- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
- Messages
- 434
As a rule, I generally don't do the bike "shows", let alone enter my bike in competitions, but this one had Cafe Racer plastered all over it and I couldn't resist. So this one is for all the Cafe Racer enthusiasts in the Norton group, as there was a pretty cool event last Saturday in St. Petersburg, FL. Grand opening of Dime City Cycles, with Discovery Channel HD Theater filming at the event along with reps from Cafe Racer Magazine. One of the show judges was Mark Wilsmore from the Ace Cafe in London. Sorry if the pics don't fit your screens, it's late and I'm too lazy to resize in PhotoBucket....also the Tampa Bay Lightning game is on and I'm missing the game.....GO BOLTS!!
Edit Note: Again, sorry I didn't resize the pics...if they're too cut off on your monitor, you can view them on the Brit Bike Forum: http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthrea ... Post373989
But you gotta promise to come right back here, though! :wink:
A rare May cold front brought threatening clouds to our area, but approx. 300 bikes braved the day and showed up before the rains blew in.
We arrived early and parked across the street to let the vendors finish setting up. I rode in with my two friends Norton Billy and "Can't be Caught" Carl. A pic of Billy's completely chromed '75 850 Inter-Continental and Carl's screaming Ducati 1000.
My Combat, all spiffed up for the show
Ok, the gates opened just as my fellow "Nortoneer", Skip, showed up on his freshly restored John Player. Naturally, we decided to park side-by-side to center the Norton representation
As this was primarily a Cafe Racer-themed show, there were tons of vintage cafes in attendance...too many to post, but here's a few pics:
I know, blasphemy!!!
And lots of Jap 350's, 500's, 550's and 750's
Gotta give every bike type their due......Dave Ashenbrenner from the famous "Carter Brother's Garage" in Altoona, Fl was there with his cool Hardley. Dave creates the very high-quality (and ethanol-resistant) Gus Khun, Dunstall, etc. replica tanks and seat fabs you see on eBay...not a promo...just the facts.
Here's a pic of Mark Wilsmore (on the right), one of the original founders of the Ace Cafe, who judged the Cafe Racer portion of the show. The other category was for "bobbers", which I'll not waste any more time on....
Ok, Ok, I know you're probably wondering where I'm going with this. At the end of the night, Mark chose my Combat as the "Best Cafe Racer" of the show. The entire event will be shown on Discovery Channel sometime this fall, with the event also featured in Cafe Racer magazine in an future edition. Mark said he made his choice because his vision of a traditional Cafe Racer had to be a British bike with "cllip-on bars", "rear-sets" and very, very fast...with evidence that the bike was ridden hard...and went on to mention that the winning bike was in sore need of a new rear tire.
Yeah, yeah, my one time as a "Trophy #hore"...oh well. My fellow Nortoneer, Skip, won the "Judges Choice" trophy with his awesome John Player...all in all the Norton contingent did well.
Some parting shots:
It did rain, between 3 and 5 p.m. Actually had 1/4" hail coming down, but cleared by 6 p.m.
Edit Note: Again, sorry I didn't resize the pics...if they're too cut off on your monitor, you can view them on the Brit Bike Forum: http://www.britbike.com/forums/ubbthrea ... Post373989
But you gotta promise to come right back here, though! :wink:
A rare May cold front brought threatening clouds to our area, but approx. 300 bikes braved the day and showed up before the rains blew in.
We arrived early and parked across the street to let the vendors finish setting up. I rode in with my two friends Norton Billy and "Can't be Caught" Carl. A pic of Billy's completely chromed '75 850 Inter-Continental and Carl's screaming Ducati 1000.
My Combat, all spiffed up for the show
Ok, the gates opened just as my fellow "Nortoneer", Skip, showed up on his freshly restored John Player. Naturally, we decided to park side-by-side to center the Norton representation
As this was primarily a Cafe Racer-themed show, there were tons of vintage cafes in attendance...too many to post, but here's a few pics:
I know, blasphemy!!!
And lots of Jap 350's, 500's, 550's and 750's
Gotta give every bike type their due......Dave Ashenbrenner from the famous "Carter Brother's Garage" in Altoona, Fl was there with his cool Hardley. Dave creates the very high-quality (and ethanol-resistant) Gus Khun, Dunstall, etc. replica tanks and seat fabs you see on eBay...not a promo...just the facts.
Here's a pic of Mark Wilsmore (on the right), one of the original founders of the Ace Cafe, who judged the Cafe Racer portion of the show. The other category was for "bobbers", which I'll not waste any more time on....
Ok, Ok, I know you're probably wondering where I'm going with this. At the end of the night, Mark chose my Combat as the "Best Cafe Racer" of the show. The entire event will be shown on Discovery Channel sometime this fall, with the event also featured in Cafe Racer magazine in an future edition. Mark said he made his choice because his vision of a traditional Cafe Racer had to be a British bike with "cllip-on bars", "rear-sets" and very, very fast...with evidence that the bike was ridden hard...and went on to mention that the winning bike was in sore need of a new rear tire.
Yeah, yeah, my one time as a "Trophy #hore"...oh well. My fellow Nortoneer, Skip, won the "Judges Choice" trophy with his awesome John Player...all in all the Norton contingent did well.
Some parting shots:
It did rain, between 3 and 5 p.m. Actually had 1/4" hail coming down, but cleared by 6 p.m.
I supose thats a ' Light shower ' for England , though . :shock:
