Hammersmith Gorillas

During a 26 hour conversation with Skooter Farm Dave whilst reeling in the miles on our Milan road trip, it was inevitable that inbetwen the noize of conflicting music tastes, there would be quiet times for philosophical discourse.

"So Ben were you in the Hammersmith Gorillas in a former life?"

Who? BP

Guzzi Lovers Milan Show Down

Good to finally meet Davide Caforio. Looking a lot like Captain Haddock from Tintin, but a lot better at doing the mashed potato. He had two bikes at Show Down, a looney rigid lakester (for want of a better pigeonhole) that he is building with Romano Brida, based on a 850 T5, de-railed, exposed Magni shaft-drive, 40mm Webber carb from an Alfa Romeo (also hails from Milan). And a saucy BOTT style racer with TZ250 hump and fairing, and period correct 16" front, 18" rear 3-spoke Dymags (?) BP

UPDATE:
On closer inspection I noticed Davide's Devil-on-Absinthe eyes (this is not Photoshop, it's just what happens when untrained ears, unfiltered by the specially treated Japanese knitwear masks we wear, take their chances on the dancefloor when Skooter Farm Dave is on the deck (not decks; we're talking the rawest of LoFi DJing)

Milan Show Down Stivali

That's Italian for boots.

Show Down Milan: The Road Home

These posts are getting a bit arse about face, because this one can't wait. We left Milan in heavy rain, then in Switzerland hit heavy snow as we approached the San Gottardo tunnel.

This was the motorway. We were down to 25mph.

We were heading to see a punk gig in a club called l'Entrepot in Arlon, Belgium. A British punkabilly group called The Grit were supporting. They were entertaining...

The double bass player was worth watching and had a neat bass customised by Vince Ray.

Headliners were US Bombs whose lead singer Duane Peters is a bit of a legend, and Skooter Farm Dave's old mate.

I don't know a lot about Duane (above with Dave), but I do know there aren't many people who've lived through more. And he's a fellow Guzzi owner. Just before this photo was taken Dave said 'I want a photo taken with you because I haven't got one and all my heroes are dying.' I didn't think it was the most tactful approach.

We left a few issues of Sideburn to read on the tour bus. Dave donated his Sideburn scarf to Duane as the singer had a stinking cold and after a few years on heroin is now even reluctant to take Sudafed. See Duane Peters pool skating in Dave's backyard.

I've posted this now because the band are still touring the UK and Europe. Derby tomorrow.

All dates here. GI

Show Down Milan People

I love looking at bike show photos from around the world. Even though there is a generic hot rod or period correct chopper look/uniform, there is still a lot of room for local interpretation. And a lot of that was in evidence at the Milan Show Down.
A couple of Rumblers. Romano from the Rumblers was the driving force behind this great show.
Paolo from Zaeta. Too much for one woman, not enough for two.
This is bike show crowd Milan-style.
The DJ - the Blonde Pit Bull. Skooter Farm Dave took over the decks. Well, turned off the CD decks and started spinning his 7-inchers.
The bar was selling more cocktails than beer.
Dave!
Hats!
Euro flat track champion, Zaeta team rider and all-round legend Marco Belli called by and had a quick Campari. No, really.
Photographer Antonio Cellini. Nice sweatshirt Antonio.
Everyone likes having their photo taken in Italy.
This is photographer Carlito Schiliro, who shot the M&M's story for SB6, and his friend. You think a photographer would manage to keep his eyes open for a snap.
Killer fringe.
Paolo Sormani (left) and Roberto Ungaro from the world's second best motorcycle mag, Riders.
This lady kept walking past and stroking Project FT's tyre. She thought nobody was noticing, but we caught her.
We liked 'Till Death' on her throat.
Eye see.
Patch club.
Paparazzi.Chick magnet.
These two started jiving when Dave was on the decks.
Stefania from Mermaid.
Antonio, Stefania and Dario from Officine Mermaid.
Mermaid crew re-enacting The Clash 1977.

My old friend Mick Phillips came by, wore a West Brom coloured balaclava (for that essential psychadelic terrorist look that is going to be so 'now' in three year's time) and spoke Italian to people who didn't have the decency to speak perfect English.

The Road to Show Down Pt. 1

It starts here. Skooter Farm Dave drove down from Wigan with the stand in the back of his LDV. Stayed Wednesday night and we left to meet Ben at 5am Thursday.

My (GI's) licence is so filthy the insurance company wanted an arm and a leg to cover me, so Ben and Dave had to share the LDV driving. One drove, one slept. I was the kitchen staff. Cheese cracker and Adnam's Beer Chutney anyone? Wine Gum?

We headed over to Paris to visit a few friends and took the time to call in at Thierry Vincent's Mumbaikers photo exhibition that was opening in a Royal Enfield shop called Tendence Roadster. That's Thierry the photographer with his arms crossed. The shop's owner Guillaume Tirard is on the right. And yes, Josh in the photo on the wall is wearing a Sideburn T-shirt.
This lad is one of Tendence Roadster's mechanics. He's the youngest bike mechanic I've seen for years. Good going, lad!
Thierry even made his own picture frames. If you want to display the Mumbaikers shots in your shop/gallery/palace, contact Thierry through his blog. The artwork is for sale too. The Vintagent called by later in the evening, though we didn't know he was in town and missed him, unfortunately. Unsurprisingly, he's written a great post on the exhibition. Read it at the Vintagent Blog.This photo, on the wall in the shop, was taken in the 70s. The Norton is in the shop and so are those leathers. They're tiny, but so cool. We'd love to meet the owner of them.

These are the leathers.Also, in the Tendence Roadster, an old Rudge displaying my favourite ever bike company logo.

Next stop Dimitri's... G