Relatives , old pics and motorcycles

[Sensfan]

My father in-law in the 50's, announced to his parents he wanted to race motorcycles, his father said no way, or move out, so he left Italy to come to Canada to be closer to his sister and race motorcycles. Here a couple pics of his rides, he did end up racing in Datona, moving to Ottawa and opening several small businesses including a motorcycle shop. Although he did get out of it, he never lost his passion, and purchased himself a Sportster from a friend's widow on his 70th birthday. Although he has passed away, we gave his bike to his nephew who he was very close with, and his wife rides it today.

 

[DJ]

Very cool pictures!

 

[Triple Trouble]

Uncle Coski at the Jolly Roger's race track, Seattle, WA.

Not really commenting on uncle's looks one way or another but I can see the family resemblance.

 

[bruce aussie]

Bulls head mascot on the front guard, my dads BSA had a woman with wings or something on the front guard.

 

[1olbull]

Not really commenting on uncle's looks one way or another but I can see the family resemblance.

Coski (never Bernard or you were in the $hit) was a very colorful adventurous, cantankerous, very talented rider/racer.
He rode dirt bikes into his 70.s. I rode with him to the San Jose mile when he was like 80.

Coski was an iron worker and owned his own business. In his 50's he became a millionaire by inventing "The Coski Tip" which was the first replaceable jack hammer tip. http://www.google.nl/patents/US3027953

Following his good fortune, Coski became interested in flying, so he got his license and his first plane was a P51 Mustang!
Coski used to imbibe whisky perhaps a tad too frequently and when landing his Mustang one time, he took out 6 helicopters and lost his license.

While in his 70s, Coski had a protracted big money dispute with a much younger and aggressive competitor. Not satisfied with the pace of the legal system, he went to prison for a couple years after hiring a hit man.

An all round COOL guy and fun fun to be around!

 

[bruce aussie]

Mum and Dad about 1957 on the BSA and Eric Mcmillan on his Norton. Dad said the photo was taken up MT tamborine on the way back to Woodenbong from Redcliffe. Out for a 120 mile ride in shorts, must have wipped the comb out for the photo, hair is looking neat.

 

[bruce aussie]

a better copy of the pic of the BSA. Dad said he got his mother to buy this bike for him when he was 16 as he had no money. The day he turned 16 and 9 months he was down at the Woodenbong police station and got his licence on it.

 

[peter k]

Nice photo Bruce looks like semi nobbly tyres . Were the roads bitumen or dirt back then

 

[cusso ken]

Great photos ,I remember when it was not unusual to see people riding around no helmets or any protective gear on, love the car horn on the Norton.

 

[bruce aussie]

A bit of both, the road from Woodenbong to Brisbane was bitumen but was a bit of gravel to Kyogle. I can remember as a kid when we lived at Couts Crossing the other side of Grafton in about 1968 the road from Grafton to Casino was gravel.