Seriously, Read a Book!

As I don't even like to be in the same room as the Nosferatu at my local movie monster wax museum (Nightmare Galley), it's probably a good thing that I somehow totally ignored the vanity plate wordplay for NOS4A2.

I'm pretty late to the game in reading my first Joe Hill, so I can't imagine I have much to add. However, I never pass up a chance to fangirl over Steve McQueen (and/or delicious motorcycles), and Hill has provided me with quite the slow pitch.

In my defense, the vehicular ogling isn't actually all that off-topic. This is a story in which special rides take you special places. The young Vic McQueen (whose last name alone had my envisioning favorite scenes from The Great Escape even before the Triumph entered the picture) had her Raleigh Tuff Burner to steer her to "the Shorter Way."

For Charlie Manx, 'twas the lifeblood of his 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith coursed through his veins en route to Christmasland. 

And then, of course, there is the Triumph — a pre-1974 Bonnie, right-hand clutch and all. The Triumph Bonneville is so McQueen that Triumph did an SMQ edition T100 (which has been idling on my christmas list for far too long now). 

While the Bonnie didn't log the silver screen stunt scenes for The Great Escape (that was a BMW costume-wearing '61 Trophy TR6), it managed to make some key cameos elsewhere.  

Joe might not have my eyes for McQueen's musculature in this shot, but I'm pretty sure he'd be into the general awesomeness that is SMQ on a Triumph.

As for the book? It's a great ride all its own.