Century Motorcycles Xmas Party

Too many things to do this time of year!


Kenny was tight with Century owner Cindy Rutherford. Note that this invite says 11th annual in 1987. They've been doing this for awhile.

Here in So Cal we had the Mooneyes show on Saturday followed by the Chopper Fest Sunday.

I'd been going to the The Moon show since the early nineties. It used to be a really cool informal (free), gathering at their shop and was the official Rat Fink Xmas Party. You could go check out the cool and crazy rods, bikes, and greet Ed Roth while he was striping and signing stuff. The good people at Moon also let other pin stripers and artist set up and sell there wares. In return they were asked to donate some art for the raffles. I did that myself for 4 years.

The Moon show outgrew the shop (cops shut it down in 1999 or 2000?), and it had to be moved to a larger location 3 times. Eventually Moon had to start charging the artists and began to let vendors set up. It lost it's charm. I heard if you were late you couldn't park. I stopped going and for the last 2 years sold my art at the Chopper Fest instead.

This year I wasn't keen to getting up at 4:00 a.m. or driving 90 miles so, I choose not to sell at or attend the CF.


Dig that crazy sign! I love this stuff. Today everything is pseudo mediterranean/mission style.

There's another annual party that I knew of but, had slipped my mind until I received an email from Keith Ball. He reminded me that Century Motorcycles in San Pedro was having their annual party Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, I was running late and it was getting chilly so, I thought I could just ride by and turn back if nothing was happening. I got there about 2 p.m. and the crowd was wanning but found that Keith had just pulled in, a few bikers were still hanging out, and it was sunny. Then another buddy pulled up followed by a good friend of Keith's.

We interrupt this story for a quickie bike feature!


My buddy Ron's 58 Sporty was one of the star attractions. Excuse the less than perfect photos but, I had to post them.


Ron's an Ironhead and Performance Freak. You gotta see this bike in person to appreciate all the fine work.


Ron shaves, cleans, drills and massages every bracket and fitting before it goes on one of his machines. Rear drum is a rare XRTT unit.


Keith dug Ron's bike and plans to do a complete feature on Bikernet.com

Now back to the story.

Century has been having Xmas parties since 1976 and also hosts an annual Father's Day party. It had been years' since I attended one so I was curious to visit the shop plus, I enjoy these types of small intimate gatherings more than large crowded events.


Another damn blurry pic! Keith's Sturgis shovel was also a crowd favorite. It was usually surrounded by several onlookers.


British bikes abound.


Hungry Bikers chow down while another eats up the sights.


This Vinnie merited a second look


Don't know the history but it's safe to say this bike's special.


Bikes were cleared out for dinning. The motorized baby carriage was later driven out front by Cindy.


Here's Cindy blowing minds and setting speed records in the worlds fastest baby carriage at El Camino. Photo: Gleeped from unknown blog.


Not just put up yesterday to look cool. When was the last time you were in a shop with history like this?


Bill Cotton memorial wall. Bill's Ashes are in the peanut tank. We should all have such a tribute.


Circa 1963. Not much has changed. Photo: Century Motorcycles website

Simple pleasures: Riding on a crisp day, talking with buds, checking out machinery, and visiting an old timey MC Shop, makes for a memorable time.

SOW 3 Best Triumph

This pre-unit gets my vote for coolest Trumpet at the Smokeout.

It appears to be a cleaned up vintage custom barn find.

Smokeout pic of the day

This bike gets my vote for the 2nd best bike at the Smokeout West 3 and it wasn't in the show.

Period perfect! Looks like it's off the pages of a 1969-70 Big Bike magazine.

It's so cool, I'm starting to question if it was the best bike there.
I only have some minor taste/choice issues with the fork brace, the long risers, and maybe the bars. The long risers would look better if he used a 1948-59 top tree that had the wider distance between the mounts. A cool way to raise the bars is to use the stock 1960-72? handlebar riser with dog bones for extra height, similar to Fonda's Captain America but, his used the earlier 1948-59 risers.

More SOW3 pics. to come.

Smokeout West 3 Best of Show

Just in from AZ. It's been a week and a half since I could post anything.

First up. This clean little Ironhead wins MY pick for "Best of Show" at the Smokeout 3. I usually don't like the way Sportsters are chopped (most guys don't get the proportions right), but, this one just plain Rules! What really surprises me, is how much I like it, considering that there are quite a few things I'd have done different.

Great Stance!


Vintage S&S carb, cut cam cover, shortened peg, and custom shifter support are all very cool touches.

Hat's off to the guys at the Foundry

Good Karma. Everything just comes together right on this bike.

More from the Smokeout 3 soon!

Gasoline Gallery Art show 9/21/08

The day after El Camino (Sunday 9/21), I rode up to Gasoline in Smell Segundo for the opening of the "In the Wind" motorcycle art exhibit. It's a cool small store/art gallery that katers to the Kustom Kulture Hot Rod scene. The name Gasoline fits well in a town named after a oil refinery.

A small group of Triumph owners, young beatniks, and hipsters were on hand when this old dude pulled up.


Every time I go there for one of these show openings, I see Slim and his bikes. Slim builds stuff in a way that Ed Roth himself would approve of. He and his bro are two downright friendly, creative, and positive dudes. Slim's available for all kinds of Fab. Keep an eye on him, or maybe two, he's going places!
www.slimsfab.com 951-217-9303

Kawa Trike by Slim



Dirt Nap by Slim


Nanook by Slim, under the watchful eye of "the man"


Brown Recluse. A lot of us got started with Minis




Ghost Rider panel by David Mann


Sara Ray Fortune Teller



Gallerama


Keith Weesner



Lacy-Sportsterson


Tat Style


Shinya


Glitter Powered!


Finks by Sara Ray


Mosaic Tile Mania


Cycho tank by Road Dog


Shinya again ya


Store Winda Shovel


Cool little Chop Bob Cub 250 a Go-Go

I met the Gallery owner (Mark), for the first time. He instructed me to send some stuff for his artist file. Who knows, maybe some of my art will be there one day?

Current show runs only through October 5th?
http://www.gasolinegallery.com/

Nuff said!