Race Retro 2014

The Yellow Peril

(ink and watercolour)

This eye catching machine had to be sketched. Bill Bragg originally campaigned tho bike and it's siblings the Blue and Scarlet Perils in the 60's. Bill was famed for turning up to sprint meets towing a huge trailer behind a motorcycle combination, Initially an AJS 650 and then a Triumph 650. The bikes were discovered in a shed in 1999 and have been slowly resorted since. In 2010 the three bikes were raced at various events for the first time since 1966. At North Weald Martin Newton recorded a 13.7 sec quarter mile, it's previous best was 13.39. Martin said that the clutch was slipping a bit and so he shut if off before the finish. I hope to bump into the other perils in the future.

Gentleman John

(watercolour and ink)

Two years ago at Race Retro I sketched a Heritage Stock Car, I resisted last year, but as soon as I saw this 6 wheeler I couldn't let it go. Gentleman John was originally created in 1976 by John Stirk who was inspired by the Tyrell 6 wheeled GP Car and Chinese 6 trucks which John used to drive. The original car was raced for 2 years before John was unable to continue developing it due to lack of time. BriSCA passed a rule shortly after the cars retirement stating that all stock cars must have 4 wheels. John said that the car actually goes round the oval better than a 4 wheel car as the four steering wheels at the front stop it from drifting out on the corners and so it can keep tight into the corner.

The car seen here is a replica of the original built entirely based on photos that John had. It runs a Dodge 440ci v8, and the back wheels are held down by a tractor top link to give it traction!

1972 Mclaren M16B Indy Car

(ink sketch)

This car won the 1972 500 mile Indianapolis race with Mark Donohue at the wheel. This was the first of three wins for Mclaren at Inianapolis

The Car runs a 2.65l turbo 4 cylinder offenhauser with 750bhp, plus it has some serious trumpets!

 More photos....

Next year I will brave the cold and sketch one of many amazing rally cars that run on the rally stage. 

 More Mclaren stuff

 Excelsior 2 speed 98cc

 

 More BriSCA Heritage cars

Abarth

For more information on the Race Retro event held at Stoneliegh Park please visit their website:

RACE RETRO

Sketchbook Selections Vol 4: Motorcycles

Volume 4 of my Sketchbook Selections is now available via my SHOP

I won't blabber on about it as the video above says it all really. The colour version is selling pretty fast so if you want to be one of the lucky 25 then I'd get ordering!

Pane's Yard

(full ink painting)

After passing Panes recovery garage a number of times on the way to Malvern show ground I stopped and took a series of photos of the vehicles and yard. These photos sat around for a while until recently when I decided start doing some large ink sketches, this piece is just over 1 meter square. It was great fun as my marks loosened up and I wasn't so precious about what I was doing. This led to a lot of happy accidents and a real learning experience. Due to the scale I started treating the piece more like a painting than a sketch, using washes of indian ink over the fountain pen marks. Enough arty jabber here's an ok photo of the full piece with some close ups.....

 (detail)

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The 34th Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show

The Bristol Show usually turns up the odd gem, this year was no exception as you can see....

The Nash Racer

1932 New Imperial Model 23

(ink sketch)

This bike was a real sight to behold. Not only does it have this great hand beaten aluminium streamlining, it is the holder of 7 World Speed Records, Four Brooklands and Brighton records. The bike was last seen 24 years ago, and I as well as many other people were ecstatic to see it. It is billed as being one of the first ever streamlined bikes. In 1936 at Brooklands the bike reached 93mph with a 1/2 mile flying start!

 1929 Works Senior T.T. Scott Racer

(ink sketch)

this is one of the 6 bikes entered by Scott in the '29 TT. It was ridden by P.A.E. (Phil) Vare. Who qualified and then almost completed the TT going out on the last lap. the Scotts were dropping out due to holed pistons and only one of the riders, Tommy Hatch finished. The bike was bought by Vale after the TT and he rode it on the road and raced in various events before selling it through his own Scott dealership to the second owner who kept it unrestored and in the state it's in today. The Bike will be offered for sale at the Stafford Bike Show in April by Bonhams.

Here's more from the show:

 A bike I didn't get time to sketch was this lovely 40's Durney which was bought 2 days prior to the show from a cafe in France which was previously using it as part of the decor.

 '59 Model 16c Matcless Trials

 1930 Douglas TT

 Ex-Works Norton

 12931 Rudge Dirt Track Bike

 Lambrettas

 Excelsior Manxman

 James Commando Trials

1931 Matchless JAP

 '65 Greeves Anglian

 1915 Rudge Multi

 Norton Special

 '58 JAPSA

Somerset Vintage and Classic Tractor Show 2014

Well the 2014 sketching season has started. I ventured out of the studio to a more local venue the Bath and West Showground for a day of tractor sketching in some cold sheds. Here's the results:

1919 / 20 Austin Iron Duke

(ink sketch)

First registered in 1926 at a farm near St. Columb Minor, Cornwall. The tractor stayed in the family and even helped move the family in 1938 to Axeminster, Devon. The journey took 3 days by tractor, this was quite common for farmers to use the tractor to move as it was potentially their only form of transport at the time, well who needs a car anyway?

Massey Harris 555

(ink sketch)

More photos.....

Somerset Vintage and Classic Tractor Show Facebook

Oil & Ink Motorbike Print Expo

I'm really honoured to be included in the lineup for a new show over in the good ol' USA!

Sponsored by Staghead Moto the show includes a plethora of motorbike addicted artists including: 

Maxwell Paternoster

Adam Nickel

Lorenzo Eroticolor

Matylda Mcilvenny

Work by Land

Gabriel Welker

Zeb Love

Erik Hamline

Chris Thornley at Raid71

Ruben Rodriguez

Aaron Von Freter

Jon Contino

Scott Zitta

David Schwen

Raulowsky

Lori A Petersen

Josafat Miranda

Emilio Cabanas

The show takes the form of a travelling pop up gallery and shows will be in New York, Minneapolis, L.A. and finally at the Moto GP in Austin Texas. Don't know about you but I'm really excited to see how this all pans out!

Old Empire Motorcycles Hurricane

(Ink and Digital)

Work alongside Old Empire Motorcycles continues into 2014 with their latest monster the Hurricane. Based on a 90s Hinkley Triumph 900 Triple, this really is in the true nature of Old Empire as the bike has been stripped right down to the bare bones and then styled with some subtle nods to the airplane of the same name. This was as fairly tricky concept as I've seen builds based on planes before and they can be done in very bad taste. Anyway I hope you enjoy it. Here's what Old Empire have to say about the build:

"Some motorcycles look like they’re moving fast standing still.

The Hurricane is one of these.

From the intake like fronts of the split tanks to the solo seat hung of the backbone of the bike, its screams speed. The hunkered down stance is achieved using a set of USD forks combined with chunky race tyres, modified clips on and forward controls which give a seriously low yet comfortable riding position.

With the punchy 900cc water cooled triple hung from the top tube, the Hurricane’s modified frame looks as if it has grown from and around the British built motor, its the centre piece and focal point of what will be a one of a kind custom that still keeps in tie with our principles of keeping it simple, a blending of old and new and creating a timeless design that is still completely usable."

If you like it enough the build is in progress and up for grabs, first come first served, so contact Old Empire direct.