Ogri
When it comes to two wheeled transportation, Ogri is definitely old school. Allegedly born in a side car, our classic British bike riding stuble chinned hero is sexist & politically incorrect in a way that I can only aspire to. Neither Traffic Officers or speed cameras seem to bother him
& his girlfriend Mitzi is more than a match for any man
"He epitomises an attitude that hasn't been altered by the changing face of motorcycling over the past 30 years," says Tim Thompson, editor of Bike. "It was bikers against everyone else back then. Ogri is still anti-car, even though most readers have cars, and he is still anti-police even though lots of police read the magazine. In the Seventies he reinforced attitudes, now he creates them."
The idea behind Ogri is simple. He is the biker that everyone wants to be. He builds the maddest bikes, rides them perfectly, evades the law, gets the girl and always makes it to the pub in time for last orders.
But now he is up for sale
Generations of motorcyclists grew up alongside Ogri, the comic-strip character who graced the pages of Bike magazine for 35 years as well as featuring prominently in Telegraph Motoring. Now they have the chance to own original artwork depicting the anti-hero when it goes under the hammer later this month.
Ogri creator Paul Sample decided to give others the chance of enjoying his cartoons when he started clearing his studio in preparation for a house move.
Sample first penned Ogri – a stubble-faced biker with Viking horns on his crash helmet – in 1967 after coming up with the idea while riding his BSA Rocket Gold Star. Later, the character was joined by dim Malcolm, blonde bombshell Mitzi and car-hating dog Kickstart.
“Most people think Ogri is about biking but it’s not, it’s about life in general,” Sample said. “The inspiration for most of the stories comes from riding my bike, talking to people in the pub or things on the news. I am constantly writing down ideas in a book.”
About 500 lots are expected to be auctioned by Halls of Shrewsbury on January 27
I think that some new artwork for the downstairs lavatory might well be in order. For those that want one, t-shirts are available
Comments
Ah yes, I remember Ogri, does he still grace the pages of Bike? I haven't picked up one for a while. mind you, with all this shocking weather, I haven't even seen my bike for a few weeks!
Posted by: Mike | January 18, 2010 7:11 PM
It has a bit of an R. Crumb look to it.
Posted by: trainer | January 18, 2010 8:59 PM
I learned to drink Newkie Browns from Ogri, and still have a big old book of his adventures (vol. 3). It's raining in California and reminds me of my Aunt's house in Winchmare Hill.
Posted by: DirtCrashr | January 19, 2010 7:17 PM