Friday, May 22, 2009

1957 Triumph Factory tour

Now this is really great find. Hope you all enjoy the film.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Digital back issues of American Motorcyclist now online

Google Books partnership provides searchable 50-year archive

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce that it has made much of its back catalog of American Motorcyclist magazine available online, for free, through a partnership with Google.

The move -- the first of its scope in the motorcycle industry -- puts a searchable online database of American Motorcyclist issues between 1955 and 2007 within reach of motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere. The collection of more than 630 issues is viewable by visiting http://books.google.com and searching "American Motorcyclist."

"American Motorcyclist has long served as the publication of record for motorcycling rights, riding and racing in the United States, and much of what you'll now find online at Google Book Search is information you'll find nowhere else in the motorcycling world," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman.

"For 85 years the AMA has been the steward of motorcycling heritage," Dingman continued. "We're proud to announce that with our partnership with Google, we're now able to more widely and easily share a large part of that heritage with the world."

Said Google's Punit Soni: "For years, we've worked to make as much information as possible accessible online, whether that information comes from books, newspapers, or images. We think that bringing more magazines online is one more important step toward our long-standing goal of providing access to all the world's information."

Google Book Search showcases every single page of the magazine, including ads, columns and front and back covers. Set up for leisurely browsing by enthusiasts or dedicated searching by keyword for historians, the American Motorcyclist collection is now available to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection.


About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycle organization with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

<-Here is a shortcut that you can copy and paste into your address bar that will take you directly to the January 1950 issue->

http://books.google.com/books?id=_PsDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=American+Motorcyclist&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0_0#PPP1,M1

There is an image of a magnifiying glass located at the upper center of page that you can click on to make the page large enough to easily read.

Hope you all enjoy this as much as I do.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

John “Jack” Armstrong 1928 - 2009

On Saturday April 25th, 2009 the last member of the Armstrong racing family quietly left us. In Wilbraham Massachusetts, John “Jack” Armstrong passed away during the morning hours. His 20 plus year race against cancer finally coming to an end. Jack was predeceased by his father Erle “Red” “Pop” Armstrong (Racer, Chief Engineer Indian Motorcycle, Vaudevillian, and Hall of Fame member) and his brothers Bobby (Hill climber and Hall of Fame member) and Bill (Racer, and race mechanic for his brothers) – all Indian Motorcycle factory racers and employees at one time or another.

As with all his family, Jack lived and breathed “Indian” all his life – recanting memories of his growing up in the motorcycle and racing world of a time long past. Though not an “expert” in the Indian world, Jack was often called upon to assist and share his remembrances for stories, books, TV specials, and biographies relating to the Indian Motorcycle world.

Jack never lost his passion for racing – even after leaving competition (flat track) in the early 50’s to support a family (truth be told, it was a promise he made to his wife Nancy). An accomplished dirt tracker in the amateur and then profession ranks, Jack never lost his passion to compete. In the early 70’s, he re-entered the active world of racing as a hill climber on the AMA New England Hill Climb “circuit”. He set a hill record or two and gathered a few trophies along the way – not too bad for a man is his late 40 and well into his 50’s. He also served as an active member of the New England Hillclimber’s Association – serving on the board and as president.

Personally, and yes I am a bit biased, his greatest contribution to the racing world was not his own accomplishments, but rather the passion he showed for motorcycle racing, and his desire to share his stories and mentor the “new comers”. He was always willing to help any serious racer, often offering riding suggestions, engine “tuning” tips, porting secrets, and anything else that could help them gain an edge. Jack also contributed to the restoration of several Indian motorcycles, his memory of some of the finer details priceless.

In the mid 80’s, he was first diagnosed with cancer and finally gave up his second racing career. Never wanting to be a “show”, he felt his competitive abilities were not at the level they needed to be. Thus, he sold his racers and engines and said goodbye to the hills, dirt and mud. He never said goodbye to his colleagues though and continued to help anyone who asked and/or came by. Several of his engines showed up (and placed) in the ensuing nationals and pro events – in the hands of some of the new breed of riders moving from the amateur to the pro races.

Besides his wife Nancy of 59 years and children Charles and Christine, Jack leaves a world of friends and former colleagues who shared a two wheel passion and a desire to be out of the dust and first across the line.

Rest assured, he is back under the tutelage and wrenches of his father and brothers – and ready to race all that have gone before him.


Chuck Armstrong