Cool invention

One thing's for sure, they don't make shit like they used to.

Look, Learn, Live!

Cross border blogging

Bugged-shutter found it's way to a blog on the other side of the planet and it was on no other than Southsider's MC. A comment and a few emails exchanged and that's how it got going.

Leap of Faith

Faster faster faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of... freezing waters of the Ganges

Some racers like to do it lying down

Found this pic at Mutant Labradors. From my limited knowledge, that looks like the cork-screw at Laguna Seca... Can anyone confirm that?

Track time...

Three weeks and counting. Check out this link. Trackdays are dope! If you've never been you must. If you have, you're probably gonna be back...

Madness at 18000 feet

For those of you who've been wondering where I've been and what I've been up to for the past few months here's what i did for the first one month I was away. Mountains, motorcycles and monks. Couldn't get any better that this!

From leh_motoring

From leh_motoring

From leh_motoring

From leh_motoring

From leh_motoring

From leh_motoring

From leh_motoring

From leh_motoring

Wall of Fortune

Who ever said walls were built to create divisions were clearly using it for the wrong purpose. I've meant to do this for a while and got down to it today. It's the wall in my garage with various auto-related paraphenelia i've collected over the years. There's a story of some sort to each of them, which much to your chagrin i've decided to pen down below.

The Race Seat: It was my first attempt of building my own race seat. It took me hours of thermocol carving and I've probably ingested my fair share of carcinogens. It last a track day and a year on the street till i decided to re-invent. Come to think of it, it's not yet past it's sell by date.

The YZR500: That's from a visit to the home of Yamaha in Iwata, Oct'07. I've got pics from the museum there, should dig them out for a later post.

The Fairing: That's to match the seat but there's an even more interesting story to that. This guy claimed to have a stash of RD parts and was relocating to the US. Hes was desperate to sell his wares, I wanted them. So i bought two pairs of stock silencers and he threw in two fairings for free. This is one. the other went to Dharmaracer in Bangalore. As for the guy who sold me the wares, he was arrested the next day on charges of theft, fraud and some other charges all related to motorcycle activity.

The Triumph Parking Sign: Was a gift from a frined who knew my passion for the brand.

The Sunbeam S7: That was a gift from the same friend who knew of my plans to buy a S7 and get it restored. May be i should hunt that bike down...

The Dirt Fender: From my 2009 trip to the Himalayas. It was one stonking ride with memories to last a lifetime.

Cross post

Here's something i posted on another blog i contribute to. Here goes...

Race Pace

You don't go to Singapore to watch F1 and not post pics. I was rooting for Brawn GP but 5th and 6th was as far up the order as they could climb.

From F1 Singapore

Marshals in their little safe box are a sight for precision, safety and then even more precision. Every time they go out, it's the most dangerous 90 minutes of their lives.

From F1 Singapore

Fisi doing his thing. I don't blame him for what's going on. From purely an Indian perspective, it's like asking Sissy Tendulkar to bat for Kenya and win the match.

From F1 Singapore

Like my buddy said, these tickets are worthless, they go by so fast! I've put in a requisition in triplicate with the FIA asking them to slow cars down the next time he's watching.

From F1 Singapore

I hate that's he's going to be at Ferrari next season. I hope Massa's going to open a can of Whoopass on him

From F1 Singapore

Thanks to Sutil we got to hear the safety car scream by.

From F1 Singapore

If the F1 car makes you go deaf, the safety car will cure it.

From F1 Singapore

Just a screen grab... like the angle on it.

From F1 Singapore

Let me not have to to say this again! If an Indian owns something, it does not assume Indian-ness no matter what it's called! Force India is definitely not Indian and if you feel compelled to be a fan, GO WATCH CRICKET!

From F1 Singapore

From F1 Singapore

It takes all kinds to complete an F1 race.

From F1 Singapore

Remnants of Sutil's front wing...

From F1 Singapore

Was hoping to get a piece of it. Guess the pic will have to do for now

Wagging the Wheel

I found this pic while rummaging through my home computer.Now i know i'm usually one to brag, but this one's serious. I pulled out of the pit garage for the first time back in Jan 2006. Bike was just built and hurriedly put together for this track day. It arrived late and i had to put it all together coz i had only one day of riding. Carbs on - check. Fairing on - check. Bolts secured - check. Shit!!! I forgot the Motul. Borrow some - check. Fire her up. Braap braap braap. Warm up - check. Get on, engage first and pull out of the second garage in the pits. I've wrung it just over half way and this is what happens.



Crossed up and SCARED SHITLESS.
It's such a great feeling to put blood sweat, time and money to build something that scares you each time you get on. And if you break it, you know can do it all over again.

You can be part of madness just like this. The guys at indiMotard Adventures who organise these track days are at it again and will be having a proper race school in the coming months. Stay tuned for more.

Robbie Williams - Bodies

Wannabe 'King of Cool' riding the real King of Cool's motorsickle.

Piss pot

Gives taking the piss a whole new meaning...

Courtesy the good guys at Rocket Garage

Great Motocycle Ad!

Annuity Help for New..
Watch the ad...

Wonder if I'll ever go through this when i grow old!

Tales Of The Twisted Throttle

Dirt, mud, river, rocks, slush, twisties, tarmac, trails... Yes, I was out riding.



Those kids happened to catch my eye as i blazed past. They were doing what was the equivalent of Noodling but they'd beat any redneck at it, for the fish were about 2 inches long.



The irony of the red-neck(ish) situation is that the kid to the right appeared to be the other kid's 'Man Friday'. He wasn't allowed to speak to me even though i conversed in the local tongue and it took a bit to persuade Friday to stand in on the pic too. No prizes for guessing who caught the fish. ;)



Trip cost:Rs 508.50
Distance covered: 327km
Total time: 6 hours
The sticker on the side of the bike is of a friend's Motorcycle Adventure company IndiMotard Adventures. Must see!

PS: Excuse the poor quality pics, they were off a E50 cell phone camera. :)

Getting your knee down #187

RESPECT!

Riding the mountain.

There is a God and then there's these guys. Incredibly Surreal!

When the rush comes...

Not so sure if I was supposed to be near those clouds. Not sure if I was supposed to jump off that rock face. Not sure if I was supposed to accelerate to a hundred in 3 seconds...on one wheel. When in doubt, ask no questions, just follow the flow of adrenaline.

Laying low

This is definitely no barn find, but was laying low in a garage in Mumbai. Take a shot at this rare work of art if you will?


Here's another clue. The louvres that aided in cooling. This one was a marvel for assuming function over form and yet is one of the most beautiful cars ever concieved.

Quicker than a ray of light she should be flying...

Weathered in a time capsule, this Sun might just see a new ray of light soon.
Watch this space.

Circa 1943 - a gentleman's living room

When I grow up I want a Norton in my living room too.

Botox shot for a Honda

Here's a project I took up last year towards the end of summer. When i tell you that it was a budget project, you must understand that we spent the 5 bucks that was saved for the 6-pack on a C-clamp that doubled up as a valve extractor. The bike was bought for about a $1000 and Jimmy spent another couple of hundred to get the bits and bobs that went on. I take no credit for the great paint job because I didn't do it, I still don't know how to hold a paint gun, but for all else that looks good, it's me. All flaws are to be blamed on Jimmy who felt his power drill with 4 screw driver and 4 socket bits made him a MacGyver for the little Honda.

Riding Pangs

Miss the Spring
Miss the Mountains
Miss getting lost on Forest Service Roads
Miss Riding in the Dirt
Miss Riding the twisties to get rid of the chicken strip
Miss my motorcycle

Stealing Speed

Here's a book that's a must read. I haven't read it yet but have heard hand-me-down versions of the story during the Isle of Man TT centenary celebrations. Mat Oxley knows it all, reason enough to buy the book then.
Pics courtesy RocketGarage

Here are a couple of pics that I have of those wild MZs

From 2007 Isle of Man TT

From 2007 Isle of Man TT

Here's one from '71,

From Isle of Man