So why a California branch of the 59 Club of England?  Well after being a member of the 59 Club for many years, I, along with friends from Los Angeles and San Diego who are also members, noticed a disparity that we felt needed to be addressed, there was no unified 59 Club representation in Southern California for members to belong to. So began the yearlong email inquiries to London about creating a new section, and having their authorization, guidance and blessings to do so.  After many, many months of communication we were given the green light to move forward with this new American section, we first created a Facebook page for current members and supporters with plans for an official website to come later. Secondly we sought approval from the Ton-Up/Rockers community in England who needed to know we were doing this with respect and the strictest adherence to British 59 Club customs and traditions. This was not going to be a rip-off of the name or a mockery of 50 years of British motorcycle culture, we wanted to do it right; we eventually got a nod of approval from a large number of Rockers new and old from England. And here we are now 4 years later with new members in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Orange County, and San Diego; a gathering site for Southern California members who were already in the club, and a new website to respectfully promote the original 1950s/1960s British motorcycle subculture here in So Cal.

Personally, having spent time in England and Europe, and being a biker for the better half of my adult life, as well as being a Rocker for over a decade, I would like to dedicate this website to my brother and sister Rockers in England, Australia, Europe and the very, very few of us that exist here in the States. I’m proud to be a Rocker and a member of the 59 Club of England. I want to thank some important people in the Rocker/59 Club community for all their support over the last 4 years; Larry Fletcher of 59 Club – Chicago, Shadow from 59 Club – Australia, and friends from England Heather and her husband Max from the former original 59 Club – Italian Section. I also want to thank the Council of Management in London, specifically Sandra Hall, for their blessings and support of this new American section.  Lastly, I want to dedicate this new section to the growing Café Racer scene here in the U.S. and to the hundreds of American bikers in Southern California that choose to ride vintage or classic British motorcycles.  So ride with the wind at your back and the warm sun on your face, we’ll be riding up the North Circular to the Ace Café, in spirit at least.

President,

California Section ~ 59 Club of England

The California arm of the 59 Club carries on the original club ideology and passion for vintage motorcycles like BSA, Norton, Triumph, AJS, Matchless, Royal Enfield, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, BMW, and Café Racers from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki.  Our members come from all walks of life; blue-collar and white-collar, male and female.  Most members are in their 30s or 40s who’ve been riding for a long time, some are educated professionals, and some have families, most of us ride on the weekends, some of us ride every day.  Overall the club has a very diverse mix of people and backgrounds, but we all have one thing in common, riding vintage or classic British, European or Japanese bikes and café racers.

As an officially recognized section with card-carrying members all over Southern California we keep true to club traditions; therefore we have no club officers, no politics, very few rules, and we have zero tolerance for personal drama, racist or sexist attitudes, drug use or criminal activity. You don’t have to be a Greaser or love Rockabilly to join our section, but you do have to own, ride and maintain a bike that reflects our club philosophy, you have to understand our club history, and hopefully feel a kinship with what we represent.  We also support other clubs with similar passions.

Overall we want to keep our club and our sections focused on meeting up at out-of-the-way locales, fun rides, camaraderie and sharing a few rounds of beers with your mates.  We ride as a group, and often with other Southern California-based clubs.  We attend music & bike events, weekenders, and basically enjoy the biker lifestyle as the original Ton-Up boys and Rockers did in 1950s and 1960s Great Britain.  And where ‘cracking the ton’ was a customary rite of passage in England, it is too a rite of initiation for the California arm of the legendary 59 Club, among other traditions such as jukebox ‘record racing’ between pubs and diners.

With 59 Club Sections in the Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, and Orange County areas, there are always major bike events to attend, and there are numerous like-minded bike clubs to ride with.  We attend the annual Mods vs Rockers rides in San Diego and Los Angeles, the annual Hansen Dam ride here in L.A., the annual Venice rides, and numerous other bike events in Bakersfield and Orange Co.  As a club we try to enjoy all that Southern California has to offer by way of winding mountain roads in the east, beautiful coastal rides north, far away cafes and restaurants, long freeway excursions away from traffic and city congestion,… or sometimes we just ride down to the local pub for a pint or two.  Come join us, all are welcome.  Cheers mates

President,

California Section ~ 59 Club of England