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robinrequiems · 3 years

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"Everyone keeps on trying to set us up but we are already secretly dating" clishe as jondami

I know its kinda late but I really love this trope xjkajkajkajka

OO NO. NEVER LATE.

• damian, at 17, has never dated anyone, never danced with anyone at a gala, probably never kissed anyone. his brothers had thought he was aromatic, which was okay!

• until they asked Damian about it:

Damian: ..where would you get that idea? i.. have romantic attractions.

• yeah his brothers were like: WOW! Oh my god! but they have seen how Damian disregards everyone, ignoring everyone and everything

• he only showed feelings to his family, friends, his animals, and jon. jons a separate category, they didn’t know if they were friends/partners/ or enemies sometimes

• but with the way damian smiled with Jon? and how jon hung out with damian? it was perfect!

• kon and kara have both watched as jon declined girls and boys, and basically everyone. he’s been asked out, jons a catch, he’s a sweetheart.. than why isn’t he dating anyone? jons dated people a few years back.. that weird middle school romance with Kathy, and that one week relationship when he was 14, but then everything stopped.

• like jon just no longer tried. they have seen jon laughing at his phone, but they don’t know why. it’s that stupid smile you get when you look at someone you love.

Kon: you aren’t worried about your sons love life?

Clark: ..do you want me to be worried about your love life?

Kon: I’m not— ( oh he thinks of me as his son )

• kon just dropped it, but kara smacked his head because of it.

• but anyways, the batfamily just wanted their little brother to at least go on one date! and the supers didn’t want jon to be alone, jon would be an amazing boyfriend, they knew that

Dick: look, Damian is.. restively calmer with Jon.

Tim: fair, but what if it ruins their friendship they have?

Stephanie: easy answer! we just don’t tell them it’s a date.

• meanwhile, here damian was, laying on jons chest and reading the latest chapter of a manga he just got

Jon: kon and aunt kara have been weird.

Damian: how so?

Jon: dunno, just like.. trying to investigate me. asking me what I like in a person.. it’s weird. it’s like when you tried asking me out

Damian: I didnt try to ask you out! I did!

flashback:

Damian: jonathan- if someone.. what do you.. tolerate in a person?

Jon: what

Damian: what do you like?

Jon: chocolate

Damian: in a person idiot!

Jon: hey don’t insult me): I like people who are.. headstrong, and uhh don’t let people knock them down, but also care for others

Damian: that’s so cliche, i like a cliche idiot who I have no chance with

Jon: what?

Damian: hm?

Jon: what did you say?

Damian: I called you cliche

Jon: okay..

current:

Jon: no you didn’t

Damian: yeah I did!

Jon: you told me you liked me and then pretended like I didn’t hear??

Damian: so

Jon: that wasn’t you asking me out

Damian: I didn’t even ask you out then!

flashback;

Damian: hello.

Jon: hi, you’ve been avoiding me

Damian, throwing a chocolate box at jons head: accept my chocolate

Jon, thankfully, his powers worked and he caught it: whats this for?

Damian: you.

Jon: okay, thanks

Damian, visibly panicking: date. you. me. please ?

Jon: huh-?

Damian: oh god I can’t do this, damnit!

Jon: Damian, breathe

Damian: I can’t, I can’t even ask you out properly!

Jon: oh.. oh.. Damian, Damian, hey, look at me. quit glaring- would you go out with me?

Damian: I was supposed to ask you):

Jon: it was a team effort

present:

Jon: you didn’t ask me out period

Damian: shut up

Jon: but they’re being weird

Damian: mine are too, they asked me if I was aromatic.

Jon: pfft, you’re the biggest romantic out there though!

Damian: i am not!

Jon: with me you are

Damian: no. shut up. but they’re being weird and trying to figure out what’s going on in my life. it’s gross

Jon: pfft

• they sorta just forgot about that. they really shouldn’t have since a month past and they are all celebrating damians birthday ( dunno his birthday, i get mixed results all the time )

• damian is awoken by dick who is forcing him into an outfit. he wanted to sleep all day. he’s uoset

Dick: hey birthday boy, happy 18th, you’re an adult now!

Damian: barely, all I can really do is legally move out.

Dick: hey, hey, don’t be a downer. cmon, everyone is here

Damian: everyone? please say you didn’t throw a party

Dick: I would be a liar then, sorry, lil d, but today’s a big day, okay? I know you hate parties, but you deserve one.

Damian: tt

• and low and behold, the only one down stairs is only jon kent.. damians so confused. and he’s holding flowers. and looking like he wants to sink into the floor. oh Jesus fuckingchrist

Damian: richard-??

Dick: surprise, I’m a liar. you two, are just going to go out for a nice lunch- have fun, if anything happens, call me.

Jon: hey, d…

Damian: um.

• dick just walks away, not before kissing damians head and wishing him another happy birthday.

• even though dick would actually like to spend the day with him, he also just wants to see if Damian and jon could work, but if it doesn’t, that’s okay. all he wants is his brother to be happy. dick does end up nearly having a breakdown in the bathroom though, his Robin had grown up so much, Damian was.. a petulant child when he first got there, and now? he’s a nearly functioning adult. he’s really proud of him okat?

• and dick is having: oh shit I’m old moments. but dicks so happy with the way damian freely smiled when he saw jon, even if he was confused. the Damian from even 5 years ago wouldn’t have done that. ( sorry dick and dami family stuff snuck in )

Damian: ..why the flowers?

Jon: dick gave them to me.. said to give them to you. they knew your favorites..

Damian: huh.. oh. oh no

Jon: huh?

Damian: this is a date

Jon: it is? oh no, I would’ve dress up more-

Damian: no, it was made by.. that. oh

Damian: they set us up

Jon: for what?

Damian: a date, idiot!

Jon: oh..

Damian: damnit.

• they hid their relatiosnsho because it was easier to go out in public, they didn’t want the superhero community to keep them apart during life threatening missions either. ( during life threatening missions, a lot of couples were split up since there would be a conflict of interest and it would cause many risks if someone was constantly worrying over their loved one, you know? granted, some couples are fine, but Damian knew bruce, he knew they would be separated. Bruce also knows damij would give his life for his loved ones. Heretic was an example of that, so he definitely would, Damian knows that he has a point, but he doesn’t want jon to be alone during life threatening stuff )

• and Damian didn’t want to deal with the fact his brothers might feel a little betrayed by the fact he hid for.. 3 years now. oh yeah, they started dating at 15. Damian.. loved his family, but sometimes? they were.. overwhelming. jon was just an escape sometimes, and he didn’t want his family to know that he escapes from his family

Jon: you know.. this wouldn’t happen if we just..

Damian: shut up.

• but dami & jon went out though, they went out for lunch and had a nice time.. minus the paparazzi Damian wanted to murder.

Damian: this is why I don’t want to make us public.

Jon: will we ever be public? it’s now or never, d, i don’t wanna hide us forever.

Damian:

Damian:okay. fuck it.

• and then they kiss. break the internet temporarily. and have to find a way to tell their family.

• thays. gonna be so fun.

#secretly dating au #cliche asks #damijon #Damian wayne #jon kent

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thepriceofbeingaroseisloneliness · 3 years

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Toshiya "Oboro" release commemorative Twitter "Like project" live stream [DAY 5]

A summary and some notes about today’s live stream with Toshiya

Notes before reading: I wanted to do a small summary and highlights of today’s livestream (ended up being 5 pages lol) It’s a bit messier/raw than other times but I hope you enjoy it :) Fujieda starts greeting everyone watching and announces the beginning of the livestream. Today’s is Toshiya’s turn. Fujieda says it’s the last day of these events that took place during Japan’s Golden week, he asks Toshiya how is he doing and he just laughs. Fujieda asks Toshiya if he knows what are these events about and he says “somehow”, Fujieda explains that as “Oboro” was released on Wednesday, people are sharing their impressions about it in the hashtag #direngreyyabai (it would like direngreyisdashit/ awesome) *Toshiya grins when he hears the hashtag name*. So, Toshiya has to get into that hashtag and click “like” in the comments he likes. Toshiya laughs when Fujieda ends his explanation and he asks Toshiya if its his first time at twitter and he says it is. They are laughing for some seconds and then Fujieda explains the “Heart” icon is the “like” one, Toshiya asks him what happens when he “likes” a tweet, Fujieda resplies that person will receive a notification saying that Toshiya liked their tweet and maybe that person its going to be happy (moved?). Fujieda tells Toshiya to scroll in the tag, and read the tweets he is interested in and if he wants, read the name of the person as that would made them happy. Fujieda says he is going to be checking comments at the Gaalaca site and it seems that Toshiya has a screen in his left side with the Gaalaca site too. Toshiya: It’s hard... Fujieda: Rather than hard, it’s hectic…as I’m watching twitter and the livestream’s comments…it’s pretty hectic but it’s funny… Toshiya jokes with Fujieda and says again it’s hard, because he doesn’t understand it well, Fujieda explains how he has to scroll in the hashtag so the tweets will be appearing. Toshiya asks who did these twitter accounts and Fujieda says the staff. He also explains that it was also the first time for Die but it seems that he got used to twitter in the end.

Fujieda encourages Toshiya to click his first like and thanks everyone for so many comments.

Toshiya: Thank you, but I don’t understand this. Toshiya starts scrolling for a while and Fujieda is reading comments from the livestream all the time, thanking them. Toshiya: Woah, you are really busy…. He stops in the tweet of a baby wrapped in a dir en grey towel. Toshiya: There is a cute child ….*opens the picture* Toshiya keeps scrolling and Fujieda tells him that if he was interested in that tweet, he should like that tweet but Toshiya can’t find the tweet scrolling back.

Toshiya suggests to talk while he is doing the twitter thing and Fujieda asks him about “Oboro”, if there is any particular part of the song we should listen to…. Toshiya says that it’s hard to pick so “everything”. Fujieda: Are you looking at the tweets? Toshiya: I am… Toshiya laughs at some tweet thanking Fujieda and clicks “like” for the first time. He seemed amused by the twitter message when he does it. He keeps scrolling for a while and Fujieda asks him the same about T.D.F.F than about “Oboro”, if there is anything in particular…..Toshiya laughs and says “everything”. Fujieda says there are many people saying T.D.F.F is good. Toshiya: is that so? I’m happy… Fujieda sees Toshiya liking a tweet and asks if he is liking a lot but he says “I liked about two” lol This one has attached a pic of one of his basses Toshiya keeps scrolling up and Fujieda teases him about the “like limit” (Shinya got this function blocked for liking too many tweets at once) but Toshiya laughs like “it’s not gonna happen to me” lol. While we are seeing a close up of Toshiya scrolling, Fujieda says that even though is spring its still cold and Toshiya agrees. They also talk about some music shops being close (because of the state of emergency in some cities in Japan) like Shinjiku and Shibuya Tower records so Fujieda thinks that because of that some people might haven’t listened to the single yet. Fujieda reads a lot of names from the stream in a row and Toshiya laughs. He reads and like a tweet asking him about what he is drinking at that moment and Toshiya says “coffee” and adds he is going to buy alcohol ( he mumbles it so low lol) and Fujieda asks him if he doesn’t have any at home and Toshiya says he drank it recently. Shops seems to be closed and not selling alcohol from certain hour due to the emergency state.

Toshiya asks who came up with the hashtag’s name and Fujieda says “the company”. He explains that “yabai” is often used to refer to Dir and Toshiya laughs hard.

Toshiya: Is that so? Fujieda: If people used it a lot, it will be a trending topic…a trending topic is… Toshiya: Am I that old? (that you think have to explain it to me) Fujieda: *laughs* You understand what it’s a trending topic, right? Toshiya: More or less…

Toshiya gets back to scrolling tweets, he likes a few more but mostly just pass them quickly. Fujieda asks him if he is just looking at them quickly/just passing them and Toshiya says he is doing that. Toshiya asks Fujieda why there are so many cats in the tweets, he replies that it’s pretty common in twitter to post cats. Toshiya is like “why?” Fujieda “because they are cute” and Toshiya is like “Oh, I see”. Toshiya reads a tweet about someone saying Fujieda wears a T-shirt with the name of the band in a different colour in every livestream (these shirts are from the last screening) They talk about the shirts. Toshiya seems a be clueless about what to do and Fujieda asks everyone to write their impressions about oboro. Toshiya: From now one, please just (tweet) your impressions about “Oboro” (laughs) Fujieda says the livestream is going to end soon so he encourages people to make a last effort. Next comment Toshiya likes, its about wanting to hear “Oboro” live soon, Toshiya says he wants to play a live. Fujieda goes back to saying people’s name and thanking them for the comments and Toshiya is just scrolling up. Toshiya likes a comment saying that this person’s friend is about to give birth and when she was listening to “Oboro” , the baby started to move intensely and it seems that the baby started kicking the belly lol. Fujieda: At the PV Kyo is being given birth as well. Toshiya laughs hard. He is back at scrolling and likes a few tweets more, one with a picture of his picks and other wanting that “Sogai” live takes place soon. Fujieda says these are too tough times, as they can’t play lives and even music shops are closed now. Fujieda keeps saying people’s name and Toshiya stops at a comment of someone who did a cover of every part of the song, they both think it’s amazing this person could do every single part. Then, he likes a tweet of someone that tried to do a “arukuma” characters with grapes, Toshiya says it looks scary.

Fujieda keeps explaining more stuff about twitter to Toshiya and he just replies “I want to delete it” lol Then he asked whose idea was this and Fujieda says it was the company’s. Toshiya: So you were just like “let’s do it”….like DT (Dynammite Tommy?/DTS?)…. Fujieda laughs and shakes his head. Toshiya: So when this is over, you are going to delete it (the twitter) Fujieda: We are going to keep using it like for example when the album is going to be released….. Toshiya: Eh? *disappointed* Fujieda laughs.

Toshiya stops at a tweet with a screepcap of the hashtag being trending topic in Kyushuu (south of Japan). Fujieda explains what it means. Toshiya: (It’s trending topic in) Ashura no kuni ( dangerous country) *Ashura no kuni is used to referred to Kyuushuu, it’s seems these name comes from “Hokuto no ken”? Fujieda says they are TT also in Kanto (Japan’s main island) and Osaka and other places. Toshiya likes another tweet saying they want to listen to “Oboro” in a Nagano live, Toshiya mumbles “I wonder when it will be possible” Fujieda: I want to play a live Toshiya:*laughs* Ah so? Fujieda: I want to…. with Toshiya…..*Fujieda laughs cause he realizes why Toshiya is teasing him* Not me…I mean the band… Toshiya says Fujieda could impersonate Shinya’s (Fujieda plays the drums) and Fujieda laughs. Fujieda says they are already TT in Japan. Then explains to Toshiya how the “coins system” works in Gaalaca, like they are similar to Youtube’s super chat just that you can “buy” with these coins Dir’s icons or draws…. Toshiya peeks at the screen he has at his left side to check it. Fujieda thanks everyone for so many comments. They are about the finish the livestream. Toshiya: Everyone, take a bath and go to sleep… Fujieda laughs. Toshiya says something about the comments being “nice” and Fujieda says today they are quite nice. Toshiya: So kind… Fujieda: Not saying other days weren’t nice but today are especially nice…. Toshiya: Everyone is really amazing…

Fujieda: We are about to finish this, is that ok for you, Toshiya? Toshiya: Pretty please….

They are finally ending the live stream and Fujieda thanks everyone for taking part in it. Both of them clap. Fujieda: There are more than 2.400 people watching the livestream, is there something you want to tell them? Toshiya: Thank you so much….Dir en grey yabai desu ( Dir en grey is da shit) Fujieda: Da shit, *laughs* Something about “Oboro”? Toshiya: please listen to it a lot, and if we play a live, please come…..that’s all… Fujieda: Thank you! Fujieda starts talking about the event being finished, thanks the people who watched. Fujieda: That so many people took part and show interested, if you all enjoyed I think it’s good, right? Toshiya: Is that so? *laughs* Fujieda: I think that if there is another chance to do it…. Toshiya: I already don’t like/hate this.... Fujieda laughs surprised. Fujieda: Eh?? Next time please take part....with the other members... Fujieda asks people to keep listening to “Oboro” and even if now the circumstances don’t let them play live, to wait until it’s possible. Fujieda: Thank you everyone for so many tweets, icons.... Toshiya: Yes. Fujieda: Finally, please watch the promotional edit of the pv of “Oboro”; thank you for spending your time with us, Today Toshiya was here! Thank you so much! Byee.... Toshiya and Fujieda wave goodbye. Next....”Oboro” PV promotional edit comes it.

#dir en grey #toshiya #translation #toshiyatranslations

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waveridden · 4 years

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were you disappointed by the new star wars? then you should listen to the new season of friends at the table.

i know this sounds like a non sequitur, but hear me out on this one.

friends at the table is an actual play podcast focused on critical worldbuilding, smart characterization, and fun interaction between good friends. that’s what they say at the top of every episode and it’s completely true: all of those things are central to the f@tt experience.

f@tt is an actual play show (which, if you’re not familiar, means they play a tabletop game as their method of storytelling) that is deeply committed to its own canon. every political faction, every character, every bit of story is fleshed out and thoroughly explained by the lore. they care about thematic consistency and story consistency and consistent character arcs. everything in friends at the table makes sense, even things that are twists or surprises. they’re all rooted in the fiction of the show.

“okay, so it’s thematically consistent, which is nice,” you say. “but what even is the show about?”

f@tt is several seasons long, but they’re starting their sixth season. it’s called partizan. you don’t need to listen to any of the other seasons in order to understand this one. (do i recommend the other seasons? yes, i do, but the backlog of this show is huge. this is a really excellent jumping-on point.)

partizan is a moon in the middle of the divine principality, which is a massive sprawling space empire full of awful people. the principality conquers and assimilates and assaults all the planets they can find in order to expand. it’s also at civil war: two of the five stels (which are the political sects within the principality) have been at war for the past five years.

the season is heavily inspired by mech anime, but also by 70s sci-fi aesthetics. it’s a pretty low-tech future: not a lot of spacefaring travel, not a lot of super fancy holograms or anything, but a very simple approach to science fiction. it’s deeply political, in that way that star wars stories always try to be, and even though there won’t be space travel, the world of partizan alone is deeply, deeply fleshed out and interconnected.

“wow, i like space and politics,” you say. “but i was disappointed in star wars for representation-related reasons.”

hey, me too! that’s why i’m super excited for partizan. past seasons of f@tt have been very anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist/colonialist, and they’ve also made efforts to tell a diverse range of stories.

are you worried about characters of color? characters are frequently and explicitly described as being black, or middle eastern, or native american, or latinx, or asian, or, or, or. these characters run the gamut from heroes to villains, but all are portrayed with compassion and consistency, and racism is never a factor. also, austin, who runs the game, is a black man, so the metaphorical table isn’t all white people, and the visions of the world presented in the game aren’t... yknow, a white man’s idea of the future.

are you worried about queer rep? first of all, the table has plenty of queer people, so they’re already approaching things from a queer perspective. second of all, while it’s too early to speak to sexual orientations, there are almost no straight people in other seasons, and that’s not an exaggeration. third and most importantly, based on character intros alone, partizan features two characters that use they/them pronouns and a trans woman played by a trans woman. these people care about representation, and they put their money where their mouth is.

“wow, you’ve convinced me,” you say, hopefully. “i want to start listening!”

awesome! friends at the table is available on most major podcatchers, so it’s easy to find. at time of writing, 23 dec ‘19, there is only one episode of partizan out: episode 00, which is the worldbuilding/character introduction episode. the show releases on thursday evenings, so that means the first episode with actual plot and gameplay will be coming out soon! wow!

some other links that might be important: f@tt has a twitter that you can follow, as well as a website that you can check out. also, longtime fans of waveridden dot tumblr dot com know that i’m real gung ho about transcripts; f@tt has a pretty good transcript archive, which is maintained by fans who are paid out of pocket by the gm. i know, it’s unheard of.

last but not least: hey, maybe i didn’t convince you, but you wanted me to. maybe you have questions about actual play shows, or are concerned about something in this post. please dm me! i am happy to answer questions. f@tt is a good show, genuinely, and i am happy to do my part to spread the word about it.

#waveridden.txt #friends at the table #i know i'm spamming the tag a lot lately and oops sorry but also like... i think i'm onto something here lmfao #partizan

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tangledgal · 5 years

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thoughts for season 3 characters so far

I do think Varian’s arc was quick, but I LOVE that he’s now a real member of the group. This episode did a fantastic job of addressing his fears about not being accepted and repeating his mistakes. Jeremy Jordan does an amazing job as always and I can’t wait for him to sing!

Cass being Gothel’s daughter was low-hanging fruit I didn’t expect them to take, but I don’t have anything against it either. I like to see it more as a starting point to Cass’s downfall, and really, it’s the blue girl who’s dragging her down further and further into her dark thoughts. I also appreciate the gradual build-up of Cass’s anger as we get more and more tiny scenes of her trying to control her powers, and for a TTS villain, that’s a lot of effort put in on their part. Basically, not TOO crazy about the daughter reveal, but what they’re doing with it is what’s engaging.

Theory: The blue girl is Zhan Tiri. I STRONGLY believe that’s the case because, throughout the whole show, a HUGE rule they bring up over and over again is that things aren’t always what they seem. We have seen Zhan Tiri as this big, menacing warlock that destroys kingdoms and has uncontrollable power etc. Of course, the group has seen it that way, but who’s to say that Zhan Tiri is more of a manipulative entity? One that can take the form of anything or anyone and slowly, bit by bit, deceive and break someone to their core. Maybe the blue girl isn’t THE embodiment of Zhan Tiri, but she’s pretty close. (Or maybe she’s Gothel idk. She IS a ghost)

There have been a lot of complaints (myself included) that Eugene isn’t written well and has so much more depth to him that the writers aren’t conveying. Though I do 100% agree with that, I’d also like to mention that writing like this has been a big pattern for the show. There’s always been that ONE episode (or multiple) that have portrayed Eugene as ignorant, WAY too selfish, or super clumsy, and though I think the ending to “No Time Like The Past” is the biggest mistake the show has ever made, I still do have hope. I think Eugene will get better writing as the season goes on, but it just might take a little more patience on our part. (btw, “No Time Like The Past” was actually really good, but I will never consider that ending canon even if my life depended on it.)

Rapunzel has come a long way from season 1, and there’s a lot I like about that. She now takes so much responsibility for her role as a princess and truely stands by her beliefs that everyone deserves a second chance. Though I would’ve LOVED more conflict with Eugene and Rapunzel disagreeing over Cass (thanksNoTimeLikeThePast) I can tell Rapunzel’s kind nature is what will eventually win her over. I love how Rapunzel can be kind, but stern. Generous, but sometimes overbearing. Passionate, but absolutely insane. She has grown up so much and I’m so proud of her now that she’s able to see her best friend, who has become a huge threat, as someone who can reform, just like Varian did.

Catalina and Kiera are back and I love that they get a role that involves them in the season. They have grown-up so much and I love that Catalina has had such a change in character. She barely spoke in her first episode, but now she just shows off her werewolf form for a talent show. Kiera still has some anger issues, but that’s what makes the two of them such a good pair.

Lance hasn’t changed a bit and I love him. Hopefully, like Eugene, he’ll get more attention as the show goes on. He was so glorious in this episode and I want MOAR!

The animals are amazing and the animation and effort put into them should never go unappreciated. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of an episode/plot completely focused on only them, but they do enhance the story and character’s personalities so much. Also, Hamuel deserves more love. He’s doing his best.

Long post, but yeah, those are my thoughts.

#thoughts #season 3 #anaylsis #tangled the series

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martinlawless · 3 years

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Team LDN - Brother UK, Crit Series 1

‘Hog Hill’ Redbridge Cycle Centre Ilford, Essex Saturday 1 May 2021

First crit in well over a year. In my last crit, I got a puncture from a rogue safety pin and crashed out. I’ve been keen since to rebuild confidence. Here we are at Hog Hill in this Team LDN multi-crit event. It was a carnival-like atmosphere with a lot of young (or am I just getting old?) strong looking riders who all seem up for a good time.

Something seems to have changed in the shortish time since I’ve been to something like this. Everyone is looks very fit and cool. There also seems to be a strong ladies presence and I’d say more diversity than ever. This is a really good sign for cycling and racing.

In preparation, I dug up my old race bag. I found lots of kit I thought I’d lost as it was buried under the bed for over a year. It was a good opportunity to clear it out and refresh everything. What’s in my kitbag? Basically, everything but the kitchen sink. I would have put the kitchen sink in, but the sharp edges would cut the bag…

• Raceday kit (race suit)

• Helmet

• Shades, mitts, HRM - all placed inside the helmet.

• Shoes

• Spare jersey, bibs, shoes, socks, gloves, mitts, shades, bidon - in case of forgetting something.

• Spare helmet and a track pump stay in the car permanently.

• Baby wipes, gels, energy powder mix, chamois cream, ibuprofen gel, haribo, Deep Heat, Start Oil, loo roll.

• Safety pins, cash, cable ties, spare hanger, spare bar end plugs (no bar end plugs: no race).

• Hex keys, pliers, wrench, torque key set, spare tyre, spare inner tubes, small pump.

• Phone energy bank, phone cables, identity card, deodorant.

It’s a big bag. Though that’s good: not the sort of thing some low-life is going to quietly stuff up their jumper and walk off with.

The bike is race ready. The Cervelo S2 now into its 12th year. It’s a racing machine. Battered and bruised, but all in all in fantastic condition. The gears are suffering and don’t seem to stay true for long. I find out in warming up that there’s a rubbing sound when in the top gears. But I won’t fettle now. Last minute fettling is a very dangerous game to play. Along with pumping up your tyres just before the race. Pump your tyres up way in advance.

I rate my wheels super highly for racing: Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLs. Aluminium wheels with carbon flanges. Absolutely bombproof and fast and will take a battering. These are 12 years old too. Straight as a die.

I go into the race at 100psi on brand new GP5000s. Dave is at 80psi. Read all the data and debates on the interweb about tyre pressure - and then go with your hunch.

What to eat when racing near 4pm? Tricky. I say go light all day. Muesli for breakfast. One of those ‘City Kitchen’ Tesco microwave meals for lunch and I’ll be on the side hungry til near the start when a petrol station americano, half a banana, half a blueberry muffin and a few strawberry Fruitella sweets will get you to the line. It’s short race - you won’t bonk. Caffeine gel a few minutes before the start too, of course.

The drive over to Hog Hill is awful. There’s no great way to there from where I live. But I get the radio on and zone out. I arrive and see Jenny beaming having just finished her race. She has to ride the E123 which includes a rider fresh from Liege-Bastogne-Liege that indicates the standard. I park up and get my number. I get there just in time to see Brendan set off in the 4th Cat race. It’s his first crit. On reflection, not the best one to recommend as it’s a hard course and the field is looking like a group of thoroughbred hipsters. Sure enough, super strong Brendan becomes detached from the bunch on the second climb of the Hoggenberg. But he digs in and plays to his TT strength to keep the others off his back. Rolling in 20th. I’d say that’s mission accomplished for a first crit. Well done.

The view to central London from Hog Hill is amazing. Meanwhile down the side to where the course is looks lush. I feel old again, as I remember when you could see the entire circuit from the cafe at the top. Now it’s all trees!

I kit up and pin up. The CC Ashwell pro race suit is superb, but if it lasts a year I’ll be surprised. It’s very delicate. Worth it though. I feel fast in it. Lucozade Sport in the bottle. Wahoo Elemnt Bolt on. I’d buy a new one as the battery is fading. But they’ve sold out around the world.

I’m parked on a slope and warming up on the rollers is too tough. They are not allowing rollers near the cafe/HQ, so I mooch up and down the main road and adjacent cemetery. But that’s all a bit horrible so I simply loll around the HQ until we’re allowed on the course for 15 minutes before the race start. It’s a bit fresh, and windy, but not too bad.

It’s a 30 rider race, but there a few last-minute no-shows. Our Chris is nearly one of them, having been stuck in traffic. He makes it - just. There are three Ashwell in the mix, with Dave here too. I predict Craig from Nuun Sigma will win. In the mix with Simon from Beds Road RT and friend Daryl from CC London. As it turns out: I correctly predict the top three.

We’re off. Dave is a bullet and takes the front beautifully. The Hog Hill circuit is fast, hard and technical in different measures at different times. We go around the ‘classic’ way to hit the hill hard. The first corner is very technical. It drops, swoops and kicks up. It would be good to come here again and again until finding the perfect line. Then it soon drops massively for a gentle than a tight right turn. When the bunch wasn’t close to me, I found it hard to find the right line and pace here. We’re skittling along at 40mph. You have to plan your line way, way ahead. Along the flat it’s soon a gentle right and a tight left turn. This is sort of OK as the pace is deadened from the previous bend. But there’s a chance of pedal striking. Then it’s a gentle saunter to the base of the climb.

The Hoggenberg begins easily enough, then tilts for I’ll guess 30 metres, then is a sharp lift on its bend before continuing steadily for the end of the lap.

This race would see us face the hill nine times. I am OK in the bunch, but can feel I’m going to find most of the course tough on the technical sections. I decide I’ll settle in nearer the back while I suss out the course at speed. At the bottom, the bunch feel it important to hug the right side of the lap. But it’s only a gentle cross wind here and I happily take the left position here all the way up the hill, where I actually get shade from the northerly.

I find the hill OK as compared with the others. I am just off the front of the best guys as we crest the hill. I then fall back a bit more on the technical twists. But I make up ground on the descent and flat sections. I repeat this every time. Around half way I feel a bit sick and like I’ve burned all my matches. But I sort of get over that. I think the body is remembering the shock of real life road racing. But also, the undulating intensity of the effort is unsettling. I hear the cheers of Jenny and Brendan by the side and it motivates me to push on.

I suddenly notice the 2 laps to go board and am reminded this is a short race. Chris goes for it and pings off the front. It’s early, but he’s got amazing power and you never know. It’s sort of stretching out at the front with Craig, Simon and Daryl working smartly with his CC London buddies. Daryl moans that the race is over too soon. I half-disagree as I’m in the red, but can also feel the longer this is going on, I get the feeling my competition is suffering more than me.

It’s the last climb to the finish. I don’t really know how to play my full-tilt to be optimal but am keen not to blow up beforehand. It’s fairly steady at first then full-gas. I keep a clean line slightly out of the main thrust. Chris blows up having taken too many watts in the wind for too long. Chapeau though: as it was a podium move and on another day could have been very different. We get past and I dig in. We’re spread out and I can see I have clear space on the guy behind me, so I’m steady over the line. I’m 11th and happy with that. Chris and Dave just behind. I saw one ‘near miss’ between two riders and heard one coming-together group “Woah!” moment. But other than that, we’re all safe and well.

It’s a good vibe afterwards. I take my time packing up and grab a coffee and cake. I see the end of the last E12 Men’s race which looks really tough and then set off. I try Apple iPhone directions home and it takes me back a much nicer way through Epping Forest and back to lasagne and Tour of Romandie highlights at home.

Strava link: https://www.strava.com/activities/5224672022

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imorca · 4 years

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Just did a close listen to the other songs in the repackage, and reviewed a couple versions of line distribution efforts by fans (on TT, Sh, and RYB).

I know I can’t say this out loud, but I am not impressed by how nearly ALL the rap is allocated to EH. Why is it a problem for him to write lyrics and let others take them on Timeslip and Timeless? There are 9 of them, and at least 2 (besides EH) have identities as main rappers (Heechul and Shindong) and at least 1 more regularly raps (Donghae) and another has a strong history and took it up again on Super Clap (Leeteuk). I mean, where the fuck even WAS Heechul on any of these tracks? Personally, I’m not a fan of EH’s pitch range, and he sounds virtually the same on every song. Like, it’s not just flow and speed, man. Let’s adapt to the tone and texture, too. It makes me wonder if this is like the low-key D&E promoting that were done on tracks and performances before their duo committment? I’m expecting that we see a solo release from him pretty soon. I also suspect this because he was cagey about his current projects in the VLIne stream before their stage of 2Y.

Was also suspicious about an upcoming unit release b/c of the group on RYB. Since it seems like they may never have another KYR album b/c of Kyuhyuns musical theatre, that M unit looks dead in the water, and if I’m right that EH is going to release solo rap then D&E might slow their roll, then I wouldn’t be surprised if there might be rearrangement for REDY (or DREY? either is kind of a cool acronym). Truth is that their voices were GREAT together. Well matched and the production really mastered them well. (Don’t really like the track because I can’t quite figure out what Donghae was exactly trying to say? It’s like whenever he tries to write sexy lyrics they kind of get...muddled by his romanticism - so it doesn’t quite work for either. Gotta say, though, his conversational English is advancing at phenomenal speed. Dude did practically a whole live in English this week!)

If I had my own way, I’d see some single releases from unusual pairings. I would give a kidney for a SD/DH/EH release - one with a good sense of humor...but probably not as cringey as “What’s your name?” and certainly not silly like sj-Happy or T unit. I would also LOVE to have a SD/LT arrangement with STRONG harmonies (LT high/SD low). They get almost NO LOVE and they are talented vocalists. And what about a single from DH/YS? The timbre of their voices together could make something amazing (esp. if they can convince YS to dip lower in his register. I need some fullness to his sound and I think he could develop some less breathy options if he committed to developing that way).

“Shadow” is definitely my favorite track on the repackage. It is great! I need to look up the lyricist on it because it was just more...coherent that most of their songs. There weren’t any odd insert of non-sequiter jumps. It was tight - and so much the better for it.

“Ticky Tocky” is notable primarily for one BLAZING AND GLORIOUS THING: Shindong sings in his low range - and not as a joke. It was LEGIT SENSUAL. It creates so much more depth for the group as a whole. You can’t tell me that nobody else gets tired of the endless string of 12-Tenor groups. I mean, I think a good portion of ATEEZ’s success is Minji’s incredible low register. I know I sit down and listen every damn time because its DIFFERENT. So, SJ, moar please!!! Bass Shindong gives you something you pretty much never had.

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jesusvasser · 6 years

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Porsche Controls the Future for Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini

It may be that all’s well that ends well, but at this point, it is difficult to predict what shape the end will assume. The “end,” in this case, is the point in time when the reorganization of the VW group’s luxury and sports car division, as masterminded by Porsche, is complete and fully functional.

The plan is for Porsche to coordinate the future activities (and to control the flow of revenues) of Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti. The marques will share architectures and componentry, and pool their efforts to address essential challenges like electrification, digitalization, and autonomous driving.

In the wake of this major strategic revision, Porsche has announced that it intends to cut costs at a rate of $2.3 billion per year until 2022. The money saved will be instantly reinvested in new technologies most of which happen to have a low return on investment. The key efficiency gains will be had in improvements to research and development, procurement, and production.

OLD TROOPERS AND THE NEW GUARD FIGHT IT OUT The premium brands are run by Bram Schot (who replaced Rupert Stadler at Audi), Oliver Blume (Porsche), Adrian Hallmark (who took over from Wolfgang Dürheimer at Bentley) and Stephan Winkelmann (Bugatti).

The dark horse on the management carousel is Peter Duesmann who will join VW when his retention period expires in summer 2020. The ex-BMW top manager has three options: he could replace a potentially underperforming Bram Schot at Audi, he could become COO of the VW group, or he could step in for Oliver Blume at Porsche.

As always, the strings are going to be pulled by the supervisory board, which is controlled by the Porsche and Piech families. In a rare show of agreement, they want to promote Porsche chairman Blume to the board of the VW group. Blume’s successor may be Duesmann, who has a strong motorsport track record and is a dyed-in-the-wool car guy. Schot is said to be safe in his position at Audi at the moment, but he must get the brand back in shape—or the board will find a new number one.

HOW NOT TO HANDLE A LUXURY BRAND From Wolfsburg’s vantage point, Audi is a potential future casualty—not least because of Dieselgate—but right now the biggest problem child is Bentley. According to a German business weekly, the Bentley boys are currently losing nearly $20,000 on every vehicle sold. In the first half of 2018, losses amounted to more than $90 million as sales fell by 15 percent. If Adrian Hallmark increases the marque’s annual output from about 10,500 to 15,000 units, he would likely only repeat the mistakes made by every Bentley boss since the departure of Franz-Josef Paefgen. Volume is a blessing and a curse for every luxury brand. Flooding the dealers with hard-to-sell stock, counter-productive rapid-succession facelifts, embarrassing design issues (Bentayga, Mulsanne), and a total lack of low-emissions engines, hybrids, or electric vehicles is bound to stifle demand, ruin resale values, and put an emphasis on the “olde” in Bentley’s olde worlde brand image. The fact that Audi is not getting its act together in terms of Crewe-bound future-emissions-ready engines only adds insult to injury.

BUGATTI IS BACK ON TRACK—WITH A VENGEANCE Perhaps messieurs Winterkorn, Müller, or Diess should have put Stephan Winkelmann in charge of the Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini triplets, and made Oliver Blume run the Audi & Porsche Show.

Winkelmann is feared for his crackdown management style, the ruthless pursuit of a chosen target, and his egocentric personality. But let´s face it: Lamborghini owes what it is today to the fit and fashion-conscious tri-lingual Berlin-born jack-of-all-trades. Although his interregnum at Audi Sport lasted only a year, he kicked off three projects that may put the rudderless appendix back on track. At Bugatti, he stepped in for Wolfgang Dürheimer whose legacy was the amazing Chiron. Instead of leaning back and watching 70 cars a year leave les ateliers in Molsheim, Winkelmann once again switched to attack mode. The Divo, to be built by Italdesign, was his first attention-grabbing product, and there will be more.

Insiders are expecting a limited run of aerodynamically advanced lightweight Superleggeras, an even more track-oriented Chiron SS, and a completely re-skinned targa-top Chiron Aperta. In addition, Bugatti is reportedly pondering an all-electric high-end model, which may materialize in cooperation with Porsche, Rimac, and Dallara.

A DARK HORSE BY THE NAME OF LAMBORGHINI Rumor has it that Lamborghini will soon be transferred from Audi ownership to the luxury and sport division masterminded by Porsche. The ambitious completion date is Jan 1, 2019. If the tall legal hurdles posed by Italian corporate law can be overcome, Ducati Enterprises would be the new holding company representing the group’s remaining interests in Italy. Stefano Domenicali who used to run Ferrari’s F1 team, remains Lamborghini chairman with Maurizio Reggiani as his CTO. The revised game plan caught Audi and Lamborghini with surprise—and at a critical point in time for the Raging Bull’s future product portfolio.

You see, the Italians had hoped to complete the Aventador and Huracán replacements before the Zuffenhausen bean counters could intervene. Since both models were to share their monofuselage carbon fiber architecture, the ragazzi from Sant’Agata would have been all but untouchable by Porsche’s synergy-creating aspirations for the next ten years. Will that happen? Possibly.

Although the next-generation Aventador has been pushed back to 2022, the project is thought to be too far down the road to be revoked. It’s a wild-looking thing, overtly aggressive and expressively stylish, a badass wedge adorned with plenty of trademark Y symbols. The modular monofuselage can be divided in three elements: the front axle driven by two electric motors, the backbone center section that houses the batteries, and the drivetrain assembly comprising V-12 engine, new dual-clutch Getrag transmission, third e-motor, and rear suspension.

Still normally aspirated, the modified V-12 will be good for around 770 hp. Add 300 kW (402 hp) of electric power, and you’re looking at nearly 1,200 hp without pulling out all the stops. Since there is no way this monster machine DNA can be integrated in a rival VW group architecture, the flagship will almost certainly proceed as planned.

A similar carbon fiber layout is in the works for the next Huracán, which also remains faithful to its non-turbo engine. The upgraded 5.2-liter V-10 is said to be good for 650 hp. Thanks to a 250 kW (335 hp) electric power boost, Lamborghini’s AWD bestseller should be able to keep up with the Ferrari 488.

It will, however, be important to come to grips with the weight penalty caused by energy cells, motors, and performance electronics. In addition, the monofuselage hardware is still way over budget, and there are no obvious scale effects with respect to Audi and Porsche.

So what to do? Right now, the decision makers are looking at two alternatives. Option one is to keep Huracán in lock-step with the R8, but this approach works only if Audi actually wants a new R8, and if this R8 comes with a watertight business case. Option two is to create a new aluminum-intensive modular multi-brand sports car architecture to open up a broader scope of opportunities. The latter route may be the most likely.

ADVANCED GERMAN ENGINEERING AT A CROSSROADS Internally known as Mimo II, this electrified lightweight structure would be developed by Porsche for the repeatedly delayed Ferrari 488 fighter known as the 960. The same Mimo II architecture could also see use in the future Huracán and the R8 replacement, with expectations of a 650-hp V-8 PHEV powertrain. Electrification is the catchword here. You see, Mimo II is flexible enough to cater for ICE, HEV, PHEV, and BEV applications.

To keep complexity at bay, we hear that the J1 platform prepared for the Porsche Taycan will, for cost reasons, remain a one-off, which is another way of saying that it and any successor are all but dead for group use. The rumored SPAZ and SPE future architectures may share a similar fate, since the research and development wizards reckon that the existing MMB/MHB platforms can be electrified at relatively little expense. In essence, this would leave the group with three premium components sets: PPE/PPC for larger cars and SUVs; Monofuselage or Mimo for high-performance sports cars; and MMB/MHB evo for Cayman and 911.

Audi may replace the R8 with one of three options, including an all-electric PB18-inspired car, a Huracán II derivative, or a Mimo II-based sports car, but since no decision has been made, we’re not going to see anything in the flesh before 2022.

Alternatively, the R8 could simply go away. An intriguing, equally unconfirmed alternative is the recreation of the iconic Ur-Quattro, which could be a synthesis of the many show cars Audi has devoted to this theme. Another possibility is said to be a limited-edition supercar described as a TT RS on steroids. Radically aggressive in appearance and fitted with a 500-hp-plus five-cylinder turbo engine, this 2+2-seater may indeed have what it takes to replace the R8.

Yet another alternative is an ultra-lightweight high-performance two-seater halo car, assembled by a coachbuilder at no more than 500 units in total—think super-R8. Last but not least, there is the striking zero-emission 400-kW (536 hp) Audi e-tron GT shooting brake, which shares its genetic material with the Porsche Taycan and the Bentley Barnato—though remember our previous caveat about the viability of the J1 architecture.

Lamborghini will add an Urus plug-in hybrid in 2020 and facelift the Urus in 2022. There will be no Urus coupé, but we do expect an Urus Performante range-topper. What about a fourth model range? Not in the foreseeable future. The closest thing to a fourth Lambo was the 2008 Estoque, which ticked all the boxes when there was still a market for ultra-high-performance saloons.

If Lamborghini ever does extend its line-up, it will probably by a potent four-seater, two-door, Espada-style luxury GT based on the upcoming PPE/PPC platform. Beyond that, the folks in Sant’Agata are still keen on extreme one-offs like Egoista and Terzo Millenio; exclusive, tailor-made editions of no more than 20 units such as Veneno and Sesto Elemento; and limited-edition hypercars like the Aventador SVJ. Currently in the works are said to be a Paris-Dakar Huracán and a de-contented rear-wheel drive Aventador Ultima.

Porsche is about to release the next 911, dubbed 992. Originally, this was meant to be the final iteration of the MHB toolkit, but since the 992 architecture can accommodate PHEV componentry, we would not be surprised to see it live on in modified form. While the 992 retains the classic rear-engine layout, the still-pending 960 would be a mid-engine coupé featuring a six-cylinder boxer and a 200-kW (268-hp) electric front-wheel drive system.

Although Porsche has allegedly signed off the Boxster/Cayman replacement (codenamed 983), it’s another low-margin project because the segment is in free fall. We hear that 983 is package-protected for a straight-five engine in case Audi feels like replacing the TT with a proper sports car.

Rumor also has it that Porsche is investigating an all-electric sports car scenario. Derived from the MMB components set, there is talk of a neo-Cayman E (two motors good for 400 hp, 100-kWh battery) and a neo-919 E (three motors rated at 600 hp, 125 kWh battery).

IN HINDSIGHT, YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS WISER While Porsche’s return on investment is second only to Ferrari, Audi is seriously overstaffed and worryingly over budget. Would it not have made more sense to put Audi and Porsche together in one cooperative group, while creating a separate, partly autonomous subdivision for Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini?

Audi and Porsche are the biggest earners within the VW group, and already share heavily in terms of technology and development. In a nutshell, Audi needs Porsche more than Porsche needs Audi, but they still both need each other.

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jonathanbelloblog · 6 years

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Porsche Controls the Future for Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini

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eddiejpoplar · 6 years

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Porsche Controls the Future for Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini

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totallymotorbikes · 7 years

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2017 Grand National Roadster Show Report As the event’s name implies, this show, first launched in 1949, focuses on four-wheeled vehicles albeit not all technically qualifying as “roadsters” which back in the day meant an open two-seater minus doors and even windshields. Tracing the nomenclature further, “roadster” initially was the label attached to a horse well-equipped for traveling, and later applied to bicycles and tricycles of the late 1800s. Sportiness was the operative word no matter the size of the chassis, so “roadster” could include the full spectrum of cars from an everyman’s Model T to a celebrity’s 16-cylinder Caddy. It’s noteworthy that “roadster” is an American creation, the Brits calling such cars a “two-seater tourer.” So, to stretch the rules a bit, motorcycles, in that they are very “open” and often offer seating for two, have found their way into the Grand National Roadster Show, including this year’s 68th running of the event. First staged in Oakland, California, a.k.a. the Oakland Roadster Show, this go-around was the 14th year the GNRS was held at the Pomona Fairgrounds Fairplex. Along with some 500 show vehicles, a section was set aside for motorcycles as seen here. Best Flat-out Flathead You gotta dig the four-stack of drag pipes that make some beautiful flathead music. Jeff Leighton (Orange, CA) brought his stellar 1942 UL flathead Big Twin. ULs first appeared in ’38, and their success brought Harley-Davidson out of the Depression doldrums. Best Candlestick Pipe Bike Builder Ryan Grossman got on the “Green” bandwagon with his appropriately named Alien’s Poison 1947 FL sporting an exposed OHV powerplant and reach for stratosphere ape-hanger bars. Out of this world green paint was sprayed by Matt Busby, engraving by Nick Potash. Note mega hand-shifter. Do It In The Dirt Tank slapping Harleys and Indians made for one helluva display of TT racers, all thanks to the efforts of the Hell on Wheels MC. Best Bear Of A Bike Display John Edward’s 1959 Panhead wore a biker tuxedo black paint job, its visual impact heightened by rolling it over a hopefully oil resistant furry friend. Is it just me or do you notice how the bear’s eyes follow you, and why is it laughing? Best Trident Missile Panhead This exhibit – brought all the way from Osaka, Japan, and the Revolt Custom Cycles shop by designer/builder Masao Inoue – is a ’53 custom 1450cc Panhead named Trident. The paint reflects its ocean theme in the wave-like elements as well as the anchor-shaped sissy bar. Braking is activated by the left grip, the oil tank integrated into the rear fender, an O.G. king ’n’ queen seat, plus tons of metal fab and chroming. Best Brass Monkeying Around Bike Andrew Ursich wrenching from his portside garage in Long Beach, CA continues to build non-stop show winners, the 1980 Sportster-based Brass Monkey leading the parade. Last year at the 2016 Grand National Roadster Show one of his bikes was judged “America’s Most Beautiful Motorcycle.” Best Go Big or Go Home The exceptionally talented designer/builder Kiyo Mitsuhiro, working out of his Gardena, CA shop, Kiyo’s Garage, mind-melded this double-engined, Weber-carbed 1620cc, 1972 Honda CB, entering it in the Competition category. The bike is heading to El Mirage to make a record-breaking attempt. Special Double Feature: Best Tasting, Most Far-Seeing Triumphs – Root Beer Barrel and Binocular Bike In this case, we’re looking at a pair of bikes created by the same builder and the only Triumphs appearing at the GNRS. The attention to detail and novel innovations made both Trumpets a stand-out and, fortunately, the builder Anthony Robinson happened to show up while I was salivating over the two Britsters. Now Anthony builds his bikes in Palmdale, CA, but via his company A-C Garage Door Company earns his keep installing heavy-duty garage doors all over California for the likes of Edwards Air Force Base, all the Home Depots, and others. Both bikes are of the 500cc variety. The white bike with #69 gas tank seen further below is based around a Triumph Daytona, thus is dual carbed. The other is a ’61 standard single carb model. He calls the #69 bike “The Root Beer Barrel” because of its wood/steel band motifs. The other is tagged “La Mosca” which translates to fly, thanks to the fly eye-like tank graphics, the observation made by his wife. Says Anthony, “She made a deal with me that I could build anything I want as long as I didn’t use any business money or personal money. Since I own a garage door company, I took the old ones we replaced and recycled them, using the money to build the Root Beer Barrel bike. It took me two years, but that’s how I did it. The “La Mosca” bike is also a real kick in the pants to ride and actually has great suspension with the girder front and posting seat. I just want to build bikes that have the vintage feel and that you could just jump on and go racing.” Final Results: When the winners were called up to the podium, Anthony had to make the trip twice since both First and Second Place wins in the European Class went to La Mosca and the Root Beer Barrel bike. Greatness is the Details – “La Mosca” The custom gas tank was fabbed by friend R.J. at Lucky Mother Garage. How Low Can You Go? Hardtail frame benefits from an original 1937 Triumph T-80 Girder front end and a pair of mountain bike seat shocks. The leather seat was glove-stitched by Javier. Shocking Developments Anthony repurposed a non-working 1960s battery charger, gutted it and stuffed all his electrics and 12-volt Antigravity mini-battery into it. Carb is a single 628 Mikuni. The oil tank is two conjoined old fire extinguishers. Stamp of Excellence Motor rebuilds were entrusted to Dean Collins originally from the UK. Triumph drag pipes were sourced from Factory Metal Works. Anthony also fabbed the Triumph-inscribed motor mounts out of billet. All That Glitters Matt Egan painted both bikes, spending half the year at home in Australia, half in the U.S. Anthony opted for copper leafing rather than gold leafing to bring out the warm patina. Looking Forward Anthony has racked up 13 first place wins even though he’s only been building bikes for two years. His work is garnering national attention, and he was recently invited to a slew of upcoming events. High Octane “Root Beer Barrel” Bike Note the “board track” feel of the ’69 T-100’s display platform. Bars were turned upside down to give a ’30s racer feel. The seat is an iconic Messenger unit. Springer front end is originally from an H-D 45 Servi-car. Beauty Ingrained Paint by Mike Eagan replicates the use of rare woods in the bike’s design. A 7/8ths steering stem was another rare find. A Plate Full Signature Triumph scoop front brake got treated to chrome, brass, zinc and aluminum polish for high-contrast functional art. Brakes all around are original drums. Note unique handmade brake stays. By Machine And By Hand Using his CNC machine, Anthony milled out the conical hubs. The engraving is special in more ways than one. The 12-year old son of a friend did the hand engraving, the young man dealing with Asperger’s. Says Anthony, “He did an amazing job.” Seeing Is Believing Notice the key switch in the 1941 Naval binocular case? Yes, inside you’ll find all the electro stuff and lithium battery. Reversal Of Fortunes Not a photo foul-up. Carbs and exhaust have switched places. Dual 628 Mikunis feed the Daytona cylinders. Get A Grip Cool use of a 1950s vintage wrench to serve as a headlamp attachment. Mixed Messages Chrome, brass, and cork conjure an eye pleasing potpourri. Cone of Unsilence Anthony hand-crafted the stainless pipes as well as all hanger and hardware gizmos. Z Is For Zebra At first glance, I thought it was a recycled skateboard, but no, another bit of rarity, a slab of exotic Zebrawood no less; straps are stainless. For tires, Anthony opted for Coker repops of old Firestone and Goodyear rubber. Postscript: Best Dream Team Our pick for Best of Both Worlds, Chip Foose Design and Ken Reister’s Rod Shop double-feature custom car/custom bike. Sure the car is awesome and would look cool as a tow vehicle, but let’s focus on its bike buddy. Over 4,800 hours went into crafting the 125 HP RevTech V-Twin-powered super swoopy by master builder Foose. The bike features one-off Foose Metalsport wheels, 262 chrome parts, 596 fabricated components, Goldammer forks, hidden gas tank, you name it. Actually, the bike’s named XPRESSION. News Flash! At the end of the competition, the Foose bike’s owner, car builder Ken Reister, took home the event’s America’s Most Beautiful Motorcycle Award. And the AMBR Winner (4-wheeled) is… If you were wondering which of the cars took home this year’s “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster “ (AMBR) top award, that went to a very Kustom 1937 Packard designed by Eric Black and built by Troy Ladd at Hollywood Hot Rods for owner Bruce Wanta. Under that long, long hood is a honking Lincoln V-12. Parting Pic Best downsized ’55 Merc roadster and pilot. 2017 Grand National Roadster Show Report appeared first on Motorcycle.com.

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jesusvasser · 6 years

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Porsche Controls the Future for Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini

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jonathanbelloblog · 6 years

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Porsche Controls the Future for Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini

The post Porsche Controls the Future for Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini appeared first on Automobile Magazine.

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