Italian Bike Day - Cassington Oxfordshire

This small village just outside of Oxford used to host a 'Bike Night' when the numbers of bikes turning up regularly got to 2,000 +  I believe that this just became too much and so the Summer weekly meet came to an end. ?
   The' Oxfordshire riders group' still meet every Monday apparently at the Red Lion pub which is where today's event was also held
   As is the usual way it was mostly attended by Ducati owners and 'Monsters' seemed to be the bike of choice. However, there were a number of older interesting machines.
   What did surprise me, was the quite  large contingent of  Dutch owners and also noticed one Belgian plate and thought that I picked up another accent too

The rear garden of the 'Red Lion' pub

Aermacchi

MV

I don't think that I'd seen one before.
Moto Cimatti

Adam's S3 - Italian Motor Magazine -  slightly in disgrace as it has a mysterious
ignition fault problem

I believe that I heard the owner of this 900SS saying that he bought it in 1985 ?
for £1800 and that his mate on the Laverda behind paid £800 for that.
 Those were the days !

Guzzi Project Seat

Collected my finished seat yesterday for my slowly progressing  project bike. Also made some mudguard stays as a pattern for copying and a rear engine/gearbox support to add a little more rigidity plus a few other minor jobs.

Another quality job by Anthony at 'Moretti' in Dursley,Glos

I had to drag the bikes out to 'Service' Mark's Guzzi Spada
and just couldn't resist a photo

Grand Canyon,Route 66, Las Vegas and Death Valley

After 12 days of being in the USA and 8.5 days on the road we were at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and by the end of this day with a approx mileage covered of just over 3,300 mls and by the end of this day it would go up another 400mls as we arrive in Las Vegas

Tony taking in the views at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

These pictures just do not do these views justice

Back on another small section of Route 66.
This is the Snow Cap at Seligman

Back of the Snow Cap

Still Seligman

On the way to Oatman and I believe these roads have the sharpest curves found on Route 66 

Oatman and lucky enough to catch the snake in shot
before it disappeared
Wild Burrows (Mules) apparently come down out of the hills
in the daytime

We didn't arrive in Las Vegas until 9.30pm
Luckily we already had a hotel pre booked and paid for by my good friend
Tim Crump (far too kind!)

Two days later on the edge of Death Valley National Park
there is Death Valley Junction and this place.
You really should check out this Fascinatingly mad place
on the internet. 

Death Valley

Big Pine on US Highway 395

The Sierra Nevada Mountains 

When Space is at a premium.........

.............even little things can make life  - in the garage  - a little bit easier.
   I called in at the reasonably priced Lidl's store today and as is quite often the case they had a few 'this weeks offers' to tempt the money from your pocket - a plastic box containing either a reasonable selection of 'pop rivets' and one of O rings each for between £3 and £4.
  I bought a Magnetic Tool Strip even though,at the time,I was struggling to think where I'd be able to put it.£2.99 seemed a bargain and I think I'll go back for another one as, although not ideal, the back of the door has space.

Space for,at least,one more !

BSMC III Event

https://vimeo.com/92252471

Bristol Auto Italia Day 2014

I have been down to the Italian Day this morning in the City centre, only staying a couple of hours.
If you like Italian cars and bikes then it's well worth a visit,but after a few years of attending it is fairly predictable. I am not knocking it - it's FREE - though if it wasn't on the doorstep maybe I'd  not bother every year. 
 I'd just like there to be more modified and older bikes there.

Maserati

Fiat Dino

Lancia

Imposing,but not my cup of tea

I thought this new Alfa Romeo good looking though

A friend,Rogers, Leman 1000.
He had a accident on it many years ago at the Isle of Man and so junked the
bodywork etc.
I don't think there was ice creams and cold drinks in the Top Box ? 

As ever, a sea of Ducatis