Established in 1940, Motor Maids was one of the first women’s motorcycle groups and has been called the oldest existing women’s club in the United States. The first president of Motor Maids was Dot Robinson, who held the position for 25 years.
Purpose: Women’s Motorcycle Club
Founded: 1940



Dot was born on April 22, 1912 in Australia, moving to America in 1918 when her father wanted to expand the Goulding Sidecar business. Dot and Earl Robinsons were married in 1931. Dot empowered women when efforts to prevent her from competing in endurance runs failed. She competed throughout the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s.

In founding the Motor Maids, Dot set out to unite women riders, to show that you could ride a motorcycle and still be a lady. There was never a time you saw Dot without makeup. Away from her motorcycle, she looked ready to step in or out of a fashion magazine.

With approximately 1,300 members across the United States and Canada, the Motor Maids are a diverse group of women motorcyclists united through a passion for riding while fostering a positive image and promoting safe riding skills.

The founding premise of the Motor Maids was to unite women motorcyclists in promoting motorcycle interest.

–from Sam Burns

Photo attribution: Biker Switchboard

On this day, September 11, 1937, The Washington Post reported that “D.C.’s Lone Girl Motorcyclist Stormed Loudly To Get Permit.” The girl was Sally Robinson and after nearly a decade of operating motorcycles illegally, she decided it was time to get a permit.

But even though the Post makes clear that there were no laws on the books to support discrimination on the basis of sex, the policeman administering the test still did not agree.

“First he said I was too little, then he said I was too young,” Miss Robinson declaimed yesterday, malice towards all policemen shining in her eyes.

She is 27 years old and 4 feet 11 inches tall, and didn’t see what either factor had to do with her sitting behind the handlebars of a motorcycle. After she passed the written examination twice—scoring an 80 and 92 respectively—and brought in a lawyer, Robinson was finally permitted to take the driving portion of the test.

Well, theoretically: The policeman announced that he would not ride with her in the sidecar of the machine he provided for the test—he said he was afraid to. But when the test was over, the examiner announced, “Lady, you handle it as well as a man could. Your balance is swell, and you know the machine, but I didn’t see you kick it over so I can’t give you the permit.”

Robinson was incensed. “I called him such names—well, I was ashamed of myself,” she said. “But it worked, and I have the permit.” And with that, she became the first legal female motorcyclist in the Capitol.

From there, she sought membership in the Capitolians, a newly-formed D.C. Motorcycle Club.

The Liberators: Military Harley-Davidsn Motorcycles: 1939-1952
By David Sarafan

As Allied soldiers advanced through occupied territory in Europe in the closing months of WWII, the first Americans the townspeople say were scouts mounted on WLA Harleys.

This book includes photography of the various derivations, photo example of too kits, and production numbers for WLAs. There are also photos of data plates related to various Harley military motorcycles, including the WLA, the Canadian WLC, the Big twin UA, the experimental flat-twin XA and the Knucklehead-powered three-wheeled TA.

It’s 118 pages and available from Portrayal Press: www.portrayalpress.com

Harley-Davidson 1915-1929 Pocket Valve Big Twins: An Identification and Restoration Guide

By Steve Slocombe

Steve, president of the AMCA’s European chapter and former AMCA board member set out to create a formerly uncover model guide.

Steve is well-known for his work on Harley VL flathead twins from the ‘30s, having published a four-volume guide that is the definitive collection for anyone looking to own or work on these bikes. And in “Harley-Davidson 1915-’29 Pocket Valve Big Twins: An identification and Restoration guide,” he provides the same authoritative perspective on the pocket-valve era.

It’s arranged in a large-format, spiral-bound book that you can peruse in your easy or lay out flat on your work bench.

It’s 220 pages and available from www.replicantmetals.com

In “Bumper’s Garage,” author Geoff Holladay tells the story of Steve, a young boy who is having problems with the chain on his bicycles. His dad knows just the guy to help—a gray-haired man named Bumper who tinkers in an old repair shop.

It’s a kids book and only 32 pages for only $14.95 through www.bumpersgarage.com

Here’s another group from Velcoce

Product Details
Publisher: Veloce
ISBN: 9781787110991
By Jeff Clew

Paperback or eBook • 20.7x25cm • 144 pages • pictures • Flowing format eBook

A Veloce Classic Reprint.

For those who were there, and for those fascinated by 1950s British culture, Jeff Clew’s insight to motorcycling in the ‘50s will provide a delightful nostalgic journey into the past, while those younger riders who cherish 1950s motorcycles today will discover a whole new dimension to their enjoyment of the machines.

Reprinted after many years of absence! For many, a motorcycle bought at the beginning of the 1950s was a first taste of the freedom offered by personal transport.

Although British postwar austerity was fading, money was still tight and new machines virtually unobtainable, but there were plenty of cheap prewar machines around and an ex-War Department motorcycle could be bought from one of the big city dealers on the never-never; better still it would be sent to your local railway station. Ex-army dispatch riders’ coats and boots would serve to keep the weather at bay as the new motorcyclists explored and enjoyed the quiet roads in a pre-motorway era.

The decade would become a Golden Era of motorcycling as manufacturers brought new and excitingly advanced machines to an appreciative audience which had never even heard of a Japanese motorcycle.

Motorcycle sport mushroomed in popularity at a time when you actually had to go to the race to see it and helped to reinforce the public’s ever-growing enthusiasm for the motorcycle. the era would also see the arrival of the moped, scooter and bubblecar.

For those that were there, Jeff Clew’s insight to motorcycling of the ‘50s will provide a delightful nostalgic journey into the past, while those younger riders who cherish 1950s motorcycles today will discover a whole new dimension to their enjoyment of the machines.

Product Details
Publisher: Veloce
ISBN: 9781845840785
By Richard Skelton

Paperback or eBook • 20.7x25cm • 144 pages • pictures • Flowing format eBook

A celebration of the sports moped charting the history of a genre created unwittingly by the government in 1972 and killed off by more legislation five years later.

This book recaptures the spirit of happy and carefree times and looks at the bikes that gave freedom and mobility to a generation.

If you’re red-blooded and somewhere between 35 and 50 the chances are that your first bike was a sports moped.

This book takes you on a nostalgic full throttle trip back to the heady days of the 1970s and early ‘80s when these fabulous little superbikes were available to 16-year-olds.

Packed with photos from past and present, this book will revive wonderful memories of the machines, the people, the fashions, and even the music of the time. Includes coverage of AJW, Batavus, Casal, Cimatti, Derbi, Fantic, Flandria, Garelli, Gilera, Gitane, Honda, Kreidler, KTM, Malaguti, Motobecane, Negrini, NVT, Puch, Suzuki, Testi, Yamaha and Zundapp.

Charts the extraordinary rise of the sports moped in the 1970s and early ‘80s
Fascinating detail on a huge number of machines.

Owners recollections
Social history too, music and fashions of the era
Superbikes for 16 year olds!
A nostalgic road trip through history

Product Details
Publisher: Veloce
ISBN: 9781787111196
By Ian Grainger

Paperback or eBook • 22.5×22.5cm • 128 pages • 380 pictures • Flowing format eBook

Back in print after a long absence!

Guides you through the scootering way of life and all its factions, giving a unique insight into the modern scene and all its diversities – warts and all! Includes interviews with well known scootering personalities, plus over 150 colour photos of award-winning custom scooters.

There has been plenty said and written about scooters over the years, but until now there has been no definitive look at the culture surrounding the riders’ chosen way of life. Many authors have written about mods and the infamous and often over-hyped beach battles of the 1960s, but hardly any have tried to capture the atmosphere of the modern scene in print.

The original mods are still responsible for fuelling the imagination of past, present and future generations, and for leaving a rich scooter heritage behind them. Although the mod way of life was the spark which lit the fuse for many of them, the majority of scooter riders have evolved into lifestyle scooterists.

As the author says “We may not dress in a particular style, our scooters may not be adorned with lights and mirrors, but we still burn with the same passion as our scooter riding ancestors. It’s over sixty years since the first Italian scooters rolled off the production lines, but there is still a buzzing and vibrant lifestyle surrounding them.

The small capacity machines have overtaken the lives of thousands of us, often to the detriment of everything else we hold dear. Careers, relationships and families have suffered for this overwhelming and expensive addiction. An addiction to which there is no cure.

We live and breathe the sickly-sweet smell of synthetic two-stroke oil and worship at the altar of our chosen gods, Lambretta and Vespa (or occasionally Gilera and Italjet). Our hands are permanently ingrained with the oily ‘tattoos’ of a thousand engine rebuilds, and our major organs have suffered the long term effects of our hedonistic lifestyleor a.”

Including interviews with well-known scootering personalities, over 150 color photographs of award-winning custom scooters, best-selling scooter models, and information on rallies and events, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in these fun machines.

Nostalgia with a modern twist
Interviews with prominent scooterists, past and present
Scooter rallies, from the inside out
The scooter scene as a way of life
People, friendships and comradeship
Custom scooters, what’s wrong with spending £25k on a scooter?

The machines, what’s hot and what’s not
Racing, who ever said scooters are slow?
Over 150 colour photographs

Product Details
Publisher: Veloce
ISBN: 9781787114463
By Ian Falloon

Paperback or eBook • 20.7x25cm • 160 pages • 163 pictures • Flowing format eBook

When the great Ducati engineer Fabio Taglioni designed the 750 Ducati in 1970 there was no way he could comprehend how important this model would be. The 750, the Formula 750 racer and the Super Sport became legend: this book celebrates these machines. Year-by-year, model-by-model, change-by-change detail.

When Ducati s great engineer Fabio Taglioni designed the 750 Ducati in 1970 there was no way he could comprehend how important this model would be. His design was unlike any other before or since: a 90-degree V-twin with single overhead camshafts driven by a train of bevel gears. Taglioni soon developed his 750 into a Formula 750 racer, and in 1972 beat the rest of what the world had to offer at the Imola 200. With this victory, the desmodromic 750 became a legend.

Ducati responded by producing a hand-built limited production desmodromic Super Sport. They also continued to produce the touring 750 GT and sporting 750 Sport until legislation killed them at the end of 1974. Today, this triumvirate of 750s represents the end of an era; the era before cost accounting and government design requirements.

These were amongst the last pure, unadulterated sporting motorcycles built and it is not surprising they have inspired a new generation of retro classics, the Sport Classic of 2005 and 2006. Author, Ian Falloon, is a Ducati expert with several books on the marque including the best-selling Ducati Story, and Ducati Twins Restoration Guide. He has owned several 750s over the years and has a particular enthusiasm for this model, still owning the 750 Super Sport he bought back in the 1970s.

The definitive reference/sourcebook on Ducati’s classic bevel-twins
Written by a world-renowned expert

Product Details
Publisher: Veloce
ISBN: 9781787112483
By Rod Burris

Paperback or eBook • 22.5×22.5cm • 224 pages • 450 pictures • Flowing format eBook

The definitive development history of the most famous Velocette motorcycles, this third edition includes updated information and the most comprehensive appendices ever published on this historic marque.

The definitive development history of the most famous Velocette motorcycles, written by an acknowledged expert. Based on the author’s earlier work, which was out of print for many years, this edition has been fully revised and updated, and includes the most comprehensive appendices ever published on this historic marque.

As one critic said: “THE best book about Velos – I know because I’ve got the lot. Go buy it.”

After receiving more than 1.5 million letters from motorsports enthusiasts across the country, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act) has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 3281) and U.S. Senate (S. 2736) in the 2021-2022 session of Congress!

The RPM Act of 2021 is common-sense, bi-partisan legislation that guarantees Americans’ right to modify street cars, trucks and motorcycles into dedicated racing vehicles and ensures the motorsports-parts industry’s ability to sell products that enable racers to compete.

NEW U.S. NTSB CHIEF BLAMES BAD ROAD DESIGN FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has a new chief, and she says that to reduce road fatalities, the entire system must shift.

NTSB chief Jennifer Homendy, who has worked extensively on investigating air traffic incidents, including the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, believes the government and all the stakeholders’ approach to road safety needs a “fundamental rethink” similar to how aviation now looks at air traffic safety.

Earlier this year, she said that governments and businesses should change the way they look at road and highway safety and must consider the whole system, rather than focusing only on individual driver behavior.  She added that the “whole system approach” worked perfectly in aviation, where there were ZERO fatalities in 2020.

“If we are going to get to zero, we will have to do something different,” Homendy remarked in a speech to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association conference in Denver, Colorado.

In the US, there were more than 38-thousand road accident-related deaths last year, the greatest tally since 2007, and is up 10.5% in the first three months of 2021, despite a decline in vehicle miles traveled due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions.

NEW EMISSIONS STANDARDS TARGET THAT 50% OF VEHICLES SOLD BE ELECTRIC
President Biden has unveiled another component of his administration’s plan to fight the climate crisis, announcing a new target that half of vehicles sold in the country by 2030 will be battery electric, fuel-cell electric or plug-in hybrid.

The future of America’s car manufacturing “is electric and there’s no turning back,” Biden said in signing the executive order at the White House alongside representatives from Ford, GM and Stellantis, and members of the United Auto Workers Union. The automakers are supporting Biden’s new target, announcing their “shared aspiration” that 40-50% of their cars sold by 2030 to be electric vehicles, according to a joint statement from the three automakers.

In a follow-up to an NCOM Legislative Task Force presentation on “The Demise of Gas-Powered Vehicles” at the NCOM Convention in Des Moines, Iowa this summer, NCOM-LTF Member Ed Schetter writes; “President Biden recently announced a new emissions standard that targets 50% of the vehicles sold in the US be electric by 2030,” noting further that; “This will force the petroleum and the bio-fuels industries to aggressively compete for a shrinking market.”

NEW YORK STATE TO BAN NEW COMBUSTION VEHICLE SALES FROM 2035
New York governor Kathy Hochul approved new legislation establishing a 2035 zero-emissions goal for the state.  According to the text of the bill that the governor signed into law on September 8, 2021; all new passenger cars and trucks sold in New York state would need to meet zero-emissions requirements by 2035.

As written, the law does not specifically mention motorcycles, scooters, or other two- or three-wheeled vehicles, but additionally, new off-road vehicles and equipment sold within the state must meet zero-emissions requirements by 2035, as well.

Legislation to meet emissions targets is something we’re seeing more and more in recent time, including several European and Asian countries, but so far New York and California are the only two U.S. states to have taken zero-emissions targets into their own hands.

YAMAHA AIMS FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2050
Yamaha has set ambitious goals by announcing plans to be a carbon neutral company by 2050, in both its business activities as well as in the emissions of its products.

This doesn’t mean a complete abandonment of petrol-power from the Tuning Fork brand though, as Carbon Neutrality is all about offsets.  It’s not a zero-carbon plan, but a plan to implement enough carbon offset initiatives to account for the emissions it does create; hence, ‘neutrality’.

MOTORCYCLISTS SAY ‘NO’ TO BAN ON PETROL-POWERED BIKES
A recent survey conducted by the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations (FEMA), available in 12 languages, shows that a possible ban on the sale of new petrol-powered motorcycles is rejected by more than 90% of the 23,768 motorcyclists that took part in the online survey.

When asked ‘What do you think about a possible ban on the sale of new petrol-powered motorcycles?’; 92.91% of the motorcyclists that responded rejected such a ban. While there are differences in the results between countries, the disapproval rate does not fall below 80% in any European country.

When asked what they would do If the sale of new petrol-powered motorcycles was banned, a majority of 53.38% would stop riding when they are no longer able to buy a new petrol-powered motorcycle. 38.96% of the respondents would buy a zero-emission motorcycle when there are no new or used petrol-powered motorcycles available anymore.  Only 7.67% would already buy a zero-emission motorcycle when there are still petrol-powered motorcycles available.

Asked if they could enjoy a non-emission bike as much as their current bike, if a ban on all fossil fuel vehicles was implemented, or if they would stop riding, 58.92% would simply stop riding.

ROBOT SHAMES BADLY PARKED BIKES!
Singapore is waging war on illegal parking, among other things, and is dispatching autonomous police robots to bring order to the streets.

Xavier is a four-wheeled box that features a touchscreen on the front and radar sensors and cameras on the top. The cameras can relay 360° images to a command center and is also able to automatically alert scofflaws to a number of infringements.  And it’s not just illegally parked motorcycles that this crime-fighting tin can is trained to spot.  Any undesirable and anti-social behavior is this little Robocop’s specialty.  That means peddlers, gatherings of five or more people (COVID-19 restrictions), engaging in “undesirable social behavior,” and even smokers need to beware.

Xavier has been programmed to penalize improperly parked motorcycles — with shame.  When the robot detects illicit situations, Xavier will display messages to the culprit, guilt tripping violators and hopefully deterring similar behavior in the future.

PER-MILE MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE LAUNCHED
An innovative InsurTech company named Voom has just partnered with insurance company Markel to offer a stunning solution to today’s motorcycle insurance premiums — and the price will purportedly be measured on a per-mile basis.

A report from CycleNews states that Voom and Markel’s concept came from a statistic stating that low-mileage riders tend to be safer and cause less chaos, posing up to 80% less risk than riders who spend the day in the saddle.

This option will make a big difference for riders living in a continental climate, who were previously limited to annual or seasonal insurance, and now won’t have to worry about the extra amount of money that goes to waste on the off-seasons — rather, riders would simply be required to submit a picture of their odometer to the company once a month, and ride as much or as little as they see fit.

The premiums are currently available to Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, with liability, comprehensive, medical payments, collision, uninsured motorists, and accessory coverage.

 

RISE IN SPEEDING PROMPTS GROUPS TO SLOW DRIVERS DOWN
Speeding is a leading factor in motor vehicle deaths, and “Though speed management has been a problem for decades, speeding became even more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, as less traffic has prompted some motorists to drive at high speeds on highways and city streets across the nation,” says GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins.

To slow the roll, three national roadway safety organizations — the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) — are partnering to fund and evaluate pilot projects to reduce speeding.

Two states, Maryland and Virginia, will each receive $100,000 to develop, implement and evaluate speed management pilot programs that leverage engineering, equitable enforcement, education, public outreach and advocacy strategies simultaneously.

The goal is to develop a template for effective speed reduction strategies that can be duplicated in other states and communities.

QUOTABLE QUOTE:
“It would indeed be ironic if, in the name of national defense, we would sanction the subversion of one of those liberties which make the defense of our nation worthwhile.”

The scrape was quick but still jarring. A footpeg brushing the pavement, the bike leaned over almost as far as it could go.

Big brakes complement the capable chassis. The Brembo M50 radial monoblocs up front rein in the bike with aplomb. Lever feel is linear and allows for easy trail braking. Those swept bars are pretty, but they’re also a perfect blend of narrow and wide, so you can muscle and lever the bike to your will while still in a fairly upright and comfortable position. (Try that on a Thruxton.) Add in the sticky Metzeler Racetec RR tires, and you have a confidence-inspiring and comfortable package for anyone who can tolerate the Triumph’s lack of windshield or fairing.

Finally, there’s that engine, the Twin in the bike’s name. It feels like a traditional modern Bonneville dialed up just a bit—still all rumble and easy torque, but also a little smoother, a little more snappy, more powerful. It also feels like a cheat code on a video game, smooth and tractable across the entire rev range.  If you don’t feel like revving the bike out, clean low-rpm fueling lets you quickly row the shifter to fourth or fifth gear, and then lazily squirt through traffic with ease, riding that wave of torque, no need to rack the gearbox to keep moving.

2021 Triumph Bonneville Speed Twin

Base price/as-tested: $12,500 / $12,800

Highs: Comfortable and confidence inspiring chassis, exhaust note that begs for more throttle, good electronics package.

Lows: Range can be a bit of a bummer with a machine this fun to ride.

BANDIT’S CANTINA INTRODUCES JACK’S GALLERIES AGAIN—If only we could get it right. Jack shoots major event all over the country. And if you didn’t make it, he takes you there, big time. If you did attend the event, he reminds you of the good times, in a colorful way. Here’s the first event we are launching this week in the Cantina, hopefully: Sturgis 2021.

Each year we feel blessed that we can once again visit the mother of all motorcycle rallies, Sturgis. I’m equally lucky to participate as a freelance photographer & often work directly for the Buffalo Chip. The friends I have there are some of the best I’ve ever met.

This year is even more special for me, because my wife is visiting for the first time ever and I couldn’t wait to show her around. Between all that goes on at the Chip and the great stops surrounding Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy horse, Deadwood and the historic town of Sturgis, she fell in love with the region.

Please enjoy the images, I hope that they can help paint a picture of the event through my eyes and join the Cantina to help support our galleries.

–JACK MCINTYRE
PHOTOGRAPHER, SPECIALIZING IN THE POWERSPORTS INDUSTRY
BIKERNET.COM / BANDIT’S CANTINA
JOHNNY MAC’S CHOPPER HOUSE, PHILLY

      

 I get to ride all over the country and in all kinds of weather. I have made many changes to my 2009 FLHTC over the years and one of them was to install a Saddlemen Heated Seat.

 The original Saddlemen seat was installed on 1/29/2012 and had 117251 miles on it, when I decided to replace it. It had been subject to every kind of weather condition you can think of and even though it was still comfortable and the heater worked the leather was starting to crack. Not surprising with the miles and weather conditions it was subject to.

 I purchased this new Saddlemen seat and installed it on 9/23/2021. This new one has gel pads in it and separate new styled switches for heating the rider and passenger sections. Looks like I am going to continue being spoiled. I like and think I deserve that LOL.

 

 

 The first thing was to reposition the rear seat tab. After doing that, the seat was placed on the shelf while the wiring was handled.

 I removed the main fuse before working on the wiring.

 It was an easy installation but did require paying attention to a few details.

 

 

 The new seat is very comfortable and yes, I did try out the two heat ranges even though I am in Florida. No, I did not have to leave them on long to know they would do their job when the weather changes or I ride north.

 If you want comfort in a seat Saddlemen has a wide assortment for many model motorcycles. Some models are available with heaters. You can find out more by visiting their website at https://saddlemen.com/ 

 

We do not know what message W.R.N.S. Third Officer Pamela McGeorge carried, only that she rode through hell and flame like a woman possessed. A bomb fell close, the blast knocking her from her bike, sprawling and sliding. She picked herself up, ran back—the motorcycle was a tangle of bent metal. She hefted her bag, turned, and ran the rest of the way to deliver the message.

Originally, the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was formed in 1917, during WWI. The Navy was the first of Britain’s armed forces to actively recruit women, and the Wrens, as they became known, were telegraph operators, clerks, and code experts. The director of the Wrens was the highly capable Dame Katharine Furst, who was later both an expert skier and head of the World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts.

It’s worth noting that Wren McGeorge had been a Sea Ranger, the Naval equivalent of a Guide. There was a great deal of overlap between the Guiding movement and the various WWII women’s auxiliaries. Girls who had grown up learning to be skilled and independent were not about to sit at home while a war was on.

The WRNS organization was fortunate at first in having a small pool of experienced women motorcyclists to draw on. During the prewar period, society on the whole didn’t exactly encourage women to take up motorsport, but more than a few did anyway.

Wallach was a skilled engineer who would spend WWII as both a dispatch rider for the Army auxiliaries and as a tank mechanic. Shilling was also a highly regarded engineer and invented a simple device that helped keep the Merlin V-12s of early Spitfires from losing fuel pressure during negative-g maneuvers; the invention put British fighter pilots on an even footing against the fuel-injected German fighter planes.

As a brief aside, it should be noted that Queen Elizabeth II learned to ride and maintain a motorcycle as part of her 1945 military service. If you happen to be riding in the vicinity of Balmoral and another rider waves at you in that odd, swivel-wristed way, perhaps it’s her!

The bikes used were mostly small, single-cylinder affairs, built specifically for military use. BSA, Royal Enfield, and Triumph all produced motorcycles in the 250cc–350cc displacement range, each with modest power. But the bikes were light and agile, perfect for the narrow English country lanes and city streets.

This time, after the war ended, the WRNS was not disbanded. Instead, it continued until 1993, when it was eventually absorbed into the British Navy. Dame Matthews retired once the decision was confirmed. In an alcove in Westminster Cathedral, you can find a statue of St. Christopher holding a boat. Upon the boat’s anchor is perched a small wren.

As for the dispatch riders themselves, with wartime over, eventually their services were no longer required. Some returned to civilian life, hanging up their riding outfits for the last time. Some had found new passion and freedom on two wheels. Theresa Wallach, though dispatch riding for the Army rather than the WRNS, continued to ride motorcycles until she was 88 years of age. She died on April 30, 1999, her 90th birthday.

Valerie Thompson is the World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer and a 10x land speed record holder with membership in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame as well as eight 200 MPH Clubs and one 300 MPH Club. She is consistently ranked as one of the World’s Top 10 Fastest Motorcycle Racers.

Valerie is the designated rider of the famed BUB 7 motorcycle streamliner, a proven record setting vehicle designed by AMA Hall of Fame member, Denis Manning. This American-built streamliner has held the motorcycle land-speed record twice from 2006 – 2008 and again from 2009 to 2010.

Racing the BUB 7 during the 2018 Dry Lake Racers Australia (DLRA) Speed Week competition at Lake Gairdner, she set a new speed record of 328.467 mph (528.616 km/h) to become Australia’s fastest female streamliner motorcycle racer. Just days later, she experienced a horrific crash at over 360 mph during the World Speed Trials. Valerie walked away from the catastrophe that scattered wreckage for over a mile with only minor injuries, a true testimony of the vehicle’s design and safety features.

Valerie will have a busy 2022 starting with two spring testing sessions and plans to compete at the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials with the BUB 7 Streamliner after a five-year rebuilding process. She will also be the designated rider at select events for both the Team Turbo Tiger Kawasaki and Motus 1650cc MSTR owned by Robert Swartz. In addition, Valerie will continue pursuing new records on four-wheels piloting the Treit & Davenport dual-engine Target 550 Streamliner.

Often referred to as “America’s Queen of Speed,” Valerie is a popular motorsports ambassador and inspiring role model. Her relentless quest to become the world’s fastest motorcycle racer by breaking the current world record of 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h) is the focus of the upcoming land speed racing documentary film, “Rockets and Titans.”

Seeking a new challenge away from racing, she started playing pickleball in February and instantly fell in love with America’s fastest growing sport. After just eight games, she built her own backyard court. What started as a new element of her fitness regime led to playing 4-5+ times a week, professional lessons, tournaments and attending LevelUp Pickleball camps. In addition to capturing new speed records, Valerie’s goals include earning a professional pickleball players rating after winning 2 Silver Medals in just her second tournament.

Valerie’s pickleball passion has generated enormous media interest resulting in cover and feature stories in USA Pickleball (Official Magazine of Pickleball by USA Pickleball Association), Bentley (Official publication for Bentley owners worldwide), Scottsdale Living, Woman Rider, and Harley-Davidson Enthusiast magazines. Her temporary pickleball court on the famed Bonneville Salt Flats, the world’s fastest racecourse, made front-page news in the Wendover-Times after a spirited game with the city’s Mayor.

Valerie is an independent racer and aspiring pickleball pro currently seeking sponsorship for her quest to break the world motorcycle speed record. Your support helps the BUB 7 team rewrite racing history by shattering barriers and speed records.

We get a lot of media questions about Valerie’s introduction to land speed racing and a woman competing in a male dominated sport. Whenever possible, Valerie insists on mentioning the mentors who played a critical role in her racing success. We don’t control what is finally printed, but here is just one example from this year:

Q&A for Rider Magazine Insider Podcast and Woman Rider profile

Being a successful woman in powersports – where the gender bias is being recognized – is a feat in itself. What was it like for you to break into motorcycle racing as a woman? “When I was just getting started, I encountered some bias not only from competitors, but potential sponsors and team owners as well. The first time I raced at Bonneville, there were only 3 other female competitors, so we really stood out. A lot of people didn’t take me seriously until I established myself as a serious competitor capable of breaking records.

“I collected my first two records with team owner Keith Ball, who had a lot of faith in me and provided my first two record rides at Bonneville. Now I have Denis Manning, designer of the BUB 7 streamliner and AMA Hall of Fame member, as a mentor and team director. So yes, I encountered some bias among males in the sport, but I’ve had many more positive experiences than negative ones. I’ve been very fortunate in land speed racing where you are judged primarily on what you achieve on the track.”

“Valerie stepped up without hesitation to ride the first sport bike 120-inch Panhead built by me around a John Reed concept configuration. It was basically a rubber-mounted FXR styled Panhead named the Salt Shaker. She rode it to over 150 mph, setting her first land speed record at Bonneville. She couldn’t wait to ride my next salt creation, the Assalt Weapan, another H-D Panhead she rode to her second land speed racing record. No doubt about it, Valerie was built for speed.”

–Keith R. Ball

As you may know, Valerie has been featured in several books over the last 18 months, including “History of Speed” by Martin Roach and “Bonneville’s Women of Land Speed Racing” by “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth. Based on the types of racing and movie media questions we get, I am collecting quotes about Valerie from individuals who have worked with Valerie at various points in her career. Here are two examples:

“I’m tickled pink Valerie is being inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. She’s paid her dues on every type of racing surface and has the records to prove it. She knows no fear, delivers on her promises and is a wonderful sponsor ambassador. I’ve worked with the best riders in the business from Cal Rayburn to Chis Carr. Valerie ranks right up there with the best of the best.”

— Denis Manning (Team “7” Racing president/BUB “7” Streamliner designer/AMA Hall of Fame member)

“All I can say is anyone playing Valerie better come prepared because that girl always does! Frankly, I would not be surprised if Valerie figured out a way to play pickleball while riding one of her many motorcycles.”

— “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth (Motorsports author and land speed racer)

Since you played a key role in building the foundation of Valerie’s land speed racing success, we want to ensure you are properly recognized. I have just one more question.

How would you like to be referred to when asked? (BikerNet.com founder, Team owner, Bike tuner, etc)
Who came up with the name ‘Assalt Weapan?’

“I’m the founder of Bikernet.com and 5-Ball Racing Team, President of 5-Ball Inc. I built the two bikes Valerie rode to her first two records. That year 2006 was the first time I returned to Bonneville after 16 years. The last time I was 1990, and I was on the Easyriders team and the Editorial Director of Easyriders Magazine. We set the Motorcycle World Land Speed Record at 321 mph and held the record for 16 years, until 2006.

That year was amazing for many reasons. With Valerie we set another World Land Speed Record. And next year 5-Ball Racing will head back to the salt with the “Salt Torpedo,” the first Streamlined Trike base inside an historic belly tank and piloted by Micah McCloskey. Note the name. The Bonneville Salt Flats naturally lends itself to amazingly appropriate titles, which adds to the fun of racing on 65 square miles of salt.

Berry Wardlaw, the founder of Accurate Engineering, was our tuner during two record years 2006 and 2007. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Valerie was the first woman to set the motorcycle world land speed record.

–Keith R. Ball

For details on sponsorship opportunities, speaking engagements and celebrity appearances, email: Valerie@ValerieThompsonRacing.com

This cool chopper was built in Zodiac’s workshop. Zodiac is now 52 years old and is a manufacturer and wholesaler of custom and replacement parts for Harley-Davidson and American V-Twin motorcycles.

1969 is the same year of the movie Easy Rider, with arguably the most iconic chopper; Captain America, starring in it. “But it’s also an ode to Indian Larry, the chopper builder who stuck 100% to the style of choppers and bobbers of that era. A number of style elements such as the dished Mustang tank and the engine with cylinder heads from different construction years is something he was known for. Hence the name ‘Captain Larry’,” explains Vincent.

The chopper is completely built with parts from the Zodiac warehouse. “Charles, our mechanic at Zodiac, gets all the credits for building this bike,” said Vincent Pels, CEO of the Zodiac company. ”I always come up with the design, the styling and the parts that we will use for the creations we make and discuss this with our employees, but Charles always has to make all those ideas reality. Kudos!”

The Dordrecht Traffic Bridge, also called the Dordrecht City Bridge, consists of two bridges, a half-timbered bridge and a bascule bridge, spanning the river Oude Maas. It is the hometown of Jacco Reniers, better known as Royal Jack, who did the beautiful painting on Captain Larry. That’s why we meet here to take pictures, while Vincent talks about the latest Zodiac creation.

Vincent immediately points enthusiastically to the sexy shaped petrol tank, “The dished tank is made from one of our Mustang tanks and was initially designed and meant to be a ‘one-off’. We grinded the sides out of a tank and turned them over, so that the concave side is now inward. Quite a job, but the end-result was so beautiful that we immediately made a second one which we sent as a prototype to Zodiac Taiwan to have it produced there. They are already in our online catalog and the tanks should arrive soon.”

The engine with two different cylinder heads, Panhead and Shovelhead, is striking and the whole is a S&S 1530cc engine in old style but with modern technology and power. “Basically it is a Panhead-style engine from S&S. The Alt-Gen version, which resembles the old Generator engine, but has a modern (alternator) charging system. For this we have set up an S&S Shovelhead-style cylinder head. The bolt pattern is identical, only the recess of the cylinder edge in the head had to be slightly larger. Furthermore, it was a matter of mounting longer pushrods and ready!” explains Vincent.

Naturally, all parts come from Zodiac’s warehouses. How nice it must be to be able to walk with your shopping cart between all those thousands and thousands of parts and thus assemble your motorcycle yourself. “Well, actually anyone can do that too.” Vincent replies, “You can shop and order digitally on our website, and put together everything for your dream motorcycle to be built or converted, and with the push of a button you can send the wish list to your favorite Zodiac dealer in your area.” Not everyone has the space, tools, machines, technical knowledge and materials to ‘just’ build or rebuild a custom bike themselves, but with the help of the many thousands of parts from the Zodiac catalog a fantastically beautiful creation can be built, such as this example, the Captain Larry.

The motorcycle is not completely street legal, but it is mainly the little things that you hardly see, such as the mini turn signals, with which Zodiac shows that you can still build a nice bike, despite many legal regulations. “It is therefore just an example of the style of motorcycle you can build with Zodiac parts,” explains Vincent, “We take this bike to shows and fairs to show what the possibilities are. Since the old style chopper is so popular now and given Zodiac’s more than 50 years old roots, we chose this model.”

Mechanic Charles used parts from the warehouse with minimal modifications, while also paying attention to ease of use. Riding a chopper does of course require some extra attention, if not only for the brakes, clutch and shifting system. “Indeed, suicide clutch and manual transmission are not commonplace, the first time you ride the motorcycle it is of course a ‘special’ feeling,” Vincent says, “But you get used to it quickly and after a few kilometers you don’t know any better, ” adds Jacco, who rode Captain Larry with great pleasure.

Painter Jacco ‘Royal Jack’ talks about the collaboration with Zodiac, “Vincent approached me about painting their new show bike that also had to be on the catalog cover. Of course I was interested in the assignment. I also got to do the previous cover bike for Zodiac, which really feels like an honor. This time it would be a real old school bike with suicide shift and all. Vincent always has a good eye on what he does and/or doesn’t want, but certainly leaves enough freedom for my own input. Sparring about such a paint job is also fun, especially if you have a certain ‘click’ with someone, like in this case with Vincent, and you ‘lift’ each other in ideas.

Vincent came up with the idea to take a light color as a base and give it a bit of a cartoonish touch. We also wanted to try to keep the Zodiac colors in, so I incorporated them into the hand-painted graphics and the pinstriping. For the base, a Pearl White has been chosen that changes in the light to cream color. Furthermore, all graphics are hand painted. I designed the sides of the tank beforehand so we could see if the idea would work. It has become a bit of Mexican ‘Dias de los Muertos’ look. If you pay attention to the details, you see that the motorcyclist has a bottle of Corona beer in his hand, to emphasize that the bike was built in the hectic COVID-19 time. I also deliberately redrawn the engine for both sides of the tank, because otherwise the engine is mirrored on one side, which is not correct. All in all it turned out to be a top bike if you ask me.”

Something we totally agree with! The bike exudes the typical seventies style, the radiant S&S engine as the centerpiece, the pearl white paintjob with the funny cartoon, the Springer fork and high exhausts. When you see the Captain Larry standing like this, you expect Peter Fonda and Indian Larry to be talking next to the chopper any moment. It is certainly an ode to Indian Larry, the New York custom bike builder would undoubtedly have been very proud of it!

You can see Captain Larry extensively with your own eyes at various shows and fairs.

GENERAL
Owner: Zodiac International B.V.
Builder: Zodiac International B.V.
Brand: Zodiac/Kraft Tech/S&S
Model: Hardtail Chopper
Construction time: 12 months

ENGINE
Year of construction: 2020
Builder: S&S Cycle / Zodiac
Displacement: 93CI (1,530cc)
Type: Pan/Shovel Altenator/Generator

Carter: S&S Cycle P-Series
Crankshaft: S&S Cycle 4 1/2″ Stroke
Pistons: S&S Cycle Forged
Cylinders: S&S Cycle 3 5/8″ Bore
Cylinder Heads: Front S&S Cycle Shovelhead, Rear S&S Cycle Panhead
Valves: S&S Cycle
Camshaft, brand and specifications: S&S Cycle 585
Cam Followers: S&S Cycle
Oil Pump: S&S Cycle
Fuel System: S&S Super E
Air filter housing: Kustom Tech

Ignition: Dyna-S
Exhaust System: V-Twin Upswept headers with Zodiac Trumpet mufflers

PRIMARY, TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH
Primary drive: BDL 1-1/2” Belt drive kit
Primary cover: Zodiac Early style chrome plated
Secondary Drive: Tsubaki 530 Nickel Plated Chain
Gearbox: Zodiac 4-speed with Kustom Tech Hod Rod hand shifter
Clutch: Zodiac 5-stud with Zodiac foot control

CHASSIS:
Frame: Kraft-Tech Hardtail Wishbone
Fork: Custom Springer
Front wheel: Zodiac 1.85×21” Rolled Edge rim with Kustom Tech mini drum brake

Rear wheel: Zodiac 3.00×16” rim with Kustom Tech hydraulic drum brake
Brakes: Kustom Tech drum brakes

MISCELLANEOUS
Rear fender: Zodiac Bobbed flat, 6”
Fender Stays: V-Twin 49” Sissybar
Fuel tank: Zodiac Mustang Laredo dished
Oil tank: Zodiac Softail style Domed
Handlebar: Zodiac 13-1/2” Ape
Risers: V-Twin Speedfreak 1” and Samwel Dog Bones 4”

Grips: Müller Internal throttle with Carpenter Revolver style wooden grips
Switch Housings/Brake Clutch Lever: Zodiac Prime Custom Switch Housings / Zodiac Custom Brake Lever
Headlight: V-Twin Triangle
Rear light: V-Twin Finger with license plate bracket

Turn signals: Kellermann Atto

Saddle: Le Pera Baron II King & Queen style
Sissy bar: V-Twin 49”

Forward controls: Zodiac backing plate for hydraulic brake
Footpegs: Zodiac ribbed custom footpegs

Brake clutch pedal: V-Twin hydraulic brake pedal and foot clutch

SPRAY WORK
Color: Mother of pearl white
Type and brand of paint: Just ask Jacco
Painter: Jacco
Special Paint / logos: Jacco

Idea: Zodiac / Vincent Pels
Design: Jacco

THANKS TO: Charles and Jacco

You can also find all parts here: https://zodiac.nl/docs/documents/parts-lists/captain-larry-partslist.pdf
Captain Larry has his own Gallery page: https://zodiac.nl/gallery/captain-larry/

CONTACT
Zodiac International B.V. (Vincent Pels)
Industrieweg 44
3641 RM Mijdrecht
The Netherlands
Phone. +31(0)297-288621
Email: sales@zodiac.nl