"A NIGHT AT THE ARCHIVES" OR "THROUGH THE PAST HEARTILY" . . . . MIKEEY RAT HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH OBSESSED WITH COLLECTING OLD AUTOMOTIVE BOOKS AND MAGS FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS . . . . THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE'VE SPENT READING IN HIS MAN CAVES DURING THAT PERIOD COULD RUN INTO YEARS . . . . THUMBING THROUGH THESE GEMS FROM THE DAYS BEFORE INTERNET AND INSTANT GRATIFICATION . . . . EJAMAKAYSHUNAL.

FILE THIS UNDER "FLASHING ON THE PAST IS A CONSTANT PREOCCUPATION AND ALWAYS A GAS"

WHEN I WAS A KID 'WHITMAN BOOKS' PRODUCED THE "BIG LITTLE" SERIES WHICH WERE AMONG MY FAVOURITE READING MATERIAL, STILL GOT EM SOMEWHERE, MIKEEY WAS TAKING ME THROUGH A COUPLE OF THEIR OTHER RELEASES ON FRIDAY NIGHT, PURE PERIOD PERFECTION, FROM THE DAYS WHEN DIGGERS AND OTHER F.E.D's RULED THE ROOST AND EVERYTHING WAS BRAND NEW . . . . HONEST AND WHOLESOME LIKE SHIT USED TO BE BEFORE IT WAS ALL REPACKAGED AS SMARMY, SMARTARSE ADVERTISING BUMFODDER, YOU NEED TO SEEK THIS STUFF OUT IF YOU HAVEN'T CLAPPED EYES ON IT, WRITTEN FOR MALE ADOLESCENTS OF THE DAY GOING APESHIT FOR NITRO INJECTED THRILLS, IT'S STILL WORTH THE READ. 

DARING DAPPER DUDES IN DIGGERS DICING DANGEROUSLY WITH DEATH

"C'MON JOHNNY, HOLD MY HAND . . . . YOUR DAD WILL NEVER FIND OUT"

FUNNY CARS WERE ALWAYS SERIOUS SHIT, FLOPPERS MAXIMIZED DRIVER SHRAPNEL DAMAGE

SLAYER "RAINING BLOOD" . . . . TOTAL BUMMER, SLAYER GUITARIST, JEFF HANNEMAN, DIES AT FORTY NINE . . . . SO GLAD I GOT TO SEE THEM LIVE, JUST THE ONCE BUT IT'S ENOUGH . . . . FOR ALL THE HARDCORE AND LONG-TERM FANS, MY THOUGHTS AND CONDOLENCES . . . . IN THIS WORLD OF SHORT-LIVED, MANUFACTURED, CONTRIVED, NO TALENT, SHALLOW OUTFITS, MR HANNEMAN WILL BE SORELY AND SADLY MISSED . . . . FORTY FUCKIN NINE, THAT AIN'T OLD !!!

"[SM] - SPEED MERCHANT SO-CAL" ['SHERIFFMEDIAGROUP'] . . . . A NEAT INSIGHT FROM THE SHERIFF INTO THE TRIUMVIRATE THAT IS 'SPEED MERCHANT' SO-CAL . . . . DAN BEGAKIS, MARK KAWAKAMI AND BRANDON HOLSTEIN, THE BLOKES BEHIND, BESIDE AND IN FRONT OF THE BRAND . . . . A TRIO OF RATBAG TALENTS THAT HAVE SPEWED FROM 'THAT' GROUP OF GUYS WHO HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON THE RENAISSANCE CHOPPER MOVEMENT FROM PRE 'THAT' FILM

Let me state from the outset, I'm a fan of what these guys do, not because I love the SM finned derby cover on the Purple Penis, not because it's a great piece of kit, not because Denver Dan is undoubtedly one of the sexiest, bearded men alive and not because the three Speed Merchants are all members in long standing of 'that' club of like minded dudes who have all proven themselves as innovators, leaders and strictly legit in the world of two wheels and far beyond . . . . none of the above really, it's about dedication and perseverance when the crunch is on, not letting the bastards grind you down when the initial pathway is blocked by scammers, jammers and bandwagon rammers, the behind the scenes story of the establishment of Speed Merchant is an object lesson in not giving up when the chips are down, belief in your partners and your concept, and I only have a third hand insight into what went down . . . but it's more than enough to win my admiration and respect. Speed Merchant parts, stick em on your bike, they work.

ZEKE "FLAT TRACK" . . . . FOR THOSE PATHETICALLY DISORGANIZED AND TIME POOR BASTARDS LIKE ME . . . . A TUNE THAT ONLY TAKES UP A MINUTE FIFTEEN OF YOUR DAY . . . . IN THE TWO DECADES ZEKE HAS BEEN PLAYING THEY'VE ONLY EVER KNOWN ONE TEMPO . . . . VERY FUCKING FAST . . . . THIS SHIT IS ALL ABOUT ECONOMY OF TIME AND MAXIMIZING ENJOYMENT SO YOU CAN GET BACK TO THE CRACK PIPE OR CONTINUE BEATING THE WIFE AND KIDS . . . . PERFECT !!

HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND ME DROOGS . . . . WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, GIVE IT THE BOLLOCKS

"GoPro - HIPPY KILLER HOEDOWN 2013" - A SHORT, SHARP SHOT FROM THIS YEAR'S HOEDOWN, PERFECT WEATHER, PEACHY RIDES ON FOUR AND TWO WHEELS . . . . AFTER BEING SO PSYCHED TO FINALLY MAKE THE TRIP ACROSS THE PACIFIC A YEAR AGO, I'VE BEEN DELIBERATELY AVOIDING KEEPING ABREAST OF THINGS STATESIDE LIKE THIS . . . . TOO DEPRESSING DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF THIS WON'T BE THE YEAR EITHER . . . . LIFE JUST GETS IN THE WAY.

NONETHELESS, ON THE WLP BUCKET LIST FOR NEXT YEAR AND EVEN 2015 ARE BF6/BF7, THE BROOKLYN INVITATIONAL, MOONEYES YOKOHAMA, THE TRIPOUT, IOM CLASSIC TT AND THE HKH AMONG OTHERS . . . . I ONLY HOPE THEY'RE STILL ON THE GO BY THEN, THEY DESERVE TO BE.

HOLY SWISS CHEESE BATMAN, WE'VE BEEN DRILLED . . . . ROSCOE'S TALENTS FOR CIRCLE WORK HAS YIELDED A PRETTY TIDY RESULT ON THE OUTPUT PULLEY COVER . . . . HAVING TO DRILL BETWEEN THE STRENGTHENING RIBS ON THE INSIDE OF THE THING DIDN'T ALLOW FOR A TRADITIONAL, PRETTY PATTERN . . . . THANKFULLY, I AIN'T A REAL PRETTY PATTERN KINDA DUDE . . . . SYMMETRY THROUGH ASYMMETRY, LOVE IT . . . . SO WILL THE LOCAL WALLOPERS.

I promised the local plod on one memorable roadside encounter with them nearly a year ago that I'd get the cover back on asap as they were so concerned about my well being in regards to potentially losing a leg courtesy of the exposed pulley being so capable of winding my lower limb into the rapidly spinning belt thereby tearing it off at the hip and leaving me to hop home with copious amounts of primarily arterial blood besmirching my new $500.00 selvedge biker denim, my period correct Dead Wings, not to mention the reality of fucking up the state government road itself, all because they care about me . . . . I hate rushing into shit half cocked so naturally I waited an appropriate period of time before doing a fucking thing about it, that 'thing' entailed springing into apathy and leaving it with Roscoe for six months or so as I pretty much forgot about the whole thing, which is the generally accepted modus operandi in these situations, until I was reminded of its absence once more by an unrelated orificer of the law a couple of months ago . . . . obviously I leapt into a buzz of further procrastination as life and things I really give a rat's arse about continued to get in the way of actually getting Roscoe to do the required re-engineering and myself to then nail it back on the Purple Penis. I mean, some shit simply can't be rushed, Rome wasn't built in a day apparently . . . . anyhoo, I dropped in on Roscoe during lunch today, he uncovered the cover, wiped away the dust and the cobwebs, and, in a fit of crazy, whirling dervish-like action, I proceeded to get the long absent cover re-installed in its rightful position. Now I can ride, safe in the knowledge that my leg is safe from flesh and sinew shredding dismemberment, and all thanks to the love of the local fuzz . . . . bless their cotton socks.

DIVINYLS "PLEASURE AND PAIN" (1985) . . . . R.I.P MISS CHRISSIE AMPHLETT, THE WILD CHILD OF AUSSIE LADY ROCKERS, DEAD AT A TRAGICALLY YOUNG 53 . . . . LOVE EM OR LOATHE EM, SHE WAS THE PROTOTYPICAL FRONT WOMAN, SASSY, SEXY AND SINFUL . . . . ARMED WITH A STAGE PERSONA BASED ON A FEMME FATALE VERSION OF ANGUS YOUNG'S SCHOOLBOY FROM ACCA DACCA . . . . THIS POUTING PRINCESS HAD ALL THE BOYS IN TOWN GOIN NUTS NATION WIDE.

I CHOSE THIS CLIP BECAUSE A GREAT BUDDY, MR J.J LOVE-PUMP-HONEY IS PLAYING DRUMS AFTER HAVING MOVED TO SYDNEY AND JAGGED THE GIG, IT WAS ALWAYS GONNA BE HARD GOING FOR A 'NICE GUY' FROM THE GOLD COAST AS CHRISSIE AND HER PARTNER/SONGWRITER, MARK McANTEE WERE CONSTANTLY FIGHTING AND CHRISSIE WAS APPARENTLY QUITE THE TYRANT TO WORK WITH . . . . BUT THAT SHIT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE ON THE CARDS WHEN SOMEONE'S RIDING THE WHITE HORSE. 

           BON VOYAGE MISS AMPHLETT . . . . YOU'LL BE MISSED . . . . GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

THEM'S BIG SHOES TO FILL PUMPKIN BUT YOU'RE DOING OKAY . . . . THE LEFT KNEE WAS JUST BEGINNING TO COME UP TOWARD THE CAMERA . . . . JUST GET THE SHOT AND STAND BACK DADDY . . . . NEVER TRUST A BOOT WEARIN SCHOOLGIRL . . . . FUNNY THING IS, THEY DON'T LOOK 'THAT' BIG ON HER . . . . DEFINITELY HER FATHER'S DAUGHTER . . . . POOR GIRL !!!

SUNSET OVER PARADISE . . . . MAYBE NOT PARADISE EXACTLY BUT AT THE END OF A DAY LIKE THIS ONE THINGS COULD BE WORSE METHINKS . . . . LOOKING SOUTH FROM THE BALCONY, SUN GOING DOWN TO THE RIGHT AND THE LIGHTS OF SUFFERERS PARASITE TWINKLING ON THE LEFT . . . . MY PHOTOGRAPHIC SKILLS SUCK BALLS BUT YOU GET THE IDEA . . . . THESE KINDA DAYS WILL BECOME MORE PREVALENT AS WE SHUFFLE INTO WINTER . . . . MADE FOR RIDING

HANNI EL KHATIB - "FAMILY" [OFFICIAL VIDEO] . . . . 'HEY BABE WITH THE TOKYO PLATES . . . . WHERE YOU HEADED' . . . . LOVIN THIS CRANKIN-CRAZY CRACKER, AWESOME TUNE, FUCKING GROOVY, TWO WHEELED ACTION CLIP, IT'S ALL HERE . . . . SOUNDING LIKE A ONE MAN BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB WITH A HUMOUR INJECTION . . . . FROM THE BLOKE WHO BROUGHT YOU "BUILD. DESTROY. REBUILD", THIS IS MUSIC WITH A PULSE LIKE STATHAM IN 'CRANK' !!!

FILE UNDER -"YOU REALLY NEED HIP TO YOURSELF TO THIS SHIT MOTHERFUCKER"