Tic
Simple motor tics are typically sudden, brief, meaningless movements that usually involve only one group of muscles, such as eye blinking, head jerking, or shoulder shrugging. Motor tics can be of an endless variety and may include such movements as hand clapping, neck stretching, mouth movements, head, arm or leg jerks, and facial grimacing.
Fantic Motor
The Fantic Motor motorcycles were first imported into the U.K. in 1972 by Barron Eurotrade Ltd whose headquarters were based at 51 High Street Hornchurch, Essex, and the initial idea came to form the company and import the Fantic came about because one of the founders saw the 50cc 'Chopper' model publicised in an American motorcycle magazine that his brother in law sent him from the States.
The U.K. market of wannabe learner drivers had several other makes of what were classed as Mopeds, (Motor and Pedals), but the Fantic T.I. quickly became a worthy contender with the rapid growth of a dealer network. The six speed gearbox was a strong selling point, and the perky Italian Minerelli 49cc engine proved to be very reliable. Stories of the T.I. model reaching 70 mph were an exaggeration, as only just over 50-55 mph could be achieved, and in the right conditions. However, the 125cc Chopper model could top 80 mph, as Terence Shea found when the model was first demonstrated to him at the Fantic factory in Bellagio, Italy. After a hefty lunch and with the wine flowing, as Terence Shea recalls, he test rode the new 125cc chopper model, reaching a top speed 130kph (80 mph).
The chopper model was the original inspiration which the new U.K. importer saw as very special and distinct for a niche market, and fame grew.
Part of the original marketing and advertising included a Fantic 125cc chopper model to be given to the then top comedian Dick Emery of the 'Oh, you are awful, but I like you' fame. There were many photos of Dick Emery (with Terry Shea and Frank Harris of the U.K. importer, and one was blown up very large which showed Terence Shea standing next to the 'bike with his hand on the handlebars with Dick Emery sitting on it.
Another popular model was the 125cc Caballero was for on/off road, which was for a different sector of the market.
The market for these types of Mopeds only lasted a handful of years.
The official U.K. importers glossy studio photograph of the 125cc Chopper model was taken in London, and Terence Shea and Frank Harris of the Barron Eurotrade importer was taken from Hornchurch to London on a trailer towed by car. There was confusion in central London as to which turn to take at one particular junction on the way to the studio, which resulted in the trailer having to be unhooked and physically turned around in the narrow road and extremely busy area for the correct journey to the studio to be continued, much to the amusement of onlookers.