This 1934 BMW R7 prototype is one of the most talked about and best-loved motorcycles of the 1930s, yet it never left the factory, and was known only through a single, mysterious photo for over 70 years.

When completed in 1934, the R7 wasn’t exhibited of press-released and appears to have been shelved immediately. Complicated forces worked against the R7. While the prototype is a hand fabricated one-off, actual production would require huge investment in tooling for the metal pressings, new casting for the engine, gearbox, and cylinders, plus set-up for the unique internal parts. Internal factory politics certainly played a hand as well. The BMW team saw the R7 as impractical in the owners would need specialist mechanics.

Clamor arose in the 1980s to revive the R7; it wasn’t until 2005 the task was handed to two legendary restorers: Armin Frey undertook to mechanicals, while Hans Keckeisen massaged the sheet metal.

The 1934 R7 prototype is an unquestioned design success – a graceful and beautiful study of flowing line, curves, and feminine masses.

Just processed from some archive files -;0) Taken at the next pond over behind the house.

In 1933, Duesenburg raised the standard of automotive design with a car so spectacular that it commanded the unheard of price of $20,000. The Arlington Torpedo Sedan was designed by legendary stylist, Gordon Mille Buehring. It was placed atop a Supercharged SJ chassis by Rollston, INC. of New York. The vehicle was built for a display at the Century of Progress Exposition, better known as the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933-34.

This car received more attention to chassis fit and finish than any other Duesenburg ever constructed. When acquired by the current owners in 1978, Mr. Buehring and former Duesenburg president Harold Ames were both consulted on, to ensure an accurate restoration. The car emerged from the shop at San Sylmar exactly as it appeared the day it left the factory for the World’s Fair.

This spectacular example of wheeled sculpture usually resides in the Grand Salon of the Nethercutt Collection in Slymar, California.

1976 Chevrolet Greenwood Widebody Corvette – Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2011

In 1976 John Greenwood built this car for Chicago Dealer Rick Mancusco. The widebody Corvette was built to run in the 1976 IMSA Road Racing Series. Mancusco debuted the car at the 76 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona then went on to run the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. John Greenwood was quietly approached to field a widebody Corvette at the 76 24 Hours of Le Mans. He realized that the time was too tight to build another chassis for Le Mans, so he asked Mancusco to let him borrow the Mancuso-Greenwood Corvette. After arriving at Le Mans, French rally driver Claude Darnish was enlisted to co-drive with John. The car qualified sixth, with a top speed of 221 mph and lasted until the 16th hours when a rear tire exploded, damaging the fuel cell and rear bodywork. Mancusco campaigned the car several years before retiring it.

Biketoberfest 2011!

Cold Steel and Sky, originally uploaded by John E Adams.

Getting fired up for this years Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, it runs from October 13-16, 2011. If you like shooting bikes in great fall weather weather this is a must see. Over the few days there will be about 80K bikes from all over the world, I am always overwhelmed shooting these events, just amazing! Hope to see you there!

Here is the event site:
www.biketoberfest.org/

This bike was built by Tempest cycles they are at:
tempestcycle.com/

Georgetown Bridges, originally uploaded by John E Adams.

Taken in the spectacular Canal Park in Georgetown. The late afternoon sun casts some very nice shadows onto the buildings, taken with a Panasonic Lumix FZ50, handheld 3 exposures at 1EV.

Around The Bend III, originally uploaded by John E Adams.

3 Vertical Mutli Exposures (X3) pano of an approaching storm in Southeast Georgia

Spotted this while running some errands downtown this week -;0)