Triumphrat

Hiltz · 11-19-2007

There will be a tribute to Bud Ekins at The Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 2nd at 4:00PM

I understand there will a memorial ride leaving from Johnson Motors at 36 W Colorado Blvd., Pasadena in the early afternoon.

Bud was always my motorcycliing hero. I bought my first bike from him in 1965.

A good Triumph turnout will be appreciated. You all know how much those Harley guys love a parade. We need Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs,
Matchless, Ariels, Velocettes, Vincents, AJS and a Brough Superior if you have one.

Seriously, all bikes are welcome to honor Bud.

See you there.

McQueen · 11-19-2007

wish I could go.

Take a ton of pics for the rest of us.

ohiorider · 11-19-2007

I never met him, but read several articles about Bud. You guys on the West Coast will be representing the rest of us old time Brit Bike riders at his memorial. Our thoughts will be with Bud while you guys are there. Thanks for letting us know about the memorial.

Bob

Bonnebret · 11-21-2007

Is this one in addition to the one at Warner Bros. Studios or did it get moved? It was my understanding that the ride out was from JoMo at 12:30pm to the WB lot. Here's the info:

http://www.budekins.com/

Click on "EVENT" for details.

rmak · 11-21-2007

I gained a lot of respect for The Ekins, McQueen and the fourth team member Cliff Coleman after reading the Johnson Motors book "Forty Summers Ago" about their somewhat ill-fated ISDT run in '64. I've already written how much I enjoyed the book on an earlier thread.

The angle the book really brings out was how bold these guys were to even venture into communist East Germany at the height of the cold war. They weren't welcomed with open arms there, especially parading around with the American flag. They certainly didn't seem to be given any celebrity status. The book even hinted at unfair treatment towards them, and favoritism shown to eastern block riders, by the officials during the event.

Being in high school I was impervious to all this at the time. But even living in hicksville, Ohio I was still aware that Southern California was the epicenter of cool. Hot rods, surf, music, girls, etc. Although I'm pretty happy with the way my life turned out, if I had to swap lives with someone, choosing to be a good looking desert racer from California in the 60's would be OK with me.

Grumbler · 11-21-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiltz

There will be a tribute to Bud Ekins <...>

Here's a Bud Ekins website tribute:
http://www.johnsonmotorsinc.com/

BTW, they've bloody ex$pen$ive t-shirts - maybe that's why celebrities wear 'em.

Pythas · 11-21-2007

Its times like this I wish I lived in California (or was in easy distance). I'd take the Triton out for that. Bud Ekins has been a hero of mine for a while now, probably since I was 10 (13 years doesnt compare to some of you, but still, its all I can offer). He and McQueen - they were real, and they were incredible.

Take pictures, and please any Norton Dominators you may see, please snap a pic for me? They are and always have been to me the best of the best (which is why my Triton is really a Norton Atlas powered by a Triumph)

Old Scratcher · 11-24-2007

I don't know much about the guy, & just found out that he drove McQueen's Mustang in the Bullet chase scene. So that alone gets my respect. That's the best stunt driving I'd ever seen in a movie, until I saw Deathproof a few weeks ago. But as a lot of those stunts are CGI enhanced. Bullet still stands as the ultimate stunt drive IMO. & if Bud Ekins did that. I take my hat off to the man.

Bonnebret · 11-24-2007

In our circle he's probably most known for jumping the barbed wire fence in "The Great Escape". (Again McQueen's stunt double)