Vetter&Blez with 214mph Triumph Bonneville 'Cigar'

Craig Vetter and Paul Blezard with the original Triumph Bonneville streamliner which hit 214mph way back in 1956.
The 'Texan Cigar' as it is also known, is owned by the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull and usually resides there, but this photo was taken 20 miles down the road at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, where the 'cigar' was one of the prime exhibits at the 50th anniversary of the Triumph Bonneville. Craig gave a talk there on Saturday August 22nd 2009 and although it was mostly about his involvement with Triumph through his TT and Hurricane designs, he ended it by talking about his current quest to make road-going motorcycles more aerodynamic and streamlined, so this photo was more than appropriate. (Lots more about craig's own streamliner at craigvetter.com and also in this folder)
The Triumph streamliner also featured in the 1988 Top Gear TV programme on FFs which you can read about here: http://www.bikeweb.com/image/tid/102.
That was filmed long before the National Motorcycle Museum burned to the ground and both the Quasar and the 'Cigar' very badly damaged. The streamliner has been immaculately restored, as you can see.
Sadly, the Quasar has not.....
Photo taken by Carol Vetter with Blez's EOS.

Vetter&Blez with 214mph Triumph Bonneville 'Cigar'