WHEELS AND WAVES: PART 1

Hanging out, post-downpour, on the cliffs of Biarritz, under the lighthouse.  The rabble are beginning to arrive, and it's estimated 4-500 bikes will be here by tomorrow...hard to imagine, as there have been plane and train strikes, cancelled flights, and scrambles to find transport.  It was a planes trains and automobiles kind of week thus far, after my flight from London was cancelled and I was left sorting out the Eurostar to Paris, before the train strike shut down service!  

But, it's cleared up on the coast, the ride-to's are here and dirty, and we're ready for whatever comes next... to be continued.

Read more »

PUR-SANG PSYCHEDELIC PROVENANCE

The ex-Jim Morrison, ex-Von Dutch 1968 Honda CL305

'Pur Sang Psychedelic Provenance'... that's not a phrase often heard, but how else to describe a humble Honda CL305 'street scrambler' which was owned by the Doors' Jim Morrison from 1968-'71, which was then purchased and painted up by  'Von Dutch'?

Kenny Howard / Von Dutch

The internet is abuzz with the recent Craigslist discovery of the lime green Honda, and lucky owner Dan Ince did his homework, after discovering an early registration in the name of Kenneth R. Howard, better known as pinstriper and moto-painter extraordinaire, 'Von Dutch', who appears to have sprayed the Honda in his early '70s asymmetric metalflake style.  Digging deeper into the paperwork, Ince found more: “The registration and release of liability card that I have for it dated March of ‘68 lists a James Douglas Morrison living on Sunset Boulevard. I actually Googled and found a copy of his driver’s license. That address matches his driver’s license issued in 12/67. It was kind of a needle in a haystack.”

Morrison had a penchant for wearing leather onstage in his pre-Paris days...

No photographs have surfaced of Morrison on this bike, or any other, but...there is another motorcycle connection with the Doors' frontman, from his final year, in Paris 1971.  While living in the 19 rue Beautreillis hideaway he shared with long-time girlfriend Pamela Courson, their uber-hip circle of friends included a female motorcyclist with a Norton Commando, who suggested a tank-painting party over an 'enlightened' weekend...and that motorcycle, with its hand-painted psychedelic tank, is in beautiful condition, but definitely not for sale.

Classic Von Dutch metalflake paint, airgun spatter, and pinstriping

The Honda, though, is definitely for sale, via Husky Restorations.

The Title release form which lists James Douglas Morrison as owner of the '68 Honda CL305; the address matches his 1970 Calfornia driver's license 

Morrison in his seldom-seen experimental film, 'HWY' (a bootleg can be found on Youtube), one of the few instances where Morrison and Motorcycle coexist, if briefly.  In this scene, Morrison has carjacked a '67 Shelby GT500 Mustang, and as he drives past a flatbed truck full of motorcycles, he can't help but check them out.

Read more »

'WHEELS AND WAVES': THE FRIDAY SHOW

The 'Waves' part of 'Wheels and Waves'...the surf break at Biarritz, where French surfing began in 1957...

an

The iconic private home on the cliffs above the Bay of Biscay, formerly owned by Edward VII of England

A trio of Veteran machines for auction; a pair of ca.1900 DeDion-Boutons, and a 1905 Diamant

The Ace '4' on the block... I don't know if it sold.

1954 Cadillac Sedan de Ville, all pinstripes, grille, and dagmars (named after 50s actress Dagmar, or at least, parts of her...)

V8 muscle...modern AC Cobra repro, authentic '67 Corvette Stingray, driven with verve during the Southsiders ride in Toulouse last year, and here in Biarriz too.

Two of many tanks painted by Maxwell Paternoster of Corpses From Hell

Artist Conrad Leach and Jérome Coste of Les Ateliers Ruby

Driving a replica (Proteus) Jaguar C-Type on the grass...what a sound.

The future of cool...

Ornamental Conifer signwriting, on the El Solitario 'Impossible Team' project bike, bound for Bonneville in August...

Yes, we are in France...

Photographer Kristina Fender lounges on a kiddie-ride car...

Mégane models a Ruby helmet, and vintage (Dame) Vivienne Westwood 'Destroy' tee...still controversial after all these years...

Super cool Messerschmitt KR200 'Kabinenroller' (cabin scooter) microcar...

A pre-war MG J2 nestled in the woods...I once drove such a car from Berne, Swizterland, to Dijon, for the Coupes Moto Legende...it was quite a drive.  Vintage cars are actually harder to handle than vintage bikes, methinks, as two-wheelers don't wander and require constant attention to steering!

Got a few used mopeds beyond repair?  Make art.

Bonhams' Nicholas Biebuyck checks out the El Solitario 'Impossible' Triumph, painted up by Ornamental Conifer

Nick Clements from Men's File and artist Mark Woodhatch

Yours truly trying out my unique custom Ruby black n' blue 'Shibuya' striped Belvedere helmet...and that face shield came in mighty handy the next day, in the rain...

Repairing a leak in the enormous Hoske fuel tank used on the 'Baula', based on a very early nickel-plated 1969 R75/5 BMW chassis with bolt-on rear subframe...these tanks are typically seen on much older BMWs; Hoske made tanks for the BMW factory Rennsports as well as aftermarket parts like this one.

Waiting for the go on the Friday 'short' ride...

Free at last.  Note; classic HD chopper and rigid BSA B33 (which has a little Gold Star magic inside)

The 'Baula' in action

'Racester' Sportster, with enromous carb and fun graphics.  One of the coolest Sportys around...

The Vintagent aboard the Space Ship...it felt like cheating in a vintage-y crowd, although the Diavel lacks the smooth perfection of, for example, the Norton Commando behind me. I'll ride anything with two (and sometimes three) wheels, but definitely have a preference for old stuff.  While the Diavel is surprisingly nimble and neutral, in the tight bends of the Pyrenees, the scale of the machine is undeniable, and requires determination, though not muscle. And some finesse with the throttle; there's a tiger inside. 

Another shot of the fantastic Baula

Classic Ford-based hotrod...I liked the inclusion a few cool cars at the back of the pack

Shades of Danny Lyon...

The Ornamental Conifer 'Buffet Racer', as seen previously, pre-paint, at the Ace Café last Feb

The end of the night, or the next morning, at a bar in Biarritz...

Read more »