Author Archive

June Meeting

Friday, June 8th, 2012

The Section meeting is this Saturday at Vic Cohen’s at 5PM. See the most recent issue of K17 for particulars, or contact Josh Bogage at k17@socalvoc.com

May Ride and Meeting in Redlands

Saturday, May 12th, 2012

A long but amazingly enjoyable day that started bright and early with a 8:45 AM arrival at Tom and Debbie’s place. Tom rode his Velocette as his Vincent stable is currently under construction.

Tom’s Velo 

I will leave the specifics for newsletter, but here is a shot of the group gathering. Bill Easter’s Shadow is on the right and Greg McBride’s Series B Shadow is next going left. There are a few Velos and a few more Vincents farther to the left.

May Ride - Before

That’s me in the middle with my overalls in flux.

Not lot after we departed Derry had a gremlin pop up in the engine and although the bike would run, the sound it made was not desirable. Derry trucked his bike back to Tom and Debbie’s place to wait while we did a run to Idyllwild.

The ride was amazing. We were now separated from the bunch and it was just four in our group now. What a beautiful ride. The valley as we rose up. Then over the ride and into another valley. Then seemingly out of no where a small town. It looked like it was a town that had been frozen in time. Motorcycles everywhere. We relaxed a short while and then blew back down to the superslab and a great meal and meeting at the Gross’.

When we returned there we found that Bill and Derry had nearly field stripped  Derry’s Shadow in a search for the elusive gremlin. Bill had returned earlier with some clutch slipping issues not much farther into the ride then when Derry had turned back.

They had the Primary case off, the clutch disassembled and the generator disconnected.

Derry’s Primary

They also had the Timing case open and the current theory is that the issue may be related to the distributor.

Derry’s Timing

Here’s and after shot of the bunch.

After the ride

Two Rapides, two Shadows, a Velocette Venom, Shadow in the pickup bed, Bill’s Shadow lurking in the back of the drive.

 

Speaking for myself, it was a great day. I have been riding many years. Never have I seen the comraderie and friendship that the So Cal VOC show to each other. A bike breaks down and within two hours a group of club members already have the motor apart and are well on the way to finding the gremlin.

A truly special experience this Vincent one is.

BSA Hansen Dam Ride / Barry Smith Memorial All British Run

Sunday, April 29th, 2012

Gosh it was a lovely day and Mitch Talcove and I arrived early to the lot. Here’s a shot of Steve Batesole and Mitch, Steve is in front of my Rapide and Mitch is in front of his.

Steve B. and Mitch T. at Hansen Dam 2012

Then as the clock neared 10 I had some concern that Bill Easter had not yet arrived. Lo and behold, there he was, nearly 10 AM, hands black and dirty up to his elbows. He got a flat en route. His CO 2 had run out and Dave Marshall had his small pump. Here Bill is explaining his situation to Mike Aleksander as Mitch and Dave Marshall bear witness.

Bill Easter explaining his circumstance

We lined up all the Vincent’s in attendance and we had seven Vincents: Tony Stefani’s Comet, Bill Easter’s 52 Shadow, Dave Marshall’s Rapide, Derry Naylor’s Shadow, Bill Melvin’s Shadow, Josh Bogage’s Rapide, and Mitch Talcove’s Red Rapide. A good group.

Seven Vincents

From the other side,

Seven the other way

The Comet took off and the rest of us headed up to Acton, where we had a decent Mexican meal. The day was warm, but it was truly a beautiful one. A successful day all the way around from my perspective. Cheers, thanks to the BSA Club for hosting this major annual event that all Brit Bikers can enjoy.

BSA Hansen Dam Ride and Corsa Moto Classica

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

 

 Below find info regarding the coming weekend here in So Cal. 

 Ride Safe

Sunday 29 (Sunday) – Barry Smith Memorial All Brit; meet at the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center, 210 Freeway at Osborne, Dronfield entrance to lower parking lot at 9 am; ride at 10 am; Steve Ortiz 951 245-5287 or Barbara Barrett, 661 703-9249.

Corsa Motoclassica

Presented by Garage Company, started in 1995 and is now approaching it’s 17th annual race held at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosemond, CA in mid 2012.

Corsa Motoclassica 2012

Date: Friday April 27th ~ Sunday April 29th

Location: Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, CA
AHMRA url: Get more detailed info –> Click Here
Links/Forms: copied from Ahmra’s site – Entry FormPage 2-EntryRace PreviewTransponder Rental Forms,AHRMA’s Racing School Application Form
Info: copied from Ahmra’s site
• GPS Coordinates: N=34.86374, W=118.26498
• Gate fee: $15/day, $25/2 days, $30/3 days.
• Concessions: Yes.
• Camping: Yes.
• Schedule: Thurs—Gate opens 5 pm.
• Schedule: Fri—Track Run Practice.
• Schedule: Sat—Gates Open 7 am. Sign up 7:15 am Practice 9 am.
– Racing begins 12:30 pm.
• Schedule: Sun—Gates Open 7 am. Sign up 7:30 am Practice 9 am, Racing begins 12 noon.

• Track Info: Willow Springs Raceway, 3500 75th Street West, Rosamond, CA track 661.256.2471 web site www.willowspringsraceway.comarry Smith Memorial All Brit; meet at the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center, 210 Freeway at Osborne, Dronfield 

April Meeting and Ride

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

We departed on a short pleasure ride through Griffith Park and up around the Lake Hollywood reservoir where we stopped to obtain evidence of said ride. Bill Easter and Doris Endo were on Bill’s Shadow, Dave Marshall rode Mitch Talcove’s Red Rapide. Victor Cohen was on his TR6 Trophy, and I was on my Series C Rapide.

April Section Ride Hollywood Ca. 4/07/12

We returned to my home in time to prepare for the gathering hordes. I would say we had a decent turnout which I am sure will be fully covered in the next newsletter. Here is a shot of two guys named Mike I was honored were able to attend.

Mike Aleksander and Mike Parti

Liz made some Easter eggs in since it was the Saturday prior.

Vincent Hardboiled eggs 

Mitch’s bike looked lovely as usual.

Red Rapide

It was a lovely day and I know I enjoyed myself.

Cheers

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March Meeting at the Melvin’s

Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

Well another month has blown by and the So Cal section had a very nice gathering at the Melvin’s in San Clemente. The Bill and Marge had a great spread and everyone was very happy we made the choice to attend. There will be a more comprehensive write up in this months K 17 so be on the look out.

Here is a shot of the Bill’s, Bill Melvin and Easter on either side of Doris and Jim Shaffer’s back and Setsuko’s side and a gentleman who’s name escapes me, but he drove his GT40 to the meeting and it was a hit.

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Of course Bill Melvin had some bikes on display. Here is a shot of his Reading Standard, Indian and Ducati.

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I will come back and edit model and year info soon.

All in all it was a lovely day and a full day. I rode down on my KTM 950SM and it was an hour and a half each way and mucho traffic. Thank the lord for legal lane sharing in California.

Be on the lookout for the next K17 which will have a more complete rundown.

Ojai Ride with the Norton Club

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Mike proposed that we grab breakfast and meet up with the group at the destination in Ojai. So we went the the Hungry Fox and ‘fueled up’. Then we bombed up the 5 to 126 towards Santa Paula. It was a lovely day, a little chilly early but by noon it warmed up. We headed up the 150 towards Ojai and the rode twisted through hills that wound like ribbons. The Rapide did just fine. Running strong and smooth. Once at the ‘museum’ we met up with Greg McBride on his early B Series Shadow (48 I think, I will confirm) and Derry Naylor on his lovely C Series Black Shadow. Bill Easter was there on his C Series Shadow as well.

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Greg and Derry were seeing my Rapide for the first time.

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Mike and I stayed a while and Mr. Tagart, the owner of the Egli, came over to talk and tell us stories of years gone by in Ojai.

The collection was amazing, it could be a blog entry on its own!

We stopped at Bocelli’s on the way home for a nice warm meal. Smooth sailing.

February Ride

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

February 12 (Sunday) – Annual Ojai Pilgrimage: Meet at the Cactus Patch in Moorpark, 197 High St in the old “downtown” section of the city.   Click Here to view map!!!   Ride leaves at 10 am for Grimes Canyon, Santa Paula and the Webster/Taggart collections; lunch at Bocalli’s around 1:30 pm

Hansen Dam April 2006

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Flock of Vincents at Hansen Dan April 2006

Flock of Vincents

Off and Running, the First Meeting of the Year

Monday, January 9th, 2012

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Well, I’ve only been attending these meetings for about 35-40 weeks now as opposed too some in the section who have been doing so for nearly that many years! I’ve enjoyed all the gatherings up to this point, but this was the most fun so far. Perhaps it was the venue as much as it was well attended.

The meeting was held at the section headquarters AKA Bill Easter’s loft and, speaking for myself,  I think that this made for a comfortable setting. I must qualify these remarks by saying that, all the meetings I have attended have been comfortable and welcoming, but there is was certainly less inhibition at the clubhouse and for those who have hosted other meetings I have attended please do not misconstrue my observation. All the meetings have been a blast, but the clubhouse affords a special experience. Considering that you must go through Bill’s home to access the loft and in doing so you pass a good deal of motorcycle literature, as well as actual motorcycle history below the loft. Suffice to say there are various motorcycles in addition to Bill’s Vincents.

The Loft provides a wealth of seating as well as a couple of bars to obtain refreshment. Of course there were many Vincent signs and even some evidence of  the Vincent’s record breaking abilities in the form of a Bonneville speed record certifications! I’m sure that the more one visits, the more one will see.

We had a good bit of food to help soak up the libation and we even held a meeting!

Initial plans for the years possible journeys and picnics, etc were outlined. Stay tuned to K 17 and this Blog for specifics when they become available.

Here’s a couple of pictures submitted as proof of these allegations. I seemed to get Bill Easter’s back each time and he was a superlative host as one would expect.

Afterwards, I had a constructive discussion with Mitch Talcove regarding the sorting of my Rapide (which is almost complete). I feel like this is only the beginning and I look forward to my continuing education.

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The pictures do not do the gathering justice. If anyone has any pictures or anecdotes or both, please send them to me and I will disseminate them to the Section masses.

Here’s to a great 2012, it’s off to a good start so far!

Cheers