2013 Moto Electra World Record on a Norton Electric Motorcycle

Just a quick reminder for those who, like me, missed this disastrous event. 

In 2013, Moto Electra Racing Electric motorcycle completed world record coast to coast trip using electricity run battery Florida to California cross country. In just 3 days and on June 6th the team accomplished this world record-breaking feat! Battling temperatures over 100 degrees, punishing rain and bike repairs, the racing team hit their goal while showing the world the potential of electric motors. As the sun rose bright and early in Jacksonville, Florida, the Moto Electra racing team was saddled up and ready to go. But by the afternoon, rain had forced the team to stop. They didn’t let that get them down, and within the hour, the team was back up and moving, despite the downpour.

 

Over the next few days, the team would stop now and then for a little bit of rest, to recharge the bike’s battery, to address issues with the charging equipment, and to replace the headlight and change out the throttle. During the Texas leg of the journey, temperatures creeped above 100 degrees, and the team took turns swapping riders to make it through the grueling leg. As they neared the Texas border, rider Thad Wolff exclaimed, “I look forward to getting the hell outta Texas!”

 

After battling Los Angeles traffic, the team pulled into the finish line on the Santa Monica pier on the evening of 6th as the sun set over the Pacific. The team achieved the first coast-to-coast run on an electric bike in under 3.5 days. According to the team, the bike and the batteries performed as well as they’d hoped, showing the world just what green technology can accomplish.

Via : https://inhabitat.com/

The Vintage Sports-Car Club

Vintage and historic cars evoke enthusiasm and spark a passion; and since 1934 the Vintage Sports-Car Club has provided an arena for people to enjoy pre-war cars competitively and socially.  Active in every aspect of motoring and motorsport for pre-war cars, the VSCC is one of the largest and best regarded motoring clubs in the world. With such a diverse range of motoring disciplines on offer there is plenty of scope to become involved, whether as a car owner, marshal, competitor or enthusiast.

The Club organises some 40 social and competitive events a year, including race meetings, hill climbs, sprints, road rallies, trials and driving tests all over the UK 

The 2015 Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

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In keeping with the classic lines of Don Draper’s 1957 Matchless G3LS, The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a niche charity event held upon the last Sunday in September with gentlefolk riding their cafe’ racer, scrambler, tracker, bobber, classic vintage, classic scooter, classic chopper, sidecar, brat style, modern classic and undefinable motorcycles to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research.

Art & Moto 2015

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The third edition of the international event Art & Moto will be held on the 24th, 25th and 26th of April 2015 at the LX Factory, in Lisbon. As already well known, the event is based on a lifestyle where the motorbikes cross the worlds of arts, surf, garments and accessories, design, music and even more forms of urban cultures. With free entrance, the event will be running on two buildings of the LX Factory compound.
At the Factory L there will be exhibitions of plastic arts and crafts; at the bigger area, the Factory XL, the visitors will see special designed custom motorbikes, as for example, café racers, scramblers, street trackers and other similar, as well as the last models of the biggest motorcycle brands, side to side with the best actual Portuguese builders, who will also be present with their latest works. Also in Factory XL, and to complement the urban lifestyle culture, the event will have the presence of surf and casual garments, technical equipment and motorbike accessories, surfboards, personalized helmets and many more products and activities from national and international creators. DJ sets and live concerts will be also happening during the days of the event. Another great part of these three days of the Art & Moto will be the exhibition, on a closed parking, of the motorbikes from the own visitors, with many of them in the same line of what is being done at some of the best ateliers in the world. It will be an additional great point of interest of the event.

A special photo studio set will be available for everyone interested to take high quality pictures from their own motorbikes.
On Friday, the 24th of April, there will be a big opening party, on a venue to be announced, where everyone can register for a ride to a lunch outside Lisbon on the next day. The exhibition areas will be closed during this day, but they will all open on Saturday the 25th, right after lunchtime. On the 26th of April, another celebration morning ride to Lisbon outskirts, with an art exhibition, catering, live music, motorbikes and other things the participants could enjoy in the area.

The event production is responsibility of the Portuguese forum Café Racer 351 and the online shop 351Works. More and continuously updated information is available on artemoto.pt and to be also followed on http://www.facebook.com/artemoto351. Soon, the detailed schedule and the list of participants will be available.

The 1 Moto" show in Portland by Garrett Meyers

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Garrett Meyers went to the 5th annual "The 1 Moto" show in snowy Portland. Saw a bunch of rad bikes and met some good people. www.garrettmeyersfoto.com

Lake Perkolilli Centenary of Speed 1914-2014 by Dan Talbot

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The photographs of this 1904 Napier L48 Sampson were taken by my friend Daniel Talbot recently in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The Napier was one of about 70 vehicles that were taken to Kalgoorlie recently to celebrate the Lake Perkolilli Centenary of Speed – an event held on a large claypan from 1914 to 1939. The claypan is essentially a dried out lake and was used as a makeshift circuit by dare-devils and speedsters from across Australia during the first half of the 20th century. It doesn’t rain much in that part of the world but it did on this occasion and the event was cancelled, but not before the Napier and a few other early arrivals got a run around the four kilometre dirt track. This Napier is a reconstruction built around an original 15 litre, straight 6 cylinder, engine which broke the world land speed record at Ormond Beach in Florida. The car has been exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concourse in California USA where it won the most historic car. It has competed in hill-climbs in the United Kingdom and various speed events around Australia. When not being used in competition, the vehicle is on display at the York Motor Museum in Western Australia. It was the first British car to exceed 100 miles per hour and also powered a record-breaking speedboat called the Nautilus. The Napier is a crank-start but, due to its enormous size, the preferred method of getting the engine started is by towing.

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride - Bordeaux 2014

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All pictures © Xabi Barreneche

Last Sunday was held in Bordeaux the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride. Together with 258 rides across 57 countries, it has been a great occasion to meet friends and gentlemen outside the social networks ... Here in Bordeaux we have been lucky to spend a great and sunny day riding the beautiful city of Bordeaux and its environment. I remember the first edition a couple of years ago we were 5 riders in Biarritz and we were more than 85 bikes this time in Bdx. Congratulation for our hosts Seb Rigault and Guillaume Corre for their hard work and of course a big Thank you to Mark Hawa and his organisation to make this event happen all over the world for a noble cause. Oh please, another warm thanks to Xabi Barreneche and his camera for following us during all this ride.

The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride 2014

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The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride was founded in 2012. Inspired by a photo of Mad Men’s Don Draper astride a classic bike and wearing his finest suit, It was decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles. That first ride brought together over 2,500 riders across 64 cities. The success of the event encouraged the organizers to consider how it could be used to support a worthy cause. And the rest, as they say, is stylishly-attired history.
 In 2013, over 11,000 participants in 145 cities around the world raised over $277,000 for prostate cancer research. In 2014, all funds raised will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in the UK, USA and Australia, with a relevant men’s health charity for Asia to be advised.
In 2014, we expect over 20,000 smartly-dressed gentlefolk in over 220 cities to straddle the saddle in the name of men’s health.

www.gentlemansride.com Register HERE