IT’S not just motorcycling that’s in the grip of nostalgia. You might have noticed there’s a bit of a vinyl revival too.
And now Triumph has brought the two together with a turntable inspired by its Street Cup 900cc café racer.
Of course, not many people actually have records these days but Triumph has dealt with that, too, by creating a vinyl album featuring 10 ‘up-and-coming British rock bands’.
The turntable has been made by British manufacturer Rega and features a line drawing of the Street Cup plus a splash of the same yellow colour.
It’s got a glass platter and a mat printed with a Street Cup wheel design. It’s fitted with a ‘hand-assembled, precision-built RB110 tonearm’ and other words that probably mean something to vinyl geeks.
Unfortunately, you’ll be lucky to get one - only two have been made, to be given away on Facebook and Twitter. For the moment Triumph is saying only ‘keep an eye’ on its social media channels for a chance to win one.
There’s a better chance of getting the album, with 500 to be pressed. Called Racing the Record, it’s a ‘nod to the original 1960s café racer practice of selecting a record on a café’s jukebox and racing to a predetermined point and back before the song had ended,’ Triumph says. Aka café racing.
The 10 bands submitted two tracks each before Triumph’s Facebook followers voted for their favourites, narrowing it down to one each.
Some of the bands are to perform at an event at the trendy Bike Shed in London’s Shoreditch on August 29 from 6.30-11pm, where the turntable and album will make their public debut.
Tickets for the event sound as exclusive as the turntable itself. Triumph says ‘a select few will win their place at the party via Triumph’s social media channels’.
Triumph Motorcycles GB general manager Paul Lilly said: “Rock ‘n’ roll music was a major part of the café racer culture back in the 1960s. In fact, the music that played on the jukeboxes of the cafes these enthusiasts frequented even forms part of the scene’s folklore.
“Our Street family of motorcycles has been built with fun and accessible rideability in mind and the Street Cup in particular is a modern-day street racer inspired by the café racers of old. It is fitting that we are now taking the Street Family back to its roots by creating our own record and turntable.”
