Gasoline Alley Portland Oregon - 1913

I spotted this photo on the Old Motor. At least some portion this group is thought to be made up of members of the Rose City Motor Club. If memory serves the Rose City MC is the oldest known motorcycle club in the Pacific Northwest. The club was founded in 1911.

The photo made me wonder what the location looks like today.

Mid-America 2014

I just spent a little time going through the Mid-America catalog online. As always there's a lot worth looking at. Also as usual, my favorite lots are heavily influenced by my taste at the given moment.

To start with, I have had a wicked attraction to Harley HD of late. That just don't get any cooler than this one. Despite the usual exotica present at the auction (Vincents, Broughs, etc.) this '28 JDH might well be the bike I most wish could follow me home.

I've Had a really weak spot for bikes with a good story lately too. The Albuquerque contingent should recognize Craig Murray's AHRMA championship winning Triumph race bike.

 

This bike while not especially captivating under normal circumstances has some interesting ties to Triumph history in the Seattle area.

Here are a few that caught my eye for no particular reason. First, this '37 Knuck (1937/1938 is the real sweet spot for Knucks in my opinion). 

This bike simply reminds of Lurker Tom's '36. Tom's is actually a little cooler in my opinion. It's just so flawlessly aged.

And finally, this Jefferson is just super cool.

Now go take a look for yourself.

Ran When Parked

1973 Yamaha TZ750 Works Prototype - Incidentally it's not too late to buy me a Christmas gift.

Triumph 2013

My friend English Stephen reminded me recently that Triumph did a cool thing or two after 1970.

Merry Christmas

Perhaps the sleigh was down and Santa had to revert to the Ariel. Based on the front tire it looks to have made a trip around the world or two.

Johnson Motors

In theory my Jimmy Phillips Johnson Motors race sweater should arrive pretty soon. I can't wait!

Jimmy Phillips with daughter Andrea

Andrea with daughter Lauren

Jimmy's Original Sweater

Iron Redskin

The following is a photo of Korey's great great grandfather from the book the Iron Redskin. Korey clearly has motorcycles in his blood. Korey noted that Leslie worked in marketing for Indian in NY.

Duke II

It seems like Big D almost constantly has some cool oar in the water.

Vespaway

How lame are Segways? Lame enough that if you style one like a Vespa it actually looks cooler.

YZ450F Head

Flathead Rob and I dropped by to pick up some parts from the machinist that has been most of the machine work for his '48 Chief. 

Seymour Had the head from a YZ450F sitting on his bench. I'd never seen one apart before. I can't even imagine a head that has more combustion chamber real estate devoted to breathing. I was also shocked to see just how tiny and spindly the titanium valves they run are. Crazy when you consider the high redline and power generation of a YZ450F . I was pretty blown away by it.

Jimmy Phillips

I've had a bit of a Jimmy Phillips obsession lately.

Mount Rainer 1908 Ford

A 1908 Ford Model T passes through the gates of Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park.

This Charlie Beesley On the Road photo series is SO worth a few minutes to look through.

Charlie Beesley

Charlie Beesley

odel T passes through the gates of Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park - See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/12/18/charlie-beesleys-car-pictures-part-4-on-the-road/#sthash.POtjy5RP.dpuf

odel T passes through the gates of Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park - See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/12/18/charlie-beesleys-car-pictures-part-4-on-the-road/#sthash.POtjy5RP.dpuf

odel T passes through the gates of Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park - See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/12/18/charlie-beesleys-car-pictures-part-4-on-the-road/#sthash.POtjy5RP.dpuf

odel T passes through the gates of Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park - See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/12/18/charlie-beesleys-car-pictures-part-4-on-the-road/#sthash.POtjy5RP.dpuf

Albuquerque 1940

An early Auburn speedster with 1940 California plates heads east on Route 66 in New Mexico. On the back of another picture of this car, someone wrote, “Muroc Dry Lake, 4-7-1940, 93 MPH.”

Check out that front tire. Something tells me that car saw some real miles and would have a few good stories to tell.

Fuel injection pioneer Stu Hilborn

I only just learned that Stu Hilborn recently passed away at 96. Rest in peace Stu.

Stuart Hilborn (left) with Eddie Miller

Stuart Hilborn in his legendary 150 MPH streamliner - See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/12/16/fuel-injection-pioneer-stu-hilborn-dies-at-96/#sthash.HkWF65Mg.dpuf

Stuart Hilborn in his legendary 150 MPH streamliner

Stuart Hilborn in his legendary 150 MPH streamliner - See more at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/12/16/fuel-injection-pioneer-stu-hilborn-dies-at-96/#sthash.HkWF65Mg.dpuf

Hailstone Feed Store & Shell Station

I'm not especially attached to Issaquah, Washington (the town I work in) but for me picking a favorite landmark is mostly a no-brainer, the Hailstone Feed Store & Shell Station.

The feed store building, located on the east side of Front Street, may have been constructed as a residence in the late 1890s. Starting in 1903, Nicholas Burke owned the property and used the building as a warehouse. Burke was the child of Irish immigrants and he operated a grocery store in Issaquah until his death in 1923. The main store was located across the street, where today’s Village Theatre is. After Burke’s death, the warehouse was purchased by Susan Augustan. A 1930 Sanborn insurance map indicates that the building was being used as a grocery store in that year. By 1940 it was being used as a four-room family dwelling. In 1941, Frank Hailstone and his sister, Nell Hailstone Falkenstein, purchased the building. In 1942 it reopened as the Hailstone Feed Store and Shell Gasoline Station. Frank operated the feed store along with his brother James, and his brother-in-law David Lewis. Nell, who was a widow, operated the gas station. Family members operated the business until 1966. The feed store remained in operation under various owners until 1990.

Today the City of Issaquah owns the Hailstone Feed Store building. The Downtown Issaquah Association (DIA) currently leases the building and has now roughly restored it to its 1944 appearance. There was a pretty rad Harley Peashooter laying in wait in the garage bay last time I peeked in the window too.

Decker

My current #1 reason Jeff Decker is my hero. The Miller race car in his living room.

Lemay Show Coverage

Motorcycle Classics magazine has a feature this month with a little Seattle Cossacks coverage. Pretty cool.

The AMCA magazine has some too.