Kim Newcombe

You can watch this full doco on Kim Newcombe on the NZ On Screen website here.

I'd seen this a while ago but looked it up again today because I've been reading this book:

Which James Woodhams loaned me. It's a really bloody good read and I'd recommend it to anyone.

For those of you who don't know Kim Newcombe was an amazing rider and also engineer/mechanic, who essentially built his own bike using a 2 stroke Konig boat engine and then almost won the European GP. Almost, because he was killed in an accident before he could do it.

It's a really interesting story and obviously there's a lot more to it than simply him designing and building the bike. He has a lot of help along the way, esp from the Konig factory. Tim Hanna, author of the book, is very critical of the movie. I can't remember exactly why? But, as usual, I reckon you'd be best to read the book and then watch the film. Kim's wife, Janeen, is a major feature of both book and film, which can seem a bit strange at times. But obviously they were very close, and I guess a lot of the story inevitably needs to be told through her now that he's not around.

Anyway, if you're at all interested in motorcycles read this book! It's good.

Cone Custom Cycles

One of the Quake City Rumblers (QCR) put me onto this stuff from Japan. These particular bikes are all from Cone Custom Cycles here. The Rumblers all ride chopped up scooters, and I've been dabbling with the idea of building one myself. I got started on one with Chris (Pres. QCR), but it's kinda not had any attention for ages because I've been so busy at work... and because I'm desperately trying to get the Norton sorted to be back on the road for summer! I do want to get some kinda small bike on the road to go on the next Smash Palace/QCR run though... just dunno what yet. Been thinking a 50cc flat tracker would be pretty cool?

Bosozoku and Tokkofuku

Bosozoku and Tokkofuku

This (link above) is an interesting post by a guy called Jarrett Reynolds about his mission to get himself a genuine Tokkofuku – an embroidered jacket that the Bosozoku bike gangs of Japan used to (possibly still do?) wear.

Stuart and I have considered having a patch with the next issue of HFoS as opposed to the flexidisc and this reminded me of this.

Thanks to Tim Kelleher from Sons & Co for putting me onto this guy.

Billy Childish (Soft Focus)

http://www.vice.com/soft-focus/billy-childish

This really didn't want to embed here so click on the link to see it.

This is Billy Childish being interviewed by Ian Svenonius for his Vice TV thing 'Soft Focus'. I like Billy Childish for all sorts of reasons, but he reason I'm putting this here is at about 18 minutes. His position on 'professionalism' interests me. I feel the same when it comes to graphic design I think. His criticism of "people identifying themselves by what they do" is also interesting. This is at odds with a lot of current pedagogy at art schools I think... Anyway this is certainly worth a watch. I see, also, that there are a lot of new interviews up now. I saw this one a couple of years ago now I guess. There's some quite good ones on here, and certainly a bunch of other musicians who I like...

Smash Palace Shearers Run

This weekend has taken on many names – Shearer's Run, Shepard's Run, Dude Ranch, etc... whatever the fuck it was it was totally fucking awesome and here, in real time, is the evidence.

Soundtrack by my recently deceased band The Grand Chancellors – Good shit! Best music video we ever could have dreamed of.

Big thanks to Andy for putting this vid together. And to Smash palace for organising this and to the Quake City Rumblers for showing some class. Can't wait til next one (gotta get myself a little bike asap).

Smash Palace & QCR Dude Ranch Run Part 3

Night at the Dude Ranch... can't remember bugger all of this as I drank a good deal of whiskey and ended up passed out, and then very sick the next morning. Took me a while to get back into things on the Sunday for the ride home, especially on the dirt road for the first little while. Actually I think I'm only feeling fully recovered now – three days later. The ride back to Christchurch was really good though, and I'm really super appreciative of the guys who organised this whole thing. Really hoping we can do this as a regular thing, I've started looking at bikes I might buy and sort out for the next one. Very very good and excellent shit!

Smash Palace & QCR Dude Ranch Run Part 2

More good times... Saturday night competition – cone racing, jumps, hill climb! Seriously off the hook fun. I definitely wanna get my own bike for next time so I can thrash it and not worry about breaking it.