

MAUSER MONOTRACE

The Mauser Monotrace is one of those historical automotive curiosities that was almost forgotten, until the need for ultra-efficient cars with low aero-drag came back into vogue with the recent trend towards electric cars.

The Monotrace Car was created by Mauser, formerly a German firearms manufacturer that had been prohibited from making rifles in the years after WWII. They applied their machining abilities in a few new and novel ways, one of which was to create tandem, two-wheeled car.

It was fitted with a 510cc four-stroke engine and a pair of stabiliser wheels that could be lowered or raised by puling a lever. The wheels would retract upwards but would remain in an outward facing position so that if the driver forgot to lower them, the Monotrace would fall onto the wheel to avoid body damage.

There isn’t much reliable information on the Mauser Monotrace available online, but if you’d like to read more you can click here and here.

BMW R90/6 ‘Hustler’

By Wesley Reyneke | Rather Be Riding Via BIKEEXIF

There’s a certain satisfaction in bringing a motorcycle back from the brink. And Donovan Muller knows that feeling well: his 1974 BMW R90/6 was a rusted non-runner when he got hold of it.
Its previous owner had all but abandoned it, leaving it outside to face the elements. He was about to emigrate, so he contacted Donovan to take it off his hands. “The engine had gotten water inside and seized the pistons in the barrels,” explains Donovan. He then goes on to list the rest of the damage: a rusted tank, a disintegrated seat, missing fenders and clocks, and calcified carbs. “It was a no-brainer that it was too far gone to restore, and had to become a custom classic.”

The idea was to build a bike that could sit somewhere between a café racer, scrambler and bobber, and be comfortable to ride. Thankfully, Donovan knows his way around an Airhead. For the past 16 years he’s been wrenching at Cytech—a family business established 38 years ago by his father, Ray. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, they specialise in BMWs and adventure motorcycles.
The R90′s engine was fully refurbished. The barrels, heads and valve covers were given a fresh coat of paint before the valve cover ‘fins’ were polished. Donovan opted to retain the R90 air box, but installed a performance K&N filter and a smaller battery. Stainless steel headers with slash-cut silencers were added as well.

The headlight, headlight ears and bar-end indicators are all original BMW parts, as are the clocks, which are mounted on a shortened bracket. The handlebars are chrome US-spec R50 units, with Magura grips. Another BMW part is the original police-issue solo seat, which now sports an integrated LED tail light. Both fenders are custom, as is the side stand.

Donovan shortened the subframe and moved the shock mounts forward, increasing the angle of the rear suspension. The rims and hubs were powdercoated black, and laced with stainless steel spokes. They now roll on Mitas and Kenda rubber, at the front and rear respectively. Braking is enhanced slightly at the front with a braided stainless steel hose. The tank is finished in Midnight Black, with a chrome filler cap and a Naartjie* pinstripe that matches the frame.

Sadly, Ray passed away in December of 2012, before his son could complete the project. Donovan’s chosen to dedicate the R90 to the memory of his father, “who breathed, slept and ate motorcycling, and lives eternally as a legend.”
Photos by Ryan Roux.
*Naartjie is the South African word for the citrus fruit know as a mandarin or tangerine.

City Explorer Camera Bag by Wotancraft Atelier

 
The City Explorer is a professional-grade camera bag by Wotancraft Atelier designed specifically for use in urban environments. Each bag has room for 2 x DSLRs, 2 x additional lenses, a large flash and other accessories, it also includes an internal waterproof compartment and a padded pocket for a 13″ laptop or iPad.
The bag’s exterior is made from a combination of waxed canvas, sheep leather and cowhide, all buckles are high-strength steel and the zippers are all heavy duty YKK. The interior has a high density shock resistant foam lining to avoid catastrophe and the shoulder strap design was modelled after the classic bike messenger bag’s strap – Wotancraft wanted this bag to specifically suit cyclists and motorcyclists.
Grab yours here





via SILODROME

The Ten'Tation

HRD-Vincent story

CLASSIFIED MOTO KT600

John Ryland’s Classified Moto is going from strength to strength. The order book is healthy and the machines coming out of his Richmond, VA workshop are increasingly adventurous.

“KT600” is the latest, and named after its donor bike and owner. The starting point was a 1987 Honda XL600R enduro, and it was commissioned by Battlestar Galactica actress (and avid motorcyclist) Katee Sackhoff.

“From the get-go Katee was the perfect customer,” says Ryland. “She gave us 100 percent creative freedom. Her only request was that her feet not be behind her, since she’s used to having them forward on her Harley. So we left the pegs in the stock position.”

No Classified Moto bike would be complete without a front end swap, and this XL600 gets one from a Kawasaki ZX6-R. And for the second time, Ryland and his chief mechanic Greg upgraded the back end too—installing the single-sided swingarm from a 2006 Triumph Sprint.

“We’ve swapped front ends on probably 30 bikes at this point, so that was not a big deal,” says Ryland. “Maxum Machine did the triple tree conversion. But the rear end swaps are a lot more complicated. After much deliberation, Chase Metal’s Alex Heath fabricated a boxed section onto the frame to receive the swingarm. We used modified transmission gears to allow the front sprocket to clear the big 180 rear tire.”

Ryland leaned on Progressive Suspension’s David Zemla for advice on the XL600′s rear geometry. Then Chase Metal CNC’d a beautiful aluminum lower mount for the shock—a Progressive 465 unit, with a remote preload adjuster mounted below the tank. “I’m still no expert, but I learned a ton working with David,” says Ryland.

The icing on the cake is the custom stainless exhaust, fabricated by Chase Metal’s Seth Ingham. “It’s a work of art and sounds amazing,” says Ryland. “Seth is a perfectionist and I tend to ‘eyeball’ a lot of things when I’m working on a bike, so I’m sure it wasn’t fun for him to line things up. He asked me at one point, ‘Do you want me to line the tip up with the center of the tire or the center of the taillight?’ I told him to split the difference…”

Just to increase the pressure, the omnipresent cameras of Cafe Racer TV were recording the ups and downs. You’ll be able to watch the build during season four in early 2013—but in the meantime, head over to the Classified Moto website for more details.

And Katee? She was floored by the bike, and it fits her just right. Of course, there’s no kickstart on Katee’s Harley, so she had to learn—on camera—how to do it. “All I can say is she’s a trooper,” Ryland laughs. “It didn’t come easy but she did it.”

Images by Adam Ewing.

TECH SPECS 1987 Honda XL600R enduro motor and frame, heavily modified | 2005 Kawasaki ZX6-R forks and wheel | CM triple tree conversion, billet upper clamp, All-Balls bearing upgrade | 2006 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 single-sided swingarm | Progressive Suspension 465 shock, custom billet lower mount | Fully custom stainless pipes, collector and muffler built by Seth Ingham | Tires: Metzeler ME880 120/70-17 (front), Dunlop D616 180/55-17 (rear) | Brakes: Galfer stainless lines front and rear with stock Triumph and Kawasaki calipers and rotors. Relocated rear master cylinder | Seat: Custom made in-house and upholstered by Roy Baird | Tank: 1970s Honda CB350, two-tone nickel plated | Carbs jetted for pods and new exhaust | Misc: Acewell digital gauge, Oury grips, custom LED taillight, dual headlights, Driven aluminum rear sprocket with DID Gold X-ring chain.

via BIKEEXIF

clef de 18?