The Race of Gentlemen Youtube Video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E71d8yNIB0


Someone stuck a camera on Marty's TT Pan with Billy on Board as he and I did the final motorcycle race at The Race of Gentlemen on the beach in Jersey yesterday. I didn't even know they did this until I found it on Youtube this morning.

T.R.O.G - Unbefuckinlievable! (Here's a taste)

The Race of Gentlemen was fuckin' surreal. The fact that this could even happen in this day and age in the USA is amazing...AMAZING...that is the word I heard most this weekend. From the cars and bikes to the people willing to down right fuck up their shit in the name of spectacle and a great fuckin time!

What Mel pulled off here was ...OK one more time...AMAZING! 

I have much more to say and many more pics but I have to go clean the sand and sea outta my bikes right now.

AMAZING!

T.R.O.G. Knuckle Prep...

Pulled the headlight and horn...

Found the ideal number plate brackets in a box...

Installed

Ready for mounting...

Paint and bake number plate in oven...impatient 

Made three plates and mounted...ready to race!

I decided to add some number plates to the knuckle for the beach race. I used my AHRMA number (33A) which is the same one as my WLDR. I painted these up and baked 'em in the oven so I didn't have to wait for them to dry. I did them as the amature would in the day, kinda sloppy hand painted...
I'm bringing the headlight and horn for reattachment so I can ride after the races.

T.R.O.G - This Weekend - More Info from Mel...

 Re: Oilers CC Present: "Race of Gentlemen"

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We don't put cars on the beach till Sat morning. Although it would look cool with the bon-fire and the Swingin Neckbreakers near.

The hard part is getting the cars on the beach from the street to the Jetty as of now. Our path of entrance rolls right along the Jetty and there is soft sand here. The tractors can only lightly scrape the top as the rocks protrude here and there through the sand. So we are laying down a shit ton of 3/4 inch plywood to make it easier. 

This will be easy once plywood is down. My Oiler pal ran his flatty powered 30 roadster right through the soft stuff and made it back to the street. We just don't want any erratic driving going on if people are also exiting here. 

We have also changed our plans a little. 

Originally we had planned for a straight run just like a drag race. Early in the season we invisioned this as the center of the beach was real straight. Now we see that the beach has a nice natural curve coming from where you see that American flag on the end of the jetty. We will start right there and follow the naturally sweep along the shoreline. It makes for more fun really, and looks killer too! 

Also some more good news. 

Wind on Saturday is a west wind. Always good for SURF here on the East Coast, and even better for RACING!!!

The Race of Gentlemen - Update

Spoke to Mel today... everything is a go for this weekend!!! 

He had a Hot Rod and his Indian on the beach for a test run and said it was like ridin' on concrete! 

Then and Now... 21 Years Ago...

My son Jake at about 2 years old (now 23) in the sidecar with his great grandfather Poppa Jake in the background. I took that kid everywhere in this rig and then his younger brothers and sister as well...

The rig today...in desperate need of resurrection...

R.I.P. "Big Mikey"...

Me and Big Mikey circa 1990

My long time friend "Big Mikey" from Jersey passed away last Sunday. The "Big" in his name was more his personality then his size. This guy was someone I considered invincible for the past 30 years. He'd been bounced off bumpers, crashed, flipped off his bike while standing on the seat, had his share of brawls, long nights, took no shit from anyone and a few years ago beat cancer, you name it he killed it! And all the while living it up as he always did. So when his wife called me Sunday to tell me that he passed away while sleeping on the couch, I just couldn't believe it. His heart just gave out they said...I don't know maybe it was full...
Big Mikey bought a 1974 Sportster, brand new, in Jersey and road it to California and back a couple of times. It was his only bike, he owned it til the day he passed...and he rode the piss outta it. We had a lot of great times and I have a lot of great (unbelievable) memories... Thanks Mikey!

Big Mikey leaves behind a wife, a son, a daughter and a select few who will feel the loss of a true friend and at times one crazy ass MFer!