Central California Classic Cycle Club
6375 N Sharon, Fresno Ca 93710
President and Newsletter Editor - Bob Miller gjm14@fresno.com
phone (559) 447-0795

April 2003

The weather is beautiful and riding season is in full swing!
If you haven't been riding you have missed out on some fine riding weather! No point in wasting time there is plenty of events happening. This Saturday  April 13th is the 13th annual Blessing of the Bikes held at St. Helen's Church at 4870 E. Belmont. It's at 1pm sharp. It looks like after the ceremony they are riding to the Friant Tavern. (No Doubt for Communion.) Donations will be accepted to help the Fresno Rescue Mission For more info call 255-6560.
    Starting March 30th a vintage exhibit called the Wild Ones is on display in Walnut Creek. It is a collection of 30 race bikes of all kinds. Guy Webster who's collection we saw on our trip to Ojai, has some bikes in the collection. The show only runs through June 1. If we would like to go as a group and make it a C's ride, come to April meeting to figure out a date and time to go. Because of the short notice and running time for the exhibit the trip will probably be on short notice (another good reason to be on the ride list.) Come to the meeting if your interested. See Flyer or go online to: www.bedfordgallery.org
    Long time C's member Joe Perry and his family put on the Bill Quaid Memorial motorcycle ride and Picnic. This year on Sunday May 5 join Joe and friends on a ride to Kerckhoff Lake for a fantastic BBQ. The ride starts from the Baskin-Robbins  parking lot at Clovis and Shaw ave at 9 am. You can get your ticket in advance for 10 bucks or get it the day of the event and pay $12. Proceeds go to the Bill Quaid Memorial Scholarship at Sierra High school. See the flyer in this issue.
    All systems are go for the BIG WEEKEND! The weekend starts off Friday afternoon at Sumner's on Belmont. Hook up for the ride to Don Harrell's open house in Visalia. To get to Don's in time for the good food and drinks, all for a donation, we need to leave Sumner's by 5:30pm. As people get there fill of  food and bikes they ride home in groups of two's and three's. invite a friend.
Saturday morning will dawn early for the annual Hanford show and swap-meet. This year C's is encouraging it's members to show a bike at Hanford. You might get a call from T.J. Gilchrist "inviting" you to show your bike. C's will have a booth promoting our club and we will also have a stall in the swap meet paid for by C's. We need people to man or woman the two booths. If you have a few items you want to sell maybe you would like to be the coordinator and get in free and early. come to the next meeting. also for all who show a bike C's will have free drinks at our booth promoting the club. What could be better than an ice cold drinks on a hot afternoon?
    That night there will be racing at both Hanford and Caruthers. There will be AHRMA races at Hanford and the Fresno Motorcycle Club will host the flat-track races at Caruthers fairgrounds.
    Sunday morning catch the ride put on by Pancho Vincent to the flat track museum. This is the 10 annual ride and there will be " Finisher pins " for the first 200 riders. Can't go on the ride? then head straight for Dan and Kathy Rouit's Flat Track Museum in Clovis. By now 99 % of you have been there but if you haven't, you have screwed up and you must get there this year! in fact why not show the same bike you showed at Hanford. Dan is looking for bikes to have at his open house. Give him a call.

C's road trip to the Otis Chandler Museum, Guy Webster's collection and the
Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. By Bob Miller.
On Friday morning Gary Smalz, Ken Davis, and myself met at Dave Gearhart's house and blasted of for Oxsnard. We took the back roads rather than go the freeway. We headed south on highway  41 to Kettleman City where we filled up with gas. Just a few miles past I-5 we turned off 41 and got on highway 33 that runs along the west side of the valley between the Coast range and Interstate 5. To say there is not much going on out there is an understatement. From when we got on 33 till we came to the first town of Button, about forty miles, we only passed 15 cars coming the other way!
Around Button the oil wells started and by the time we got to McKittrick there was no doubt we were in the heart of oil country.If you haven't been down along the west side of the valley you wouldn't know you were in the same country, it's barren landscape except for the pumps slowly bobbing up and down.
     In McKittrick we had lunch at the Penny Bar and Cafe. Just about the only place to have lunch. You have to stop and check out the bar. The entire floor, walls, and bar are covered with pennies! After tanking up our tummies we continued south to Taft and Maracopa. Taft looked like it was growing but Maracopa appeared to be withering on the oil vine. South of Maracopa the road starts to climb over the San Rafael Mountains. It's a fun ride through the mountains where we stopped at the summit 5,000 feet high for a break. It got a little cool at the top but warmed up as we dropped back down to Ojai. From there the fun roads were over and we motored on into Ventura and Motel 6. We arrived at the same time as Matt Blake. Mat makes reproduction fenders for Indian Motorcycles and timed a business trip down south for the same weekend. Mat brought his Ducati down in his trailer and he road around with us that afternoon,
   On the trip from Ojai to Ventura  Ken Davis started having problems with the clutch on his Ducati. After checking in at the motel we all went to" The Shop." The shop is a Vintage bike shop with Indian being the bike they specialize in and carry the most parts for. When we got there Ken Davis , Matt Blake and Gary Smalz were all in Hog heaven, EXCUSE ME, Indian Heaven. All three own Indians and we spent the afternoon there trying to get Ken's clutch working. We left there at dinner time and we went to a Thai restaurant that the owner of The Shop recommended. the food was good and so was the conversation, Unfortunately Ken's clutch still wasn't working right and he decided to take it back to The Shop in the morning.
    In the morning we went to the shop and left Ken's bike there. From there we rode to Oxnard.

The Otis Chandler Museum is in a newer part of Oxnard where modern where-houses are. In one that said nothing on the outside except Vintage museum sits a fantastic collection of bikes and cars and stuffed animals. You could chat with a Cheetah (stuffed animal), check out the sleek lines of a Jaguar (a car) or race with the Greyhound (a very old Motorcycle.) There were about 60 bikes on display and at least that many cars. Many of the cars were the luxury cars built for the very rich during the depression. You know the kind movie-stars were chauffeured around in? In fact many in the collection were owned by movie stars. The bikes ranged from one of the very first 1901 Indian motorcycles to a 1976 Limited edition Goldwing, and every thing in between. Many of the bikes were American built in the early part of the 20 century. One area had board track racers, another had four cylinder bikes. one section had early v-twin bikes. My personal favorite was an Iver Johnston. the cylinders were nickel plated. it definitely was a classy bike. Another area had unrestored bikes most in nice shape but some you could tell weren't being ridden. I took some pictures and so did some of the other people who went. Everyone that went on the trip converged at the museum. Lalani and Larry Koop were the first C's members to show up. Then the rest of us that stayed the night in Ventura and finally T.J. Gilchrist and Roland Berry who drove down Saturday morning. If you would like to see Otis Chandlers collection PLAN AHEAD!! The museum will only be open two more days this year! May 31 and August 16 from 10am till 2pm. After we got our fill of bikes and cars we stopped for lunch on our way to Ojai and Guy Webster's collection of vintage Italian Sports bikes.
    Here is a guy that knows what he likes. Guy's collection is very focused. Italian only! Sports Bike only! The bikes he owned started in the 1950's with many 125's and 175's. Brands you have heard of even if you didn't know how to pronounce the name, and some that you never heard of. He has culled the herd lately and he is down to 75 bikes or so. Later big bikes include Mv Agustas, Ducati, Laverda and Moto Guzzi. Right now he has some bikes in a show in Walnut Creek. (see this issue for more info.) He was very hospitable and was having a group of over 100 there the following weekend. If you were to call him I bet he would give you a special tour like we got where he told us the history on each bike he owns. From there we split up. Gary Smalz went to visit a relative in Riverside, Ken Davis decided to ride home with Matt Blake instead of battling with a funky clutch. Roland, T.J. Lalani and Larry went back to Ventura and the motel they had for that night . Dave Gearhart and I rode the back roads to Buellton arriving cold after dark. Sunday we converged on the Vintage Motorcycle Museum in Solvang. This is a nice collection of bikes from around the world. No brand dominates the collection. the bikes range from the early teens up until the seventies. About 50 bikes were on display, about half of the collection. If you get to that area, (maybe for the event at Lake Cachuma) make sure you take in the museum Open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 5pm.  They will open up by special request weekdays. From Solvang we rode north to Cayucos and the diner at the pier. They serve good sea food, and we tanked up on clam chowder. After lunch we were not looking forward to the ride home. Most of us had been on this road many times and we stopped at the junction of 41 and 33 for gas and to restore feelings in our backsides. By stopping there four of us closed the loop  Roland and T.J. passed that way  Saturday Morning and Dave and I on Friday around noon. From Kettleman City we turned on the auto pilot and cruised home Dave had picked up a nail in his rear tire earlier in the trip but we made it home with no problems. Plan on going on our next Museum trip to Walnut Creek. It will be a day trip to the Bedford Gallery where 30 race bikes will be on display.

Join Us For a Vintage Motorcycle Weekend
in the San Joaquin Valley May 16-18
Hi my name is Bob Miller and I am with the Central California Classic Cycle Club (C's for short.) I would like to invite you on behalf of the 120 plus members of C's to the 35th annual  Hanford Vintage Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet at the Kings County Fairgrounds in Hanford Ca. on May 17 presented by Bator International. C's is not affiliated with Bator International but would like to see Hanford return to it's former glory. When the event was on the square downtown years ago many more Marques from around the world were present. The event has a history of bike clubs being involved and back 20 years ago the Classic and Antique Motorcycle Association was involved with the show. This event in Hanford is in C's backyard and we have taken it upon ourselves to start the ball rolling. Having survived for 35 years there must be something special about Hanford. If you have a vintage bikes, we hope we can persuade you to bring a bike or two. This year is a good year to bring your bike to Hanford and share the good times with fellow enthusiasts. If everyone who came to Hanford brought a bike to show it would truly be a glorious show. Cost to show a bike is only 20 bucks . If you regularly attend the swap-meet at Hanford it would only cost an extra 13 dollars to show a bike and you get a event pin and a chance for a trophy, but best of all you can get into the swap meet early because of entering your bike in the show!  With other vintage events like the AHRMA races at Willow Springs and Vintage Days at Sears Point (now under new management) not happening, mark your calendar for a full weekend of motorcycle excitement May 16-18. Hanford is just a few hours from either the Bay Area, Southern California or the coast. If I haven't convinced you yet to come then check out these other events happening the same weekend.

    For those in the know there are other vintage events going on that weekend in the San Joaquin Valley not far from Hanford. Starting Friday evening C's has a ride starting in Fresno at Sumner's Vintage Cycle Shop. This is a motorcycle shop like no other. Come check out the show room full of vintage bikes that aren't for sale! and you won't want to miss all of the vintage posters on the walls of bikes and babes! Join 40 or so vintage enthusiasts riding from Sumner's  to Don Harrell's British Motorcycle Works in Visalia a 45 minute ride on the freeway.

    Don' Harrell's 19th annual open house has some of the finest British bikes anywhere just 30 minutes from Hanford. From 4 pm till 10 pm join several hundred vintage bike nuts for bikes, food and drinks all for a donation. Don has won numerous trophies with British bikes that he has personally restored and has one of the finest collections in the country. If you are coming to Hanford it would be a mistake to not come early for Don Harrell's open house.

Sunday morning starting in Fresno there is a leisure ride through the Sierra foothills that everyone is encouraged to join. This is the 10th annual ride put on by Pancho Vincent and lapel ride pins will be given out to the first 200 people who show up Sunday morning. The ride starts at 8:30  from the corner of Cedar and Herndon in Fresno at B J's Kountry Kitchen. It will wind it's way through the wild flower studded Sierra's for a easy loop of about 90 miles. for everyone who brings a bike that isn't a trailer queen this would be a fun ride with no pressured to arrive at a certain time. Bring a buddy and ride with fellow C's club members. Maps of the ride will be given out so no one would get lost if separated from the main group.

    The ride ends at the Dan and Kathy Rouit's Flat Track Museum in Clovis for their 12 annual open house which is free. With over 40 bikes in the museum collection and other motorcyclist bringing bikes and race cars to show there will be plenty to see. Not only are there bikes on display but there is plenty of memorabilia on display to keep you occupied for hours. If you come, there is also plenty of good food served up. The open house is from 10 am to 3 pm. which gives you plenty of time to get home and recuperate from this busy weekend.  If you bring a bike to the Hanford show and would like to show it at the flat track show that can easily be arranged either by phone or at the C's booth at the Hanford show. There is no cost to show at the flat track open house. If you are coming in a motor-home there is a Walmart very close to the flat track museum and you can stay there Saturday night.

    For clubs that want to participate in the Hanford revival a free booth is available for all clubs that can rustle up four bikes to be in the show, that could be as little as two guys with two bikes each.
It could be a great opportunity to promote your club and it's coming events.

You can go to:   www.batorinternational.com  to find out more about the show and download an entry form.

The British Motorcycle Works is at 1246 Irma Street in Visalia. Don's phone # is (559) 732-9265.

Dan Rouit's Flat Track Museum was featured in the September 2002 issue of Friction Zone. You can get in touch with Dan Rouit at the Flat Track Museum 309 West Rialto Clovis, by calling (559) 291-2242 after 11am and before 6:30pm.

If you go to the C's web site:     www.cycletownusa.com/ccrider    There is more  information on the C's club, or you can call me (Bob Miller) for more information on any of the events (559) 447-0795
PS. I have maps to most of the start locations for these events.
 

Best Motorcycle roads in California
Here is a link to the best motorcycle roads in California.  Go to www.Pashnit.com
There is also a list of California cycle clubs on this site at http://www.pashnit.com/more/clublinks.htm