Quail Motorcycle Gathering

THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025

Popular motorcycle gathering changes name, cranks up magic and allure. Jim Palam welcomes you to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025!

THE QUAIL MotoFest

For its 15th birthday, The Quail Motorcycle Gathering changed its name to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 to attract more people, including those who aren’t die-hard motorcycle fans. Early on show day, I took a quick preview zip over the manicured lawns of the Quail Golf Club in Carmel, CA, where the bikes, vendor tents, food courts, stages, and displays were getting their final prep before the show opened to the public.

While exploring, a thought popped into my head that this MotoFest is somewhat like a Jazz Fest, in that its style and vibe are improvisational. There are subgenres of the form represented by the variety of classes, and, like jazz chords, there’s a complexity to many of the highly engineered sports, race, and show bikes. An obvious example of innovation and detail could be found in the Chopper Class, and the lead bike featured in our report photo, above.

It’s The Medusa, and it was hand-built by Corey Mauck and the artisans at Aero Precision Metal Works in Arizona. Its entire frame, handlebars, and front fork were meticulously crafted by twisting and finishing square metal bars. Every detail, like the split tank on The Medusa, is perfected fabrication, and the judges at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 took notice, presenting this one-of-a-kind chopper with the Arlen Ness Award.

I grabbed this shot of Gordon McCall as he was studying his show notes on the awards presentation stage. Gordon oversees The Quail MotoFest and is the Director of Motorsports at Quail Lodge & Golf Club. In addition to 11 traditional classes, The Quail MotoFest 2025 featured three special classes: Italian Innovation by Bimota, Tribute to Yoshimura, and Celebrating 45 Years of the BMW GS. Organizers had hoped for a strong turnout this year, and while there was plenty of fun and activity within the designated show areas, and hundreds of bikes lined up on the entry road, my unofficial tally is a guesstimate of less than 300 bikes on the show field.

Texan Clyde Crouch’s infamous ‘37 Indian Arrow Bonneville Racer took The MotoFest’s Best of Show award. This fabled V-Twin was originally owned by Indian dealer and bike builder, Hap Alzina. For the 1938 competition season, Hap and his team built a lima-bean-shaped shell around the modified Indian – the back half partially visible in this photo – and, with rider Freddie Ludlow inside, went after Harley-Davidson’s standing American speed record at Bonneville. Things were looking good until aerodynamics severely wobbled the streamliner, Freddie lost control, and the Arrow slid on its side to an unsuccessful finish. Hap did not want to risk anyone else’s life just to set a record, so the ‘Liner was never used again to pursue speed records.

THE QUAIL MotoFest Changes at the Bimota motorcycle company have come as fast as some of its iconic race bikes. The company was founded in Rimini, Italy, in 1973 by Valerio Bianchi, Giuseppe Morri, and Massimo Tamburini. Their methodology was to build state-of-the-art frames around existing engines and components from manufacturers like Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Ducati. This black beauty is a modified DB8 Carbon Fiber Oronero. It’s powered by a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, 1198-cc, 90-degree Desmodromic V-Twin engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Bimota’s ownership and mission statements have changed over the years, with a 49% stake currently being held by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

One of the Bimota bikes in its circular display of Italian Innovation at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 was this double-take, ‘08 Bimota Tesi 3-D. I met proud owner Ross Mullins setting up the bike on a chilly Friday night before Saturday’s show. Bimota’s wide-eyed engineers love solving problems and pushing technical boundaries, as they did when they developed their innovative hub-center steering system – a unique design that eliminates traditional forks – and commands a lot of “What the…” comments from observers. Other Tesi 3-D features include radial-mounted brakes and a trellis-style swingarm. The bike is powered by a 1078-cc, 4-stroke V-2 engine, and yes, you are looking at the front of the bike!

This worn and weathered Honda CB72 may look unassuming, but it is the original 250cc “Hawk” that legendary motorcycle tuner Hideo “Pop” Yoshimura modified and brought to the Suzuka Circuit in 1964 for an 18-hour endurance race. Along with a couple of his racing buddies and their other entry, a 305cc CB77 “Super Hawk”, they bested the Honda factory team and helped launch serious motorcycle racing in Japan – and ultimately the Yoshimura RD global powerhouse. Pictured second from right is Pop’s son, Fujio. No. 18 was one of the legendary race bikes brought to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 for the Yoshimura Tribute.

If you own an R7 Yamaha and want to lap the competition on Track Days, you can look to Yoshimura RD to provide many of the competition parts you’ll need to be in P1 at the flag. One of the other bikes on display for the Yoshimura Tribute was this YZF-R7 Race Bike. It was developed by Yoshimura RD, piloted by Ari Henning at the 2022 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship, and tested by Blake Davis. Among the Yoshimura parts available in the R7 race kit are an AT2 race series titanium exhaust, steel alloy billet camshafts, a racing airbox, suspension linkage, and an aluminum subframe. You will, however, have to provide your own neon Supergraphics!

One of the many aspects I like about this event is that you are going to be standing right next to some of the best examples of different style motorcycles – from cruisers and touring bikes to sport and adventure bikes. And then there are the racing bikes – classes that include Superbikes, Grand Prix, Motocross, Enduro, Speedway, and Flat Track – to name a few. This drool-worthy, blue-striped Harley-Davidson is a fast and fabulous Flat Tracker.

You know that wide-eyed look American Pickers’ star Mike Wolfe gets when he discovers a vintage American motorcycle in a barn? Yeah, that was my look when I discovered Phil and Wendy Schmidt’s all original, rusty and still running ‘12 Thor 5 on the manicured lawn. This sensational survivor is a single-cylinder, five-horsepower Model W that was sold by Brooklyn, NY, Thor dealer Ben Ruderman on July 27, 1912, for $225. Ben received $155 cash from the buyer, plus a ‘light motorcycle’ trade-in valued at $70!

While the jury is still out on whether an unrestored vintage motorcycle has more value and more appeal than a restored classic, there is no denying that this pampered and polished ‘30 Indian Four Cylinder 402 is a repeat offender head-turner! We can blame owner Mike Lynch of California for entering this beauty in the Antique – 1935 & Earlier Class at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025. Haggerty has tracked the value of good condition 1927-1942 Indian Fours from approximately $45,000 to $220,000.

THE QUAIL MotoFest There’s a French expression that comes to mind whenever I’ve interacted with motorcycling celebrity, Paul d’Orléans: “Je ne sais quoi.” Translated, it means “I don’t know what.” It’s not that I don’t understand him; it’s more about a fascination with his undefinable charm and his vast knowledge of all things two-wheeled and motorized. Or, maybe it’s just the hypnotic appeal of his leopard skin jacket? I don’t know, I just can’t put my finger on it. But I do know he’s always upbeat, always at Quail motorcycle events, and always an ambassador for motorcycles and the people who build ’em, ride ’em, and love ’em. To explore Paul’s je ne sais quoi, check out – https://thevintagent.com/– his online resource for motorcycle history and culture.

Quail Golf Club member Martin Beaulieu lives in Carmel, CA, and didn’t have to travel far to bring his custom bike to THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025. Special Delivery is a one-off ‘62 Panhead Harley-Davidson that was built in 2005 by Hank Young of Young Choppers and Hot Rods of Marietta, GA. Over the years, Young is known for incorporating vintage Ford design elements into his motorcycle designs. Special Delivery incorporates a hand-bent I-beam axle as the frame’s downtube, and a Model T’s front headlight and taillight.

My first bike was a Honda CB500 Four, so it’s just about impossible for me to ignore Honda’s early-1970s ‘Inline Fours’. This perfect ’73 Honda CB750 K3’s restoration was completed just days before The MotoFest by Doug Ventura of Crossroads Cycle in Crows Landing, CA. Delivery of the completed Candy Bacchus Olive Honda to its owner, Steve Benjamin, was made at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025. I think Steve is still smiling from ear to ear!

The Art of the Motorcycle was an immensely popular exhibition held at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 1998. One of the 95 motorcycles featured in its catalog was a burgundy ‘40 Indian Sport Scout. A poster from that exhibition still hangs on my office wall. This museum-quality ‘40 Indian Sport Scout at The Quail MotoFest sports a three-speed side shifter, a 45 cubic-inch Flathead Twin, girder fork, two-into-one exhaust, two-piece rigid frame, and Rider floor boards. If you like it, you are no doubt an Art Lover!

The Salsbury Motor Glide Aero Scooter was brought to market in 1937. It was an immediate hit and became a nationwide fad. For $119.50, you could scoot along on your very own Johnson motor-powered Aero, riding in comfort on a large spring-cushion seat and balloon tires to speeds up to 30 mph! Print ads of the day promised comfort, thrills, and economy, stating that you could “Ride five miles a day with a weekly fuel cost of about ten cents.” This Jade Green Aero was on display in front of the Bonhams tent.

As I wrapped things up at THE QUAIL MotoFest 2025 and turned onto Valley Greens Drive – the entrance and exit road for the event – I quickly realized I missed the “The Other Bike Show”. There were easily another 200-plus cool machines lining this scenic Carmel Valley drive. I asked my ‘digital assistant’ how many registered motorcycles there are in the United States and quickly got this response: “In 2025, there are roughly 8.8 million.” I smiled and replied, “Well, Ride On!”

Words & Photos ©Jim Palam, Solvang, CA https://www.jimpalamphotos.com/

For more information on The Quail MotoFest 2025, please visit https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events/events/motorcycle/2025/event-overview

2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING

Umbrellas and spirits were up and the ‘Rain Gods’ failed to dampen the fun and excitement at the 2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING.

It’s not surprising that folks with a passion for motorcycles are a pretty rugged and optimistic breed. Sure, rain was predicted to start falling at around 10 AM on May 4th, the Saturday that the 14th annual 2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING would kick-start in beautiful Carmel, CA – on the manicured lawns of The Quail Golf Club. And rain it did, throughout most of the day. (The Seeley Polished Bike, right.)

But those rugged bikers and ardent fans still came – with their prepped and polished collector bikes, race bikes, art bikes, prototypes, and unbridled enthusiasm! Those who had them, erected space-frame show tents and invited those without shelter to pull their show bikes alongside theirs. Most of the 1,000 attendees I saw were smiling while sharing stories, tech tips and hot beverages. I had arrived a day early to grab photos and insights during the early arrival’s setup hours – and early again on Saturday morning, show day. By the time the rain began to fall I already had about 6 hours exploring the show field.

Gordon McCall and his hard-working Peninsula Signature Events team had promoted a 14th Gathering that would showcase four featured classes, ten traditional classes, special anniversaries and marques in motorcycling – and ultimately have over 300 bikes on display. With the sketchy weather, that count dropped to around 200 and attendance no doubt took a hit as well. But the fun and enthusiasm were never dampened by the rain. People got wet, but they also got stoked about participating in “The Gathering.” I grabbed shots of some fantastic bikes – like the 500cc ’55 McSquid’s Red Special Velocette featured as our report opener. I also ran into old friends and motorcycling celebrities – and developed new friendships and many more reasons to look forward to the next Gathering. If you haven’t attended yet, make sure it’s on your bucket list. You won’t be disappointed!

David Mathison, Ph.D., M. Div. is a Professor Emeritus at Loyola Marymount University. He’s also a classic motorcycle enthusiast, dog lover, and a consummate gentleman. Our conversation about his beautifully restored ’49 Vincent-HRD Rapide was interrupted often by his faithful four-legged companion White Shadow – who after a few investigatory sniffs of my camera decided I should be lavished with kisses and a sentinel post by my feet!

It was early Saturday morning, as storm clouds began covering the few remaining patches of blue sky, when I spotted eccentric bike builder and assemblage artist Keith Young riding his impossibly long and low Rat Bike onto the show field. His brassy Steampunk creation sports an air suspension and is powered by a Honda 550 Four. Keith returned to The Quail where last year his audacious machine took the Arlen Ness Memorial Award.

In 1969 Honda brought 4 pre-production CB750s to America. That same year 7,414 “Sandcast” CB750s were produced. In 1970 Honda built 650,000 “Diecast” CB750s. But it was 1968 when this bike, the very first CB750 Prototype was shipped to America for three reasons: to excite the U.S. and world market, to conduct a two-day test in the no-speed-limit Nevada desert, and to allow just one motorcycle magazine, Cycle World, to do an in-depth road test feature. And in 2024, Vic World of World Motorcycles completed his authentic to every component and detail restoration of this historic bike… and it took Best of Show at The Quail!

The beating heart within this fabulous metal craft masterpiece is a ’73 Norton 750 with a custom monocoque chassis. This polished metal head-turner is the ’73 Vintage Seeley Racing Chassis Custom and it took The Spirit of The Quail Award at The Gathering. It was fabricated by Evan Wilcox Metal Crafts and is owned by director, bike lover and TV personality Barry Weiss. Some of you may remember Barry from his flamboyant appearances on the hit TV series, Storage Wars.

After studying the details of this low and stretched ’47 Harley Davidson Knucklehead Chopper I believe I have uncovered the design influence for the controversial Tesla Cybertruck’s pyramid profile design. Check out the gas tank! I photographed this Chopper Class Award winner on Friday, before the rains came and while the yellow polishing clothes were still stuffed into the velocity stacks. This wicked chopper is owned by Richard Best.

Jason Mamoa is one of Hollywood’s go-to blockbuster actors. Better-known for his long hair and ripped Superhero body, he is less-known to the general public as an avid motorcycle rider and collector. His patina-rich ‘29 Brough Superior SS680 looks like it may have been used as a submerged prop in Jason’s movie, Aquaman. It was prepared and displayed at The Quail by acclaimed bike builder Max Hazan of Hazan Motoworks who also brought two more of Jason’s ‘Hazan’ bikes to the 14th Gathering. Jason’s ‘38 Hazan Motorworks JAP 1000 (JTOS) took 2nd Place in the Custom/Modified Class.

As the rain continued to saturate the grass at The Quail Golf Club, I continued to explore the display tents. That’s where I met restoration artist Greg Saule from San Diego who was displaying his beautiful ‘26 Moto Guzzi C2V racer. He described how he had intentionally left the crankcase and petrol tank empty for this show, having just finished his restoration. He apparently didn’t account for the combustive power of WD40 and when the judges asked him to crank the motor it fired-up, albeit just for a few seconds. Seems this surprise was enough to fire-up the judges, who awarded the Moto Guzzi the Antique 2nd Place Award.

There’s no doubt that The Quail Motorcycle Gathering is a big deal to bike enthusiasts, but the structure of its stature comes in all sizes. Take Josh Rogers’ ‘46 Vespa V98 for instance. This leaning scooter is The First Vespa! It is powered by a 98cc engine that delivers a whopping 3.2 horsepower at 4,500 rpm. It was produced for two years and yes, it did not have a kick or center stand. On the outer edges and underside of the floor pan a half-oval shaped bumper provided the separation of the scooter from the road. Apparently, the accepted parking technique of the time was to simply lean the scooter against a curb. Josh’s fabulous motor scooter won the Vespa – Decades of Scooter Fun! Award.

Malanca was an Italian moped and small motorcycle manufacturer that was founded in 1956 by Mario Malanca, who started his company building motorcycle parts. This sleek 1971 model is the Competizione that featured a small 50cc motor and the rear-positioned foot pegs that would later be found on the more successful Testa Rossa models. Malanca made its racing debut in 1968 winning six championships in the 50cc and 60cc classes. Mario’s son Marco took over the company in 1978, changed the company name to Malanca Motors SpA and focused production on the 125cc models. The company later struggled in the larger-engined bike market and eventually closed down in 1986.

Since we’re on the topic of small bikes, how about a really small, really cool Indian? I met big Robert Johnson early Saturday morning when a good portion of the show field was still empty. He had just finished placing his very small and very cool ‘69 Indian Mini Bambino in the center of a wide swath of manicured grass. Robert went on to tell me how his very first bike was exactly the same as this 49cc kid’s bike. When he found this one, he just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to make it his.

For me, much of the joy I get from covering motorsports events like The Quail is the time I get to interact with the owners, drivers, mechanics, fabricators and custodians of these marvelous machines. Case in point is good-natured Tom Dressler, who trailered his beautiful ‘92 bimota DB2 all the way from Virginia. This effort was as much an homage to the bike’s previous owner, a close friend of Tom’s, as it is the DB2 itself. This iconic bike sports serial number 00100, a carbureted, 900cc, 4-stroke, 2-valves-per-cylinder 86 horsepower engine, and a full fairing.

Inevitably, transformation happens. If you love Triumph motorcycle engines but you’re seeking a change in your bike’s appearance and performance, you might set your sights and dreams to Tamarit Motorcycles in Spain. Boasting the best team of engine and bike ‘transformers’ on the planet, Tamarit promises to make what you’ve always dreamed of a reality. At the 2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING, I grabbed this close-up of their ‘05 Tamarit Thruxton’s motor. Might this be the ultimate in motorcycle Eye Candy?

One of the sponsor displays at the 2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING this year was Indian Motorcycle. I captured this shot of six shiny Indians lined-up alongside Indian’s merchandise and information tent. Perhaps like me, you’re drawn to the ‘Wall of Death’ Indian Scout. I’d absolutely love to ride this bike – along a scenic canyon road or coastal Highway 1. That ‘Wall of Death’ ride will have to wait!

If there’s a photo in this report that could convey the spirit of this year’s Gathering, it’s this candid shot of three happy participants checking in and getting ready to ride their vintage Bultaco TSS Racers on to the show field. I shot this fairly early on Saturday. The rain was still in the clouds and the enthusiasm was just revving up.

Not to be outdone by the guys, artist, bike fabricator and reluctant motorcycle model Lily Key didn’t just ride her art bike out of a trailer, but left Los Angeles in the wee hours and rode her two-wheeled draconic beast over 350 miles in the damp and dark cold to be a part of the 2024 QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING in Carmel. I encourage you to discover how much a true biker Lily is by checking out https://www.lkmotoart.com/

Lily Key video @ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzoPVEoF9gNpDDqeGQePYzw

And I encourage everyone to get out to the shows and on the road as often as you can. Thanks for riding along with us on this special CarGuyChronicles report!

Words & Photos ©Jim Palam, https://www.jimpalam.com/

For more information about The Quail Motorcycle Gathering and The Peninsula Signature Events, please visit https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events

ZENVO HYPERCARS IN FLORIDA

Following up the global reveal of the Aurora at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, Danish exoticar manufacturer will be marketing ZENVO HYPERCARS IN FLORIDA!

Naples Motorsports CEO and dealer principal Todd Rosenthal immersed himself and his team into the Aurora Tur and Agil, showcasing it to their clients at the Zenvo House. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. With over 20 years of experience in the exotic car industry, Rosenthal is a highly regarded in the automotive industry and the perfect leader to facilitate the brands growth in Florida and surrounding areas.

Already an authorized dealer for Alfa Romeo, Karma, Lotus, Morgan, Rimac and Spyker; Zenvo will sit as one of Naples Motorsports’ halo brands, within its state-of-the-art 15,000 square-foot facility in Naples, FL.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Zenvo Automotive, a company renowned for pushing the boundaries of Hypercar innovation,” said Todd Rosenthal. “The introduction of the Aurora to our discerning clientele was met with immense excitement and enthusiasm at the Zenvo House, reinforcing our belief in the exceptional quality and performance that Zenvo represents. With over two decades of experience in the exotic car industry, we are excited to embark on this journey as Zenvo’s first East Coast dealer.”

“We look forward to hosting a spectacular launch event this Autumn and introducing the Aurora to automotive enthusiasts in Florida and beyond. I would like to extend my gratitude to Zenvo for choosing Naples Motorsports as their trusted partner in Florida. Together, we are poised to create a new era of luxury and performance in the automotive world.”Zenvo’s chief commercial officer and chairman of the board, Jens Sverdrup also commentated on the alignment of two great brands: “Having known and followed Todd and his team at Naples Motorsports for over ten years, they were our number-one choice for a dealer in Florida. Their passion, knowledge, pure enthusiasm, family feel and focus on after-sales are all qualities we share, so it was a natural choice for us”.

Once the cars have completed their tour of Canada, the Zenvo Aurora Agil and Tur will head down to The Bridge at Bridgehampton for their east coast debut on September 23rd. The next stop will be Florida where the cars will head to Naples Motorsports for a dealership launch event expected to be held in November.Hand-built in Præstø, Denmark, the all-new Aurora takes inspiration from Danish design principles, and is powered by a 6.6-Liter flex fuel enabled, quad-turbocharged V12 engine that will produce at least 1,250 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and rev to 9,800 rpm. The Aurora will be fully homologated for global markets and will showcase Zenvo’s exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, all designed in-house. Zenvo Automotive focuses on limited-edition bespoke Hypercars.

For more information about Zenvo Hypercars, please visit https://zenvoautomotive.com/

For more details about ZENVO HYPERCARS IN FLORIDA, check out https://www.naplesmotorsports.com/

THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023

Once again, a great show – with some special surprises – at THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023!

Sometimes you just have to trust that the Motorcycle Gods will smile upon you and that the predicted rain showers wouldn’t materialize over the emerald green show field for THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023 on May 6th at The Quail Lodge & Golf Club in beautiful Carmel Valley, CA.

I arrived extra early and had to wear my motorcycle jacket to keep warm for the first 2 hours. By the 10 AM show time, the heavy cloud cover and nippy temperatures eased into a classic California spring day; the two-wheel treasures on the field began to glisten. There were over 3,000 attendees and 300 vintage and modern motorcycles at this year’s Gathering, presented by Medallia.

One of the first bikes to grab my attention was Craig Rodsmith’s radical Ducati 916 Superbike, top. Sure, the sun reflecting off its polished aluminum monocoque skin was hard to ignore but it was the side-mounted, twin-Weber-topped supercharger that popped my eyes. Craig is a master fabricator who for the past 25 years has been building one-of-a-kind pieces of motorized art – including Hot Rods, Cafe Racers, Bobbers and Choppers.

John Goldman is no stranger to the Winner’s Stage and I wish I had placed a bet around the same time I whispered to John that his very rare (one of three known to exist) Miller Balsamo 200 Carnenata would take Best of Show honors at THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023 – and it did! Miller Balsamo, a historic Italian motorcycle brand, was founded in 1921 in Milano by Ernesto Balsamo and Edgardo Mario Balsamo. Before building their own bikes, they were initially importers of the U.S. brand Excelsior and the British Ariel. The factory closed in 1959.Did I mention there were some special surprises at the Gathering this year? Of course, I did because I wanted to show you one of my favorite WTFs from this prestigious show. It was impossibly long, slammed to the ground, filled with holes, adorned with brassy Steampunk accoutrements and powered by a Honda 550 Four. And, much to my surprise, it fired-up with its eccentric builder Keith Young in the tractor seat and then rolled up onto the Winner’s Stage to take the Arlen Ness Memorial Award!If you’ve ever been to a Vintage Trailer show there’s a good chance that you’ll find a vintage Honda Dream strapped, hooked or parked by one of these camper trailers. Maybe it’s the word Dream that fits so well for a place you’ll eventually lay your head. And then there’s ex- Dick Landy drag racing driver Brad Yuill, who along with his wife and Border Terrier hauled three show-stopping Dreams to the Gathering. It was this beautiful dark blue ’66 CA77 Dream that transported Brad to the Winner’s Stage to accept the 2nd Place trophy in the Japanese Class.Be still my heart; be swift my ride! I can only imagine that one fortunate enough to have this classic ’62 BMW R60/2 W at the ready for adventures, would indubitably have a flutter in the heart and an impossibly wide grin on their face as they secured their helmet and engaged first gear. This beauty is outfitted with a sleek, ’69 Steib S500 side car and hand-crafted leather luggage.The way I look at it is, well, from every possible angle – before I begin to think there are few motorcycle builders on the same plateau as Max Hazan of Hazan Motorworks. He builds one-of-one masterpieces like this ‘20 blown twin-engine for Marco Diaz. The engines are Velocette MACs. Each is a 349-cc air-cooled single cylinder. The custom frame is fabricated from chromoly steel and the supercharger is a positive-displacement Eaton TVS R410. The design sensibility is Hazanesque, i.e., Minimalist-Mad-Mastery.It was the late afternoon on the day before the big show, and I was sneaking as many peeks as possible at the early-entry bikes. I was lost in thought and snapping pictures of an all-original, historically significant ’74 Ducati 750 GT when its owner Scott Somers showed up to finish detailing the bike. I learned that he has been a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast who at this point in his life can also be called a collector. He had his eye on this GT and, with patience and fortitude, he managed to acquire it in Canada and have it shipped to the States. If you think Scott also looks deep in thought, that’s not so. He’s in an endless ingestion of happiness – and beware – ownership of a two-wheel gem like this can do that to you!Stare into this wheel. You are getting sleepy. Ahh, but don’t fall asleep because you will soon be riding this hypnotic Roland Sands Design ‘10 Harley Davidson 883 Sportster through the Carmel Valley. When I snap my finger, you will meet Jason Casper who brought this bike and a truckload more to the Gathering from his impressive Roland Sands Design private collection. Thanks for putting us under a wicked motorcycle spell Jason!Another day-before-the-gathering pleasure I had was meeting Mark and Brandon Smith who brought their “just off the assembly-line” ‘64 Triumph TR6SC to the Gathering on Friday afternoon. The condition of this rare and early TR6SC is perfect. It looks like the bike you would have drooled-over in a showroom back in 1964. On show day, Brandon rode this classic up onto the Winner’s Stage to receive the British 2nd Place award. His dad Mark was no doubt smiling as he so easily does. Congratulations gentlemen!When you’re on the show field at the Gathering you’ll often hear a bike revving its motor to please the crowd or impress the judges. The Luna Racer from TARFORM electric motorcycles has an audio signature unlike any other. It’s a futuristic attention-getter created by amplifying the electromagnetic waves from the motor. But it’s not just the sound of the Luna Racer that’s appealing. Its design is a revival of the classic Cafe Racer style from the 1970s, with a heavy pinch of “fast and futuristic” carefully integrated into the esthetic. To learn more about this Made-in-Brooklyn marvel go to https://www.tarform.com/When I spotted these bikes from a distance, I thought Confederates! Founded in the 1990s and known for building fast, loud and expensive motorcycles, Confederate Motorcycles went through a metamorphosis in 2017 when founder Matthew Chambers announced they would change the name to Curtiss Motorcycles and only build electric motorcycles. Around 2020, the petrol-burner contingent of the company decided to relaunch as Combat Motors – and that’s the trifecta pictured here. From front to back is the X132 Hellcat, the Combat Wraith and the P51 Fighter.Another big surprise at THE QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING 2023 was this ‘37 Mercier Moto Chenille. It’s a 350cc JAP engine-powered, track-driven hill-climber prototype conceived by Adrien Mercier, a Swiss inventor who during the 1930s was building small mopeds in France. In 1937 after the French military tested the Chenille (the French word for caterpillar), it was deemed too impractical and unwieldy. Only five were ever built.When I previewed this photo montage on my Facebook page a friend commented “What were you thinking?” I jested a reply saying “Apparently, I wasn’t.” Truth be told, when I met Tim Cunha co-owner of the Salt Flats motorcycle streamliner on Friday, he asked if I’d like to slip into the Costella-Cunha Nebulous Theorem VIII on show day. I enthusiastically accepted his invitation and could not stop thinking about my upcoming cockpit inspection. This motorcycle engine powered land speed vehicle holds over 20 world records set at Bonneville and El Mirage. For the record: The fit is extra tight and I needed a helping hand to get out!

For more information about The Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2023,
please visit https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events/events/motorcycle

12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING

We asked CGC West Coast contributor Jim Palam to scoot up to the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, CA and bring back a special two-wheel report for the 12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING, the return of two-wheel splendor to the grass of Carmel Valley. Mission accomplished!

It was Friday-the-13th when I drove past Valhalla Drive in Solvang. I was on my way North to cover the 12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING in Carmel, after the show was put on-hold for a two-year hiatus thanks to Covid. For a moment I couldn’t escape the irony that according to folklore, Valhalla was where the 13 Norse gods were having a death-arrow dinner party and the superstition of Friday-the-13th originated.

This harbinger of bad luck quickly faded when I reached Carmel Valley Road, turned into the bucolic setting of the Quail Lodge and headed onto the manicured show area where they were beginning to set up for Saturday’s much anticipated event. I thought how good my fortunes actually were as I watched some of the best bikes in motorcycling history being carefully rolled off their trailers and moved onto the beautiful show field. This was going to be special.

By noon on Saturday some 3,200 motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world had gathered to enjoy The Quail’s events – which included the display of 250 iconic motorcycles from the last 100 years, appearances by icons of motorcycling history and design, vendor tents, a silent auction – and tasty offerings of unique foods and beverages. Judged motorcycle classes included British, Italian, Other European, Japanese, Competition On-Road, Competition Off-Road, Antique, Custom/Modified and Choppers.

Special thanks as always to Gordon McCall, Director of Motorsports for The Peninsula Signature Events, the hard-working event crews, presenter GEICO Motorcycle – and of course all the owners, builders and restoration experts who put endless hours and resources into making The Quail Motorcycle Gathering one of the best, two-wheel show events in the world. I’m already looking forward to 2023!

Mat Hazan ‘s stiletto-shape, custom ‘51 Vincent Rapide took not only the “Best of Show” honors, but also the “Design & Style” award. Now many would argue that the Rapide – or any Vincent for that matter – is already a fully-realized and strikingly-beautiful motorcycle, and that altering it in any way is sacrilegious. But Mat’s fabrication skills and customization visions are quite possibly heaven-sent and arguably beyond reproach.

This spectacular ‘15 Henderson “Long Tank” may look like a stretch of the imagination, but it was actually shortened six inches during its restoration. In its unmolested configuration this Henderson would have had a 65-inch (axle-to-axle) wheelbase. I was lucky to grab photos of this Machine Age classic on set-up day, because it didn’t take long for the Henderson to fade from view thanks to an ever-present wall of admires on show day. The Long Tank was on the judges short list, as it earned 2nd Place honors in the Antique class.

The ‘06 Ducati Fuse from Revival Cycles of Austin Texas and designer Ed Boyd burned its way into the hearts of the judges, winning AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Heritage Award. The Fuse started as a Ducati Monster with an 1,100cc motor. There are few parts, if any, that weren’t custom made by the artisans at Revival. I regret not dragging a ladder along to grab a bird’s eye view of this tapered red rocket. It’s from above that its unique shape truly astounds.

There was intense competition in the Japanese Class as there was an impressive turnout from the Honda collectors and enthusiasts – in addition to a strong showing of Suzukis, Kawasakis and Yamahas. Perhaps it was because my very first motorcycle was a ’73 inline-four CB500 that this ’82 Honda CBX Super Sport from Scott Steel’s collection got my heart pumping and my camera clicking. With six cylinders, six carburetors, 24 valves, two overhead camshafts, 100 horsepower and two upswept-3-stacks of chromed exhausts blasting chasers from behind, the CBX in its 1982 configuration was an unfortunately short-lived and pricey Sport-Touring experiment. It sold for $5,600 before taxes and fees.

Now this is BIG! Originally presented in 1961 as an attraction at Honda’s Tama Tech amusement park in Hino, Japan, this tiny bike quickly garnered praise and press – so in 1963 Honda began mass production of a street-legal Honda CZ100 Mark I Minibike. It was outfitted with a 49cc motor, a 3-speed semi-automatic transmission, 5 inch wheels, a white and chrome tank and bright red frame. The CZ100 was only available in European and Asian countries. Thanks to Joe Carrillo for bringing this rare icon to The Quail.

It’s been over ten years now since ARCH Motorcycle Company co-founders Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger took their shared dream of building a sleek and powerful bespoke motorcycle of unbeatable quality from idle chatter to high-revving, head-snappin’ actuality. I had the pleasure of spending a little time with Gard– pictured here on the right – and his company’s Client & Communication Manager Jordan Mastagni as they indulged my set-up day questions and showed me two of the company’s latest offerings. My ARCH pick for The Quail show was the bike in front of them – the ARCH 1s high-performance Sport Cruiser. The fit and finish of each ARCH motorcycle is carefully tailored to its owner.

Speaking of partnerships, in the world of motorcycle collecting and show circuit competition it is more often than not, a partnership of a discerning and motivated collector with a master level restoration shop or craftsman. Leather-clad collector Eric Meithke is pictured here with Tony Digati, his – and I’m quoting Eric – “Michelangelo of Motorcycle Restoration.” Before them is just one of their many projects, a spectacular ‘68 Suzuki Cobra 500. It features a duplex cradle frame, has a 492-cc two-stroke twin, does the quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds and has a top speed of 105 miles per hour!

Each time I’ve seen Clay Baker at The Quail Motorsports Gathering he’s brought with him impeccable, show-winning Honda motorcycles – like this very special ‘67 450D Super Sport. There are only 35 known 450 “D” bikes in the 450D registry. This one was made even more rare by the orange paint “D-Kit” conversion. The 53-part kit was a dealer option to help sell off their 4-speed black bombers by converting them to 450 Scramblers with components like a revised gas tank and side covers, braced handlebars, shorter seat, Scrambler exhausts and bright colors.

Aesthetics has always played an important role in the marketing and sales of motorcycles. When Honda executives took notice of the bizarre colors and styles of the psychedelic era, they figured they could boost their American and European market sales by offering special paint kits to their dealers. Swirling paint for Honda tanks and side covers were offered as kits under the name Flying Dragon. This close-up of Steve Adler’s pristine ’73 Honda CL350 K5 Flying Dragon shows the gold and purple color scheme, one of three different combos available.

There’s always a point when I’m covering motorsports shows that I either want to jump in or on the machine I’m photographing to see what she can do. That was my first inclination when I spotted this limited-edition Diavel 1260 Lamborghini Ducati. One of only 630 units produced in 2021, this Diavel represents a fusion of Italian design and performance excellence. It’s chiseled, fighter jet lines are inspired by the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37. The Diavel’s thoroughbred sports engine produces 157 horsepower and 95 pound-feet of torque. It has a dry weight of 485 pounds and a 2021 price tag of $31,995.

Crocker Motorcycles were manufactured in Los Angeles from 1936 through 1942, at which point the plant was reconfigured to support the war effort and motorcycle production ceased. During that short period of time less than 100 Crockers were produced. Back in those days a Crocker had a top speed of 140 mph. This rare ‘39 “Small Tank” Crocker is from Mike Madden’s collection. Its 61 cubic inch motor produced about 50% more horsepower than the Harleys and Indians of the era. In fact, they were faster than almost every production automobile on the road in the 1930s!

This is one of the reasons I love hanging out with car and motorcycle enthusiasts: they are passionate about their vehicles, they are skilled, and they are often lovers of art. When Ron Wilcox replaced the ‘85 Yamaha RZV500R engine in his project bike he didn’t just hide it away in a dark storage area, he built a sturdy tripod for it so it could be displayed in all its “Heart of the Beast” artistic glory. Thanks for hefting this art to The Quail, Ron!

It pleases me to no end that there is still a Chopper class at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering. I’m from the Easy Rider era and most bikes I saw on the streets and highways back then were home-garage-fabricated Harley Bobbers and Choppers. If there was one bike on the field at The Quail that could transport me back to the Harley Heydays it would be Big Danny Marquis’ drop-dead gorgeous ’37 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. Every inch of this bike is perfection.

That it took 1st Place in the British Bike class is really no surprise, because Phil Lane’s ‘72 Dunstall Norton 810 MK 2 is an icon. In 1972 it was hailed as the fastest standard motorcycle ever produced and that’s the year Phil bought this bike. Dunstall Nortons were designed and built by Paul Dunstall, a specialist tuner with a knack for building fast, race-winning motorcycles. Dunstall also built BSAs and Triumphs, and would later move on to Japanese marques before leaving the motorcycle world for a career in property development.

Gard Hollinger of ARCH Motorcycles checks out some of the tantalizing detail in Brian Fuller’s ‘51 Fuller-Vincent Black Flash. This bike received the Art Center Award at The Quail in the Custom class. As some of you know, Brian Fuller has been appearing on television for years now on car shows where his assured demeanor matches his skills in automobile and motorcycle building and fabrication. He currently appears on MotorTrend TV’s show Car Fix with co-host Jeremy Bumpas. To see more of Brian’s fabrication magic, visit his website at https://fullermoto.com/

Allan Christie’s sublime ‘14 Yale 37 took 1st Place in the Antique class at the 12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING. This award was presented by Bonhams. Yale motorcycles were manufactured by the Consolidated Manufacturing Company of Toledo, OH. They had acquired the rights to the California motorcycle which was the first internal combustion vehicle to cross the American continent in 1903. The Yale 37 sported a V2, four-stroke 1000-cc motor capable of propelling this Sport bike to a top speed of 71.5 mph.

I wanted to end my coverage of the 12TH ANNUAL QUAIL MOTORCYCLE GATHERING where it all began – with this simple image of this simply wonderful Bultaco that was the first photo I took on the set-up day. The crowds and celebrities had yet to arrive and the show field was almost bare, but most certainly beckoning. There was nobody polishing or prepping this bike, nobody guarding it. It was all I would have needed to make an escape – from the daily routines and our complicated world. It’s estimated that there are over 200 million motorcycles, mopeds and scooters on our planet right now. Perhaps I’m not the only one looking to escape!

For more information about The Quail Motorcycle Gathering and other Peninsula Signature Events, please visit https://www.peninsula.com/en/signature-events/events/motorcycle