Originally posted by Sailor Hey, Les - regarding the motorcycles (of which I know little), the CZ and Jawa are new to me. I thought Jawas were little critters that live on Tatoonine.
Jer
Both CZ and JAWA were Czechoslovakian made motorcycles. CZ was / is a large European armaments company that although it no longer makes motorcycles, does make guns. In fact, I think CZ recently bought the American company, Colt Arms.
When I had my CZ bikes, in the '60's, CZ made world championship racing motorcycles, along with street bikes. In the 1960's , the CZ racing bikes were world championship winning 250cc and open class...500cc.... in motocross.
JAWA , not the Star Wars characters **.....
...the motorcycle company was founded in the 1920's. It was at one time, one of the largest European motorcycle companies. They made street bikes, but also world championship European flat track and Ice Racing machines. Very powerful racing bikes...500cc single cylinder, running on alcohol, no brakes, about 160 pounds in weight....
I saw a JAWA Ice Racer in action at a local race held on a frozen lake in my province, about 40 years ago. The racer was from Quebec, Canada and needed to get points towards the Canadian Ice Racing championship. He was racing against motocross racing bikes...mostly Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Maico, etc.
It was like racing a Ferrari (JAWA) amongst VW air cooled Beetles (other bikes).. Fascinating to see though. Ice racing motorcycles have huge spikes on the tires and it is impressive to see them slide through the corner...spraying ice in rooster tails.
My JAWA and CZ bikes, were all street bikes, not racers.
JAWA still makes motorcycles...in India. A very large Indian company , Mahindra has bought out JAWA and the English company, BSA and now makes both these lines. I'm pleased to see that Mahindra has taken over the manufacturing of these two, famous , iconic motorcycle names.
** Why the Star Trek movie producers/writers/ etc. would call some of their movie characters after an old Czech made motorcycle company is beyond me ?