Scammell Pioneer Sketch Session with Stefan Majoram

After a Facebook post by Stefan Marjoram asking about a truck he had found at a local sports ground, Stefan and I couldn't resist making an impromptu trip to get some sketching done.

(ink sketch)

Stefan's sketches can be found on his wonderful Sketch Blog. Stefan was kind enough to send me one of the sketches as a gift, what a wonderful bloke.

(Stefan's ink sketch)

We didn't meet the owner of this wonderful vehicle but we guess it is an army truck. 

768 Scammells were built from 1937 onwards. 

They were used in the war to tow artillery such as the 7.2 inch howitzer

 Love this 6 cylinder Gardner, it produces 102bhp

 Some great large shapes on this beast of a truck.

BSMC Event II

Well it may have seemed like a year ago but it has only been a matter of months since the Bike Shed Motorcycle Club put on their first show at the Shorditch studios. The second incarnation bought with it a bigger and more varied show, a nice change after having been to a lot of more traditional bike shows this year.

Nicks Radical Pantah

  (ink sketch)

First sketch of the Event was this Radical Ducati. The main reasons for choosing this bike is that it certainly did have a radical stance and the angles of the tank contrasting with the curved seat and cowling really gave me something to work with. 

The bike has two bikes at it's heart using both an '85 Cagiva Aluzzurra and a '92 Ducati 750ss. The This shed build is based around a Radical Ducati idea, all fabrication and associated build up is by the owner Nick Huges. I don't know a huge amount about these bikes but I certainly had a great time drawing it.

Shinya Kimura Harley Sportster

 (ink sketch)

This is the second Shinya harley I've sketched this year, the first was at Krazy Horse at the Sideburn launch party. In usual Shinya style this bike had incredible hand shaped bodywork that organically wraps round the machine. When sketching most bikes you normally find details that you didn't originally see. This bike however really did keep me on my toes especially with it's intricate cowling that wraps itself into the fuel tank, and then leads onto the air intake.... 

Sunburn

 (ink sketch)

It Rocks Bikes have created a lightweight 4 cylinder monster with this custom Yamaha XJR 1200. I'm always taken by the look of 4 cylinder bikes with the multitude of pipes. The tank and seat are beautifully crafted in one piece and the minimal look sticks to the bikes classical roots while increasing the power by 12-15 bhp and reducing the weight from 233kg to 200kg.

Midnight Pheonix

 (ink sketch)

4H10 have taken a classic '79 Moto Guzzi California and formed it into a real sleek cafe racer by using a Guzzi Le Mans 3 engine and coupling it with a beautifully painted alloy tank with white lines intertwining with feathers that beat straight pin striping.

Project White Rabbit

('78 Honda 400 Four Super Sport)

 (ink sketch)

I missed a 750 four at the first BSMC Event and so I decided not to let this one get away. I've always been quite taken with the Honda 4s. There is something about the bulky look coupled with (again) the quad pipes snaking their way round the engine. This one has been only mildly customised and obviously ridden and was a breath of fresh air amongst the other more heavily worked machines.

CMBL Beach Hopper

 (ink sketch)

Possibly the most sensible option for taking the board to the beach is this neat board bike by CMBL. Built around a Honda CB100NA I think this build has been simply and effectively executed. Being their first build I'm certainly looking forward to seeing where CMBL go from here with both their bikes and surfboards.

Mrs Robinson

  (ink sketch)

Last bike of the show was... yes another 4 pot. This time another minimal build which sticks to the essentials to create a classic looking cafe racer from a '78 Suzuki GS750. I particularly like the knee scoops. Built by Robinsons Speed Shop

!!!!Maxwell Paternoster!!!!

I first met Maxwell at the beginning of the year in the Ace Cafe car park as he rocked up on his suped up Honda Cub. His artwork is something that can only come from a mind such as Maxwells' and is truly unique, incorporating repeating themes of blood, gore, satan and the occasional seal, oh and lots of eye popping. Check out His Website to see what he's been up to

 

Laying Down Gold on Satans Face

Old Empire Motorcycles

After secretly working on concepts for OEM (more info to come) I was really happy to see the fruits of their labours which can be seen in their Yamaha XV535 custom one of two builds they had on show. The other bike being the mighty Hunter.

The Bulldog

Kingdom of Kicks

James from K/K has built another no messing ridable classic with pipes by the ever consistent Co-Built 

Muff Customs

A relatively new outfit Muff Customs seem to be keeping it simple too making ridable bikes that are geared to work both on urban and dirt surfaces.

The Bike Park was constantly turing up cool stuff including this Honda:

 

and sometimes the odd curiosity...

Let's All Hate on the New Cadillac Escalade!

Images courtesy Cadillac

In case you're living under a rock and didn't get hit by the media firestorm, Cadillac is showing off the next generation of the Escalade SUV, which will be a 2015 model. I've actually had a pulse on this one for a while, not because I'm a big Cadillac fan, but because it's an important model in the automotive industry. After all, this truck will star in no less than 577 rap videos, usually with 28-inch chrome spinners installed.

I remember when Cadillac first announced it was making the Escalade. I heard from it from my college marketing professor, who said it was the best way to be obnoxious  toward everyone else on the road. He literally leaned on all of his marketing knowledge to conclude before the SUV ever hit showroom floors it would be piloted by overly aggressive individuals stilting in a most ostentatious act of conspicuous consumption.

The first time I saw spinners they were on an Escalade, of course. When I finally saw the interior of the Escalade I was shocked since it was nearly identical to a top-of-the-line Chevy Suburban. It was then that I realized the Escalade was the biggest joke GM, the great killer of car companies, ever played on the public.

Now GM has a chance to redeem itself. It's put out an impressively advanced Corvette, the Cruze, and some other compelling vehicles. Some of the rumors I heard stated the new Escalade would have less bling and more luxury on the interior. From the pictures, the interior does look more luxurious, which shouldn't be a surprise considering the cabins in the ATS and XTS.

Sadly, the Escalade still is a bling monster, but I suppose people buy it for that reason. So let's all hate on the Escalade because it's pretty senseless and potentially morally bankrupt. In a way it reminds me of the annoying kid in school who's always showing up with the latest in flashy gizmos, but everyone still makes fun of him. Part of you feels sorry for him, but another part of you finds him so damn annoying you still point a finger and laugh.

Health Insurance

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Insurance Logo

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