These Czech films are the balls. You got to love push-starts, dustbin fairings, high speeds on cobblestone roads, and crowds right up to the track edge. Oh yeah, don't forget the jazzy sound track. I could watch these for hours!!!!!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Been waiting with baited breath!!!!!
It's finally open and from the few items already up for sale I can only say that we are in for a treat. Check out The Falcon Motorcycle Shop. I have my eye on those finned velocity stacks. Is it too early to start a Christmas list?
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Fortnight Feature- 1959 Czech Grand Prix
Great video but you need to know a little Czech. If you take a close look you will notice that some of the guys in the pit are wearing the latest in flame retardant swim trunks!!!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
While on the subject..............
I recently posted a video and a brief biography of Rupert Hollaus the subject of that IOM race movie. Well, I might as well as give you the rest of the story which is a brief history of Hollaus' ride- the 125cc NSU Rennfox.
NSU was founded in 1873 originally as a knitting machine manufacturer that diversified into bicycles and finally producing their first motorcycle in 1901. Jumping forward a few decades, NSU built the famous or perhaps infamous kettenrad- the chimeric combination of motorcycle and halftrack.
Cooling: Air
Transmission: Four-speed block
Power: 15.5 h.p. at 10,000 r.p.m.
Maximum speed: 100 m.p.h.
Chassis: Single frame tube in stamped plate with projecting suspended engine. Rear, telescopic suspension; front, swinging-link suspension
Brakes: Front and rear, central drum operated by double cam
Hollaus rode the same bike as above with some modifications most notable among them was a 6-speed gearbox.
The excellent engineering of these bikes under the direction of Albert Roder eventually led NSU to be the largest motorcycle producer in world in 1955 only to end production 13 years later producing a moped known as the Quickly.
NSU was founded in 1873 originally as a knitting machine manufacturer that diversified into bicycles and finally producing their first motorcycle in 1901. Jumping forward a few decades, NSU built the famous or perhaps infamous kettenrad- the chimeric combination of motorcycle and halftrack.
After the war, NSU had a slow start offering several pre-war designs as well as a civilianized version of the Kettenrad. Then in 1949, NSU produced both a two-stoke and four-stroke version of the NSU Fox. The hallmark of the motorcycle was a pressed monocoque frame coupled with a central rear suspension. NSU motorcycles were conspicuously successful in the 1950's with 4 world speed records in 1951, 1953, 1954, and 1955 as well as multiple Grand Prix victories along with Hollaus' World Championship. In 1956, NSU propelled the first motorcycle to the 200 mph mark at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
NSU Rennfox "Blauwal"
For you gearheads, the NSU Rennfox specifications are as follows:
Motorcycle: NSU Rennfox 125 Manufacturer: NSU, Neckarsulm Type: Racing Year: 1953
Engine: NSU single-cylinder, four-stroke, with single-shaft overhead distribution operated by a shaft with bevel gears. Displacement 123.6 cc. (54 mm. x 54 mm.)Cooling: Air
Transmission: Four-speed block
Power: 15.5 h.p. at 10,000 r.p.m.
Maximum speed: 100 m.p.h.
Chassis: Single frame tube in stamped plate with projecting suspended engine. Rear, telescopic suspension; front, swinging-link suspension
Brakes: Front and rear, central drum operated by double cam
Hollaus rode the same bike as above with some modifications most notable among them was a 6-speed gearbox.
The excellent engineering of these bikes under the direction of Albert Roder eventually led NSU to be the largest motorcycle producer in world in 1955 only to end production 13 years later producing a moped known as the Quickly.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Rupert Hollaus-- Austria's Motorcycle Champion
I started posting videos of old racing movies a few weeks back and have enjoyed researching the back story on some of them. I hope you all have enjoyed the last one because the story behind it is both heroic and tragic. Rupert Hollaus was born in Traisen, Austria amidst a vibrant road racing community. Known for his modest physical presence and demeanor, Hollaus impressed NSU team managers with his natural motorcycling talent and started his second Grand Prix year in 1954 aboard a 125cc NSU Rennfox and a 250cc Rennmax. The NSU team was strong and included the double World Champion Werner Haas but no one could have predicted Hollaus' freshman success at NSU.
At the Italian Grand Prix, Hollaus appeared to be putting together another win. He quickly posted a new record lap speed of 149.9 km/h during the final practice at the Monza track when tragedy struck. His team mates Muller and Haas witness Hollaus crashing in the perilous Lesmo curves. Despite immediate assistance, Rupert Hollaus passes away tragically becoming the first posthumous Grand Prix motorcycle champion and Austria's only motorcycle road racing champion.
Hollaus quickly dominated the 125cc class by winning the first four Grand Prix races, namely the IOM, Ulster, Dutch, and German.
At the Italian Grand Prix, Hollaus appeared to be putting together another win. He quickly posted a new record lap speed of 149.9 km/h during the final practice at the Monza track when tragedy struck. His team mates Muller and Haas witness Hollaus crashing in the perilous Lesmo curves. Despite immediate assistance, Rupert Hollaus passes away tragically becoming the first posthumous Grand Prix motorcycle champion and Austria's only motorcycle road racing champion.
4 September 1931-11 September 1954
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Fortnight Feature
For the readers in Germany, this little movie will be a treat since the narration is in German. I love 125cc bikes even in its modern MotoGP incarnation. This movie features the dolphin-nosed fairings that are the coolest
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