Nick Bloor, son of owner John Bloor, is now CEO of Triumph.

Tue Mantoni

Nick takes over from Tue Mantoni, who oversaw a massive expansion period from the time Triumph’s Hinckley factory burnt down in 2002. Mantoni is returning home to Denmark but will join the board of directors. Joining Triumph 8 years ago as a 28-year old consultant, Mantoni quickly progressed to become director of sales & marketing, and finally CEO.

Starting at Triumph in 1998 as a design engineer following his graduation from Loughborough University, Nick Bloor spent time working in design, manufacturing, production control and sales & marketing. His last stint was in Triumph’s procurement department.

Triumph, resurrected by entrepreneur John Bloor in the early 1990s, now has 1400 employees around the globe and sells about 50,000 motorcycles in 30 countries every year.

A Triumph Daytona 675 powered by bioethanol fuel today reached an astonishing track speed of 158.7 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground! The biofuel used for this groundbreaking initiative was produced from windfall apples by A-level students from a local school.

Devised by Rupert Paul, contributing editor of Bike magazine, “Project Fast Fruit” aimed to convert and run a high performance vehicle on biofuel using only basic equipment. As such, the fuel was produced in a Chemistry Lab as part of an A-level project by students from the Prince William School in Oundle, Northamptonshire.

Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle manufacturer, initially entered into the scheme some four months ago by providing its world leading Daytona 675 model as the test bike. Today’s successful final run was the result of four months of hard work – the school having fermented and distilled around 6,000 crushed apples while Bike magazine modified the Daytona’s engine to run on bioethanol.

Surprisingly little modification was required – just a remap of the fuel injection system. The engine was then tested thoroughly using commercially available E85 (85% ethanol) with very encouraging results. The project then moved to the next phase, with testing and optimization of the engine using the fuel produced by the students before undertaking today’s run at Bruntingthorpe.

Rupert Paul of Bike magazine commented,
“We believe that achieving a speed 158.7mph sets a record for a production bike on home-brewed fuel. Biofuel is a buzzword at the moment, with the Government setting a target for all petrol and diesel to contain a minimum 5% biofuel by 2010. Although they are still questionable from an environmental point of view, biofuels are here to stay, and this experiment was all about exploring how much power we could extract from them – as well as having some fun.”

Andrea Friggi, PR & Communications Manager at Triumph Motorcycles commented,
“At the moment all Triumph motorcycles are designed for optimum performance with non-ethanol fuel but are compatible with E10 (10% ethanol). We’re currently investigating making all models compatible with E25 fuel so while this is a fun experiment it does have a serious side and we’re looking forward to reviewing the results.”

Dr Anton McAleese, Head of Chemistry at Prince William School said;
“This is a really interesting project for our students to get involved in. It’s important that industry recognises the skills and creativity that our students can offer. Further, it’s often young people today who are the most concerned about the future of our environment, so it’s a topic close to their hearts.”

バイカーブードゥー

Triumph Motorcycles has introduced a mean and moody Matt Black colour option to accentuate the popular Speed Triple’s aggressive, stripped down looks and make it stand out even further from the crowd.

The 1050cc 2008 Speed Triple is the sharpest yet, featuring a raft of chassis refinements including radial-caliper four-piston Brembo front brakes, Magura tapered bars, an all-new subframe and redesigned multi-spoke wheels. These developments have already proved to be a big hit with Triumph customers, with strong demand making it once again one of the best-selling bikes in the company’s range.

Triumph’s Speed Triple has become an iconic model since the launch of the original version in 1994, delivering unparalleled attitude in a uniquely styled package. Over the years it has been constantly developed in order to maintain its position as the definitive factory streetfighter.

Speed Triples are famous for being offered in a variety of eye-catching shades over the years, with the 2008 model coming in Blazing Orange, Jet Black and Fusion White, as well as the new Matt Black option.

The Matt Black Speed Triple costs £7,999 OTR and will be available in UK dealers from the end of April. Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle marque, is solely owned by John Bloor as part of the Bloor Holdings group of companies

バイカーブードゥー

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is celebrating the arrival of spring with some fantastic offers at their Sports Open Weekend, taking place between the 29th–30th March 2008 at your local dealership.

Triumph dealers are offering the opportunity to see the brand’s new bikes and test ride the latest models from the Urban Sports range. The new Speed Triple, with its reshaped iconic headlights and new wheels, will be part of the showroom launch. In addition you will be able to test ride the all new Rocket III Touring with its awesome 2.3 litre triple performance combined with the handling, braking and agility of a bike half its size.

No weekend spectacular would be complete without checking out the latest accessories from Arrow, so if you’ve already gone your own way and own a Triumph then it’s worth a visit to see the new 2008 Triumph Arrow exhaust systems now available. Not just for Sports bikes either, Arrow have produced some authentic looking systems for the Modern Classics too.

The weekend also sees the launch of the new summer T-shirt range, including the much sought after Steve McQueen Special Edition, with an offer of 10% off the entire range (see promotional flyers for details)!

Visit your local dealer now! A complete list of UK Triumph dealers can be found below.

UK TRIUMPH DEALERSHIPS

continue reading "GEAR UP AT TRIUMPH’S MARCH OPEN WEEKEND"

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has announced it will host “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” during 2008 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and invites the participation of all Triumph owners in this noteworthy
event.

“The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” will be held at the Motorhead Café on July 25 and 26, 2008. It will honor the VMD Marque of the Year, Triumph. Inspired by “Antiques Roadshow®,” the hit PBS program, “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” will feature Triumph expert and Baxter Cycle owner, Randy Baxter, appraising classic Triumphs and Triumph memorabilia.

Baxter will be appraising both correctly restored and original unrestored Triumphs, but he will do more than simply assign a dollar value to the motorcycles. Baxter will also share restoration trends and tips with the audience.

If you own a correctly restored Triumph and have ever wondered if your paint color and pin striping would pass concours judging or if your decals are authentically placed, this is the event for you. Additionally, if you own an original unrestored machine, Baxter and the Museum invite you to participate in “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” and allow fellow enthusiasts to appreciate and learn from your classic bike.

Triumph owners who would like to participate in “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” are invited to contact Mark Mederski, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum executive director, at mmederski@motorcyclemuseum.org. Owners must register in advance to have machines and memorabilia appraised by Baxter during “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow.”

Enthusiasts who plan to attend “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” as spectators do not need to pre-register. Visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org for more information.

バイカーブードゥー

There’s a new digital comic book in town – The Many Worlds Of Jonas Moore, created by Factory Publishing in association with Triumph Motorcycles. It stars British actor Colin Salmon, whom we’ve seen in movies like Resident Evil, Aliens Vs. Predator, James Bond, etc. and Worlds Apart singer Steve Hart, who also wrote the score. The concept was created and directed by Howard Webster.

This new form of media is set in an alternative universe where everyone is addicted to online games, Jonas Moore is a self-aware character who can move between games with the help of a real-world programmer, Professor Kansu Tao, one of the original designers of the network and its original role playing games, is dying in hospital. Jonas Moore must go on the run, pursued by the network and its lethal defence protocols. His only hope is to run, escaping from one virtual game world to the next until the dying Professor Tao can reprogramme the network’s security system and restore him to his game world and let him live.

Fans are also invited to animate and score their own adventures. See the website for more information. Characters appear to ride Triumph Motorcycles and wear Triumph apparel. The powerful, stylish Triumph Tiger 1050 is the machine of choice for Jonas Moore. A truly multifunctional motorcycle, with Triumph’s trademark blend of sophisticated design, distinctive character and ample performance, the Tiger’s the perfect partner for Jonas Moore’s adventures. Check the website for more information or here for the ‘full story’ thus far. Hats off to Triumph for getting involved with Jonas Moore!

バイカーブードゥー

Garry McCoy in Losail

Both of Triumph’s sponsored teams in the World Supersport Championship underlined their potential with promising displays in the opening round of the Championship in Qatar on Saturday (23 February).

Ilario Dionisi

The Scuderia Triumph-SC team kicked off the campaign with a creditable 21st place for young Italian rider, Ilario Dionisi, riding in WSS for the very first time, whilst Australian Garry McCoy was running strongly in fourth place until he was forced to retire following a loss of power.

BE1, the Triumph Italy sponsored team also qualified comfortably, and performed well; Ivan Clementi finishing in the points in 12th place, whilst Mark Aitchison was running in eighth position when unfortunately he crashed out of the race.

Despite riding with a broken leg, Garry McCoy (35) was engaged in an engrossing battle for position against factory-based competitors from Honda and Yamaha, and had risen to fourth from a grid position of seventh, before suffering a reduction of power. McCoy commented:

“During the whole weekend the bike has felt good, so it’s a real shame it stopped in the race. In practice I’ve been lapping on my own, but in the race when I was behind other riders the temperature started to come up, which is what I think caused the problem. It’s very early stages for us, but up until the problem the bike felt really good. I think Qatar and Phillip Island are really going to be an extension of our testing, but once we get back to Europe and in the workshop things will get easier. My leg felt OK today, but not as good as yesterday, the three days of riding have caused some pain, but I’m confident I’ll be fine by the time I get to Phillip Island.”

The next round of the World Supersport Championship will take place on the 2 March at Philip Island, Australia. The SC stands for Stefano Caracchi, who joined forces with Triumph Motorcycles to form Scuderia Triumph-SC, which is the sole factory representative for Triumph Motorcycle Co.

バイカーブードゥー

I found something on YouTube that you might enjoy. This is apparently a promo ad from Triumph Motorcycles for its 2008 model lineup. Nice choice of music. Does anyone know who it’s from? I don’t quite like the little boy scene in the intro though! Just doesn’t match.

(C) TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES

バイカーブードゥー

Billed as an invite-only sneak preview event, the first theatrical screening of just-completed vintage British motorcycle documentary Brittown became a wild event Thursday night when the expected turnout burgeoned to over five-hundred people and excited attendees nearly overwhelmed the staff in order to grab the free gift bags in front of the historic Laemmle 4-plex theater.

It was meant to be an invitation-only sneak preview event, but the first theatrical screening of just-completed vintage British motorcycle documentary Brittown became a wild event Thursday night when the expected turnout grew to over five-hundred people and excited attendees nearly overwhelmed the staff in order to grab the free gift bags in front of the historic Laemmle 4-plex theater in Santa Monica, California.

The theater manager closed the doors when it became obvious that the largest theater in Santa Monica was about to overflow. “That’s the wildest screening I’ve seen yet since I worked here,” said an exhausted Laemmle Theater employee that had handled the concessions stand for the event.

The main sponsors for the event: Paul Frank Industries, Bass Pale Ale, and Mooneyes were just as excited about the turnout and the response to the film. “Paul Frank was honored to be represented in conjunction with such a fine film,” said Paul Frank CEO and co-Founder Ryan Heuser after the screening.

In addition to the special Brittown/Paul Frank shirts and tote bags given to the audience, Mooneyes provided their signature decals, with local bistro La Bottega providing trays of delicious cookies for the moviegoers.

Bass Pale Ale took on the after-party duties by providing free beer and glassware to all who crammed into the world-famous King’s Head Pub afterwards.

Scott Di Lalla & Zack Coffman (Photo by J. Miller)

“We wanted to say thanks to all the people that helped us on the project and give them a fun night of celebration,” said one of the film’s directors Zack Coffman. “We sent out invitations and tickets, but word kind of got around that the film was going to show and the next thing we new it was filled over capacity.”

“Honestly it was a bit surprising, in a good way, that the film would draw so well even on a Thursday night,” said the film’s other director Scott Di Lalla. “It feels good after nearly a year and a half to finally show it and have a great night for everyone involved.”

When asked about their plans for the film, Di Lalla elaborated, “As we field offers from distributors and consider plans for a world tour of the film, we’re moving forward immediately with our plan of releasing a special edition of the DVD directly to our core audience through our websites www.brittown.com and www.choppertown.com.”

Regarding their plans for a Brittown tour Coffman added, “Screenings of the film will be more like cultural events than just traditional sit-down screenings. We want people to bring out their bikes, eat good food and enjoy the goodies brought out by the sponsors…and of course enjoy the film!”

Featuring an insider’s view of the SoCal Britbike culture including vintage motocross, dirt track, road racing, custom street bikes, and even a wild vintage lingerie beauty contest, the film has struck another chord within the growing Triumph motorcycle and hipster communities. The release of Brittown comes almost two years to the day since One World’s first film Choppertown: the Sinners stormed onto the indie scene by winning several Best Documentary awards and launched a film making movement within the biker community not seen since the release of the seminal biker films “Easy Rider” and “On Any Sunday“.

PICS: GINA WILSON

バイカーブードゥー

Brittown delves into the rambunctious So Cal subculture that centers around building vintage Norton, BSA, and Triumph motorcycles and racing them on weekends followed by drinking lots of beer and playing music all night long.

Brittown features legendary underground mechanic and Britbike connoisseur Jeff “Meatball” Tulinius from the Hell On Wheels bike shop in Anaheim, CA.

The film chronicles several months in Meatball’s life as he runs his old BSA in vintage motocross races, embraces the legacy of Steve McQueen on his vintage Triumph Cub desert sled with the No Gooders Motorcycle Club, flies down the Willow Springs raceway on his Norstar, and uses all his skill to rebuild an old 650 Triumph Bonneville motor into a blazing road-ready screamer … all while juggling his responsibilities to his family and his rock band Smiling Face Down.

From Scott Di Lalla and Zack Coffman, directors of the award-winning custom motorcycle documentary Choppertown comes their second intimate inside look at biker culture, Brittown: a British motorcycle documentary film. One World Studios is a fully integrated media company specializing in the production and distribution of films, DVDs, music CDs and books; online and through traditional distribution methods. Check out the Brittown website for more information, t-shirts, etc.

continue reading "BRITTOWN: A LOOK AT BRITISH BIKE CULTURE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA"

Nick Bloor, son of owner John Bloor, is now CEO of Triumph.

Tue Mantoni

Nick takes over from Tue Mantoni, who oversaw a massive expansion period from the time Triumph’s Hinckley factory burnt down in 2002. Mantoni is returning home to Denmark but will join the board of directors. Joining Triumph 8 years ago as a 28-year old consultant, Mantoni quickly progressed to become director of sales & marketing, and finally CEO.

Starting at Triumph in 1998 as a design engineer following his graduation from Loughborough University, Nick Bloor spent time working in design, manufacturing, production control and sales & marketing. His last stint was in Triumph’s procurement department.

Triumph, resurrected by entrepreneur John Bloor in the early 1990s, now has 1400 employees around the globe and sells about 50,000 motorcycles in 30 countries every year.

A Triumph Daytona 675 powered by bioethanol fuel today reached an astonishing track speed of 158.7 mph at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground! The biofuel used for this groundbreaking initiative was produced from windfall apples by A-level students from a local school.

Devised by Rupert Paul, contributing editor of Bike magazine, “Project Fast Fruit” aimed to convert and run a high performance vehicle on biofuel using only basic equipment. As such, the fuel was produced in a Chemistry Lab as part of an A-level project by students from the Prince William School in Oundle, Northamptonshire.

Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle manufacturer, initially entered into the scheme some four months ago by providing its world leading Daytona 675 model as the test bike. Today’s successful final run was the result of four months of hard work – the school having fermented and distilled around 6,000 crushed apples while Bike magazine modified the Daytona’s engine to run on bioethanol.

Surprisingly little modification was required – just a remap of the fuel injection system. The engine was then tested thoroughly using commercially available E85 (85% ethanol) with very encouraging results. The project then moved to the next phase, with testing and optimization of the engine using the fuel produced by the students before undertaking today’s run at Bruntingthorpe.

Rupert Paul of Bike magazine commented,
“We believe that achieving a speed 158.7mph sets a record for a production bike on home-brewed fuel. Biofuel is a buzzword at the moment, with the Government setting a target for all petrol and diesel to contain a minimum 5% biofuel by 2010. Although they are still questionable from an environmental point of view, biofuels are here to stay, and this experiment was all about exploring how much power we could extract from them – as well as having some fun.”

Andrea Friggi, PR & Communications Manager at Triumph Motorcycles commented,
“At the moment all Triumph motorcycles are designed for optimum performance with non-ethanol fuel but are compatible with E10 (10% ethanol). We’re currently investigating making all models compatible with E25 fuel so while this is a fun experiment it does have a serious side and we’re looking forward to reviewing the results.”

Dr Anton McAleese, Head of Chemistry at Prince William School said;
“This is a really interesting project for our students to get involved in. It’s important that industry recognises the skills and creativity that our students can offer. Further, it’s often young people today who are the most concerned about the future of our environment, so it’s a topic close to their hearts.”

バイカーブードゥー

Triumph Motorcycles has introduced a mean and moody Matt Black colour option to accentuate the popular Speed Triple’s aggressive, stripped down looks and make it stand out even further from the crowd.

The 1050cc 2008 Speed Triple is the sharpest yet, featuring a raft of chassis refinements including radial-caliper four-piston Brembo front brakes, Magura tapered bars, an all-new subframe and redesigned multi-spoke wheels. These developments have already proved to be a big hit with Triumph customers, with strong demand making it once again one of the best-selling bikes in the company’s range.

Triumph’s Speed Triple has become an iconic model since the launch of the original version in 1994, delivering unparalleled attitude in a uniquely styled package. Over the years it has been constantly developed in order to maintain its position as the definitive factory streetfighter.

Speed Triples are famous for being offered in a variety of eye-catching shades over the years, with the 2008 model coming in Blazing Orange, Jet Black and Fusion White, as well as the new Matt Black option.

The Matt Black Speed Triple costs £7,999 OTR and will be available in UK dealers from the end of April. Triumph Motorcycles, the iconic British motorcycle marque, is solely owned by John Bloor as part of the Bloor Holdings group of companies

バイカーブードゥー

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is celebrating the arrival of spring with some fantastic offers at their Sports Open Weekend, taking place between the 29th–30th March 2008 at your local dealership.

Triumph dealers are offering the opportunity to see the brand’s new bikes and test ride the latest models from the Urban Sports range. The new Speed Triple, with its reshaped iconic headlights and new wheels, will be part of the showroom launch. In addition you will be able to test ride the all new Rocket III Touring with its awesome 2.3 litre triple performance combined with the handling, braking and agility of a bike half its size.

No weekend spectacular would be complete without checking out the latest accessories from Arrow, so if you’ve already gone your own way and own a Triumph then it’s worth a visit to see the new 2008 Triumph Arrow exhaust systems now available. Not just for Sports bikes either, Arrow have produced some authentic looking systems for the Modern Classics too.

The weekend also sees the launch of the new summer T-shirt range, including the much sought after Steve McQueen Special Edition, with an offer of 10% off the entire range (see promotional flyers for details)!

Visit your local dealer now! A complete list of UK Triumph dealers can be found below.

UK TRIUMPH DEALERSHIPS

continue reading "GEAR UP AT TRIUMPH’S MARCH OPEN WEEKEND"

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has announced it will host “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” during 2008 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and invites the participation of all Triumph owners in this noteworthy
event.

“The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” will be held at the Motorhead Café on July 25 and 26, 2008. It will honor the VMD Marque of the Year, Triumph. Inspired by “Antiques Roadshow®,” the hit PBS program, “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” will feature Triumph expert and Baxter Cycle owner, Randy Baxter, appraising classic Triumphs and Triumph memorabilia.

Baxter will be appraising both correctly restored and original unrestored Triumphs, but he will do more than simply assign a dollar value to the motorcycles. Baxter will also share restoration trends and tips with the audience.

If you own a correctly restored Triumph and have ever wondered if your paint color and pin striping would pass concours judging or if your decals are authentically placed, this is the event for you. Additionally, if you own an original unrestored machine, Baxter and the Museum invite you to participate in “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” and allow fellow enthusiasts to appreciate and learn from your classic bike.

Triumph owners who would like to participate in “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” are invited to contact Mark Mederski, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum executive director, at mmederski@motorcyclemuseum.org. Owners must register in advance to have machines and memorabilia appraised by Baxter during “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow.”

Enthusiasts who plan to attend “The Vintage Triumph Roadshow” as spectators do not need to pre-register. Visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org for more information.

バイカーブードゥー

There’s a new digital comic book in town – The Many Worlds Of Jonas Moore, created by Factory Publishing in association with Triumph Motorcycles. It stars British actor Colin Salmon, whom we’ve seen in movies like Resident Evil, Aliens Vs. Predator, James Bond, etc. and Worlds Apart singer Steve Hart, who also wrote the score. The concept was created and directed by Howard Webster.

This new form of media is set in an alternative universe where everyone is addicted to online games, Jonas Moore is a self-aware character who can move between games with the help of a real-world programmer, Professor Kansu Tao, one of the original designers of the network and its original role playing games, is dying in hospital. Jonas Moore must go on the run, pursued by the network and its lethal defence protocols. His only hope is to run, escaping from one virtual game world to the next until the dying Professor Tao can reprogramme the network’s security system and restore him to his game world and let him live.

Fans are also invited to animate and score their own adventures. See the website for more information. Characters appear to ride Triumph Motorcycles and wear Triumph apparel. The powerful, stylish Triumph Tiger 1050 is the machine of choice for Jonas Moore. A truly multifunctional motorcycle, with Triumph’s trademark blend of sophisticated design, distinctive character and ample performance, the Tiger’s the perfect partner for Jonas Moore’s adventures. Check the website for more information or here for the ‘full story’ thus far. Hats off to Triumph for getting involved with Jonas Moore!

バイカーブードゥー

Garry McCoy in Losail

Both of Triumph’s sponsored teams in the World Supersport Championship underlined their potential with promising displays in the opening round of the Championship in Qatar on Saturday (23 February).

Ilario Dionisi

The Scuderia Triumph-SC team kicked off the campaign with a creditable 21st place for young Italian rider, Ilario Dionisi, riding in WSS for the very first time, whilst Australian Garry McCoy was running strongly in fourth place until he was forced to retire following a loss of power.

BE1, the Triumph Italy sponsored team also qualified comfortably, and performed well; Ivan Clementi finishing in the points in 12th place, whilst Mark Aitchison was running in eighth position when unfortunately he crashed out of the race.

Despite riding with a broken leg, Garry McCoy (35) was engaged in an engrossing battle for position against factory-based competitors from Honda and Yamaha, and had risen to fourth from a grid position of seventh, before suffering a reduction of power. McCoy commented:

“During the whole weekend the bike has felt good, so it’s a real shame it stopped in the race. In practice I’ve been lapping on my own, but in the race when I was behind other riders the temperature started to come up, which is what I think caused the problem. It’s very early stages for us, but up until the problem the bike felt really good. I think Qatar and Phillip Island are really going to be an extension of our testing, but once we get back to Europe and in the workshop things will get easier. My leg felt OK today, but not as good as yesterday, the three days of riding have caused some pain, but I’m confident I’ll be fine by the time I get to Phillip Island.”

The next round of the World Supersport Championship will take place on the 2 March at Philip Island, Australia. The SC stands for Stefano Caracchi, who joined forces with Triumph Motorcycles to form Scuderia Triumph-SC, which is the sole factory representative for Triumph Motorcycle Co.

バイカーブードゥー

I found something on YouTube that you might enjoy. This is apparently a promo ad from Triumph Motorcycles for its 2008 model lineup. Nice choice of music. Does anyone know who it’s from? I don’t quite like the little boy scene in the intro though! Just doesn’t match.

(C) TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES

バイカーブードゥー

Billed as an invite-only sneak preview event, the first theatrical screening of just-completed vintage British motorcycle documentary Brittown became a wild event Thursday night when the expected turnout burgeoned to over five-hundred people and excited attendees nearly overwhelmed the staff in order to grab the free gift bags in front of the historic Laemmle 4-plex theater.

It was meant to be an invitation-only sneak preview event, but the first theatrical screening of just-completed vintage British motorcycle documentary Brittown became a wild event Thursday night when the expected turnout grew to over five-hundred people and excited attendees nearly overwhelmed the staff in order to grab the free gift bags in front of the historic Laemmle 4-plex theater in Santa Monica, California.

The theater manager closed the doors when it became obvious that the largest theater in Santa Monica was about to overflow. “That’s the wildest screening I’ve seen yet since I worked here,” said an exhausted Laemmle Theater employee that had handled the concessions stand for the event.

The main sponsors for the event: Paul Frank Industries, Bass Pale Ale, and Mooneyes were just as excited about the turnout and the response to the film. “Paul Frank was honored to be represented in conjunction with such a fine film,” said Paul Frank CEO and co-Founder Ryan Heuser after the screening.

In addition to the special Brittown/Paul Frank shirts and tote bags given to the audience, Mooneyes provided their signature decals, with local bistro La Bottega providing trays of delicious cookies for the moviegoers.

Bass Pale Ale took on the after-party duties by providing free beer and glassware to all who crammed into the world-famous King’s Head Pub afterwards.

Scott Di Lalla & Zack Coffman (Photo by J. Miller)

“We wanted to say thanks to all the people that helped us on the project and give them a fun night of celebration,” said one of the film’s directors Zack Coffman. “We sent out invitations and tickets, but word kind of got around that the film was going to show and the next thing we new it was filled over capacity.”

“Honestly it was a bit surprising, in a good way, that the film would draw so well even on a Thursday night,” said the film’s other director Scott Di Lalla. “It feels good after nearly a year and a half to finally show it and have a great night for everyone involved.”

When asked about their plans for the film, Di Lalla elaborated, “As we field offers from distributors and consider plans for a world tour of the film, we’re moving forward immediately with our plan of releasing a special edition of the DVD directly to our core audience through our websites www.brittown.com and www.choppertown.com.”

Regarding their plans for a Brittown tour Coffman added, “Screenings of the film will be more like cultural events than just traditional sit-down screenings. We want people to bring out their bikes, eat good food and enjoy the goodies brought out by the sponsors…and of course enjoy the film!”

Featuring an insider’s view of the SoCal Britbike culture including vintage motocross, dirt track, road racing, custom street bikes, and even a wild vintage lingerie beauty contest, the film has struck another chord within the growing Triumph motorcycle and hipster communities. The release of Brittown comes almost two years to the day since One World’s first film Choppertown: the Sinners stormed onto the indie scene by winning several Best Documentary awards and launched a film making movement within the biker community not seen since the release of the seminal biker films “Easy Rider” and “On Any Sunday“.

PICS: GINA WILSON

バイカーブードゥー

Brittown delves into the rambunctious So Cal subculture that centers around building vintage Norton, BSA, and Triumph motorcycles and racing them on weekends followed by drinking lots of beer and playing music all night long.

Brittown features legendary underground mechanic and Britbike connoisseur Jeff “Meatball” Tulinius from the Hell On Wheels bike shop in Anaheim, CA.

The film chronicles several months in Meatball’s life as he runs his old BSA in vintage motocross races, embraces the legacy of Steve McQueen on his vintage Triumph Cub desert sled with the No Gooders Motorcycle Club, flies down the Willow Springs raceway on his Norstar, and uses all his skill to rebuild an old 650 Triumph Bonneville motor into a blazing road-ready screamer … all while juggling his responsibilities to his family and his rock band Smiling Face Down.

From Scott Di Lalla and Zack Coffman, directors of the award-winning custom motorcycle documentary Choppertown comes their second intimate inside look at biker culture, Brittown: a British motorcycle documentary film. One World Studios is a fully integrated media company specializing in the production and distribution of films, DVDs, music CDs and books; online and through traditional distribution methods. Check out the Brittown website for more information, t-shirts, etc.

continue reading "BRITTOWN: A LOOK AT BRITISH BIKE CULTURE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA"