HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2024

Well, here we are already, it’s 10am and Jenn is getting the turkey ready to put in the oven, I love this time of year and enjoy having the day off with the Macy’s parade on the TV and the smell of stuffing and gravy being made etc.  I am always Thankful at this time as it really is time to stop and reflect to how lucky we are to live in this great country and enjoy life to its fullest.

I would like to thank ALL of my customers for their orders and of course friendship, having a Motorcycle fraternity is something I will always cherish and I really do enjoy helping people create their own motorcycles and supply as many parts as I can, at affordable prices. So thank you all for a great year and of course, more to come in the next year ahead of us.

Enjoy this day as much as you can, as the weather cools down, you may be spending more time in that warm Garage shed or Barn?  Looking forward to seeing what you build in 2025 and hopefully will see a few photos of the finished creation?

Happy Thanksgiving and many thanks for all your orders, calls and emails, I am always here to help and see that you get the best part and value for your two wheeled machine.

 

We shall probably watch a movie later, I love Steve McQueen in the great escape.

Heading to El Mirage Dry Lake for the weekend to watch the Racing

As many of you know, I have always liked anything fast but when there could be a world record at stake, then my eyes and ears are wide open, so this weekend, Jennifer and I will load up the truck and take the 2 hour jaunt up to the desert and to El Mirage Dry lake to watch the SCTA sanctioned races that’s held to close this years racing event.

This year I have way too much on to bring a Motorcycle out here but it was Jennifer’s idea to come out and camp,watch the Motorcycles and Hot Rods run as well as listen to the Coyotes howls and the stars sparkle out in the cold desert. Come on out and look us up as we always park up and camp out at Mid course.

 

El Mirage dry lake bed has been home to Land Speed Racing (LSR) for more than half a century. It is located just 30 miles east of a growing high desert community known as the Antelope Valley. Back when Land Speed Racing was young, a group of men that had been racing on the dry lakes for several years, decided to incorporate and create a new racing organization which would enforce safety procedures and promote the sport. Hence the birth of the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA).

​All of the various club members, SCTA board members, and all other event workers volunteer their time and energy to the benefit of the sport. Our events are wonderful for families and friends to join together for fun and the excitement that always follows Land Speed Racing.There are four (4) one-day races per year, June/July/Sep/Oct and (2) two-day races in May/November. Vehicle inspections begin on the day prior to the race (Friday/Saturday) and the racing begins early Saturday/Sunday morning. The race day starts with a drivers meeting, patrol meeting, announcements, and national anthem. The duration of the race usually lasts as long as the weather and course conditions hold up. All drivers and crew members are allowed in the starting line area with a signed insurance form and wrist tag. Spectators are required to stay behind the barricades, where they will have an excellent, but safe view of the operational area.Vehicles are lined up for the starting line according to their current season points standing.

All entries must be a member of one of the clubs within the Southern California Timing Association. But – there is a “Guest” option to race on the course for “Time Only”. All drivers MUST be licensed for the speed at which they will be racing.

​Overnight camping is always welcome on the lake bed with a few simple rules. No open fires, no waste dumping, and if you bring it in, you take it home. Speed and helmet regulations exist while on the lake bed and are strictly enforced. During the summer months it can get very hot, so shade is a must as well as sun screen and plenty of water. There is usually a food vendor, and the SCTA has a sales trailer for all the racing goodies. Racing on a dry lakebed can be very dirty and windy, so casual clothing is advised. All race information for the event is announced on a loud speaker and also broadcast on an FM frequency (88.7) for all spectators to hear while at the lakebed.As of 1996, the SCTA decided to return to one of the original sites which hosted many LSR race events until WWII.

 

I’m still a Pencil and Paper designer but todays graphic Artists are pretty cool

I have always doodled since I was a youngster, I drew Motorcycles on anything to be honest, be it a Napkin on the table, the school folder or on an opened up chewing gum wrapper.

But todays graphic artists are on another planet, and Garinca Bali from Indonesia is no exception, I came across this Royal Enfield Custom he designed for a competition, and even though I have no idea how the heck that you do something like this, I admire the bloke, what a great skill.

Just thought that I would share today.

Always loved Solid Works etc but this is Art Station and boy you can do all sorts of creations with it.

Clever people that I have always admired, making visual and crisp creations from someone like me who give them a chewing gum wrapper sketch.

I think life would of been very different for me if we had this sort of software at school, but when i was at school all we had was a microfiche LOL!

So, if you are learning this Modern art of designing on a Computer, good on you, I love seeing stuff like this and hope someone can draw up a sketch of mine sometime so i can share it with others on the INTERWEB!

A New Era is now here but, we shall always be riding our Motorcycles, no matter what is thrown at us!

CORONA DIARIES 2020 from the  deep warm depths of La Mirada. California

August is now out the window, on its toes and halfway down the road, thanking god that his part of 2020 is now in the can and hopefully the next time August comes around, we might be able to life a more normal lifestyle.  I mean, the one we have now sucks like a new Dyson and I will be glad when we can count down the 2020 timer on December 31st approaching midnight.

Things here have been quite crazy work wise, as I have exhaust orders up the Ying Yang and many daily custom parts flying out as soon as I make them, which tells me that people are at home building and creating their own unique two wheeled machines and I am super stoked to see that you are putting all your frustrations and down time to great use and at the end of your build, you would of created your own transportation and can enjoy 2021 way better than this year.

So today i thought I would put some vidoes on my Blog to help your day and week for that fact, go by a little easier.

And for the next segment of two wheeled entertainment.
Life in the megalopolis can grind down even the most badass individual. When the city rubs Aki the wrong way one too many times, she hustles her way onto some sweet retro custom motorcycles and gets gone… Tokyo Gone.

Next up is the amazing Jody Millhouse of Thornton Hundred motorcycles, which is based in good old Blighty, over in Milton Keynes, home of the Concrete Cows.

Thornton Hundred Motorcycles work using the latest in CAD design and CAM manufacturing technology to create truly unique designs. They are constantly re-investing and with every success comes fresh investment into new products and manufacturing techniques. They are dedicated to creating a relaxed and personal buying experience from our workshop that is based just outside of Milton Keynes, near Junction 15 just off the M1. They are also committed to delivering exceptional customer service, responding to all enquiries in a timely manner, inside and outside of working hours.

Now, check out just one build of a Brand new 2020 Triumph Bobber, as Jody takes a new ride apart and transforms it into what I would call a “Fat Attack” and creates a beast of a machine that has Cad Custom parts, hand made stainless exhaust and Custom Lower trees, I loved the clip ons that use a snap ring, very Novel. May not be your Cup of Tea but wanted to share his video as he creates some awesome works of moving art. You will have to put up with the odd commercial in between the build but its worth the look at the quality that Jody is known for.

Paignton Sea Front weekly Bike show by BMAD back home where I lived for a while and shows still going.

Well, back in my old seaside town where I resided for a few years in the south of the country, started a great Motorcycle fraternity up called BMAD, (Bikers, Make A Difference).

First founded By Kelvin and Jane Halloran in 2003, this event and meetings have continued to grow and function as a very successful meeting in Paignton Seafront, attracting many of the public to come and look at these great two wheeled machines and also the main objective is that it raises money to help sick, disabled and disadvantaged children, also other worthy causes and charities within the TQ postcode area.


Funds are raised by hosting a three day festival on Paignton Esplanade over the May Day Bank Holiday (fri-sun), this includes live music, traders and of course bikes, Trikes and scooters!
We host 18 bike nights also on the Esplanade, these take place every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm from the beginning of June through to the end of September, we are fully supported by bikers who make a donation on the gate for themselves and a pillion if applicable. Collection buckets are available for pedestrians to donate should they wish.

 


All monies raised by BMAD are used for charitable causes and all volunteers are unpaid.

General Information
We hold bike nights every Wednesday evening between the start of June and the end of September. Bikers donate £1:00 per person at the gate to park on the Esplanade and enjoy our bike night event.

In addition we hold a Bike Festival over the first May Bank Holiday weekend (fri-sun) and I have been to that a few years ago when I took a trip home as our MUM was dying from Cancer, that place was so cool, people remembered me from 30 years ago and it was like I had never left the Torbay area.

This bike meeting is always popular come rain or shine, the time I went , the weather was blowing hard, the air was colder than an Eskimo’s fridge and the H2o was starting to get stronger, but- everyone just enjoyed their-selves and rightly so, you cant let weather stop you from enjoying what you have a passion for.
What I love about it is that there is Old and New, so like Forrest Gump saying that life is like a Box of chocolates, Paignton sea front BMAD show is the same, as you just never know what you are going to get and as we look here a Cool Kawasaki 400 and the ring and ding ding of the RD400 and in restored condition, I can almost smell the Castrol R from here in California.
Road bikes, Classics and Customs, like this Bobber, there is always something for everyone and no attitudes either, a bang on meet up that others should learn from to be honest.
Mission
Our mission is to raise funds for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children within the TQ postcode area, to support local charities and other worthy causes.
This show is maybe 5 minutes walk from my old apartment and I used to love to walk along the seafront, buy a bag of fish and chips ans check all the bikes out along Paignton green.
Like I said, there is something for everyone, even this Lambretta got plenty of attention, mind you, many will not know what this model is, unless you are into Hair dryer Motors.
Good ole Motor Morini with Megaphones, as a teenager I loved to hear the sound of these V twins belting a long with their distinct roar.
So, a section for the Scooters were available, making this meet up a super friendly event and some rare ones at that.
The good Old 500. I had one of these in Blue, my first BIG bike, I traded it for a SL125 Honda and Ran a muck around East Anglia on it for a long time, those expansion chambers still ringing in my ears today!
Perfect pre unit that I would love to own too, hats off to the fella for bringing such a tasty treat along to this event, see if you can make the next one?
The meet up on the seafront is July 17th at 6pm Paignton seafront, hope you can make it and send me some cool pics.

Wishing Everybody a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

Well, it is that time of year already and this time Jennifer and I are taking our first Christmas Vacation, we shall be in Hawaii to enjoy all the Islands and the delights of the sights and sounds of the Pacific as we shall be on a cruise ship. The website will be manned and I can still answer emails etc by phone etc.

Parts will not be shipped until January 3rd i’m afraid as I am away from the shop, but sometimes a Vacation is needed and hope you all understand?

Many thanks from the bottom of my heart for ALL your orders, emails and phone calls, its you that keep me going and I am glad to help you get your machines on the road.

More parts coming in the New year, so stay tuned to the website and I hope to be making more videos on the Daily Blog as well as maybe looking into pod casts etc for your enjoyment and, participation etc.

Enjoy this festive time of year, go out and ride if you can, and if the weather is too bad, stay in and work on that Motorcycle you have in the Garage, shed, back yard, the New year is just around the corner. so enjoy this time and look forward to hearing from you.

I will still be on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter too.  Facebook is Carpys Cafe Racers or Steve Richard Carpenter. Twitter: 750racer Instagram: Carpys_garage

Thanks for everything Folks and have a wonderful time this week.  Aloha and mele kalikimaka

 

Goodwood Festival of Speed Re-Cap

 

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual Hill Climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles held in the grounds of Goodwood House West SussexEngland in late June or early July; the event is scheduled to avoid clashing with the Formula 1 season, enabling fans to see F1 machines as well as cars and motorbikes from motor racing history climb the hill.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed was founded in 1993 by Lord March in order to bring motor racing back to the Goodwood estate — a location steeped in British motor racing history. Shortly after taking over the estate in the early 1990s, Lord March (who later became Duke of Richmond) wanted to bring back motor racing to Goodwood Circuit, but did not have the necessary permit to host a race there. Therefore, he instead hosted it on his own grounds. With a small selection of entrants made up of invited historic vehicles, the first event that took place on Sunday 13 June proved to be a success, taking in a crowd of 25,000 despite a date clash with the 24 hour of Le Mans that year. After the first event’s date clash, Lord March would ensure that the event would never be allowed to clash with either Le Mans or Formula 1 races. In 1994, Saturday was added, making it a weekend event. In 1996, Friday was added, making it a three-day event. In 2010, the moving motor show was added on the Thursday. But for me its the Motorcycles and Classic cars that are worth the time to watch from all parts of the track, great for spectators as you are so close to the action in this West Sussex mecca for racing.

I haven’t been for many years but hope to take Jennifer at some point as that is another tick in the box of places we hope to visit, great to see pics on the internet of friends there and all having a blast, below is some highlights you may like to see?

These people know how rare their cars and bikes are. but when you have a true passion for racing, then no matter how much your machine is worth, they are going flat out.

Old footage of back in the day and what we are into.

Well, I have seen this footage before but cannot remember for the life of me if I have Blogged about it, thats old age catching up you see.

I grew up with Motorcycles and many being just hand me downs or something I have managed to resurrect over time as I simply didn’t have the money back in the 1970’s, I left school in 1978 but in 1972 and 1974 Arthur Scargill put the Coal Miners on strike and again and a  decade later, he led the union through the 1984–85 miners’ strike, a major event in the history of the British labour movement. It turned into a confrontation with the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher in which the miners’ union was heavily suppressed.

Many people were unemployed over 3 million to be exact, and seeing as we only had 50 Million people as the population that was a huge loss in the countries earnings and it was hard to afford anything at all, especially new.

Then we discovered Hire Purchase, the never never as we called it, you can buy something new on tick and just pay for it out of your wages every month, how cool was that.

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But watching this video I realized how lucky I was to have just the piece of crap bike and do my own wrenching to make it stand out from the rest but- apart from that, I wanted to be the fasted bike around and did all I can to squeeze every last possible drop of HP from my machine, no matter if it made the motorcycle regularly break down, you knew your bike and had parts to fix it.

2-Ton-Up-770x472

I can relate to this Ton up crew, they may of been 10 years before me but the working class folk didnt change at all for another couple of decades, now we have a middle class and consider myself to be in that guise but I am not embarrassed at what we didnt have as I was super stoked with what I did have.

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So I wanted to share a few videos with you today to show the good old British spirit and even as it may seem a little suppressed, we made the most of what we had and still do today. And below you will see some News reel that shows what went on at the Bank Holidays in Britain.

Now my Old Man is a Cockney, a bit of a hot head and was a Teddy Boy in the East End of London, Walthemstowe to be exact, a real Cockney as he was Born within the sound of Bow bells.
Now, everyone talks about the fights at Brighton with the Mods and the Rockers, its well documented indeed these days.

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My old man went there once in a blue moon but would prefer to go to the other Beach resorts of Clacton on Sea or Southend on Sea, and that is where many dust ups occurred between Mods and Rockers, many big seaside resorts had these Bank Holiday brawls and many flocked to be part of it as with failing Youth clubs and strict families, Teenagers needed to blow off steam and this is what they did.

1953 Newspapers Clapham Common

Not just them, in the 70’s and 1980’s thats what me and My Brother did too, I’d go to Brighten or up the East coast to Great Yarmouth and Mods and Rockers would get into it there, looking back I am a little embarrassed about it but its my life and my old Mans- And I wont hide the fact that is what went on in my youth, just part of life at that time I suppose.

Also we had Whitsun Holidays just like another bank holiday we would all go to the Sea Side and they were known back then as the Battle on the beaches.

So I wanted just to show a few Videos on here to give you a little understanding of what went on, its all water under the bridge and I have some fantastic mates that were Mods, we all get on but back then we were like 2 opposing football teams.

Plenty here for you to watch and take in and see if you can get your head around this rebellious era that was so much a part of my life.

Some of the videos will show real footage etc and just goes to show how the Young generation were rebelling, when positives and Negatives touch, well, of course you are going to get sparks.

And now we see more and more women riders and I really love it, my girlfriend Jennifer rides and so enjoy seeing her take off down the tarmac.

Lets get more Women on Machines its so much fun, when the two of you do the Ton.

RE

We meet up and go on rides and even have a camp out soon at Joshua tree its going to be fun riding with my Girl.

Jennifer

 

Thanks for reading my Blog today, be safe out there and if you ever want to join us you can check out our rides on meetup.com we have one this Thursday too.

Meet & Greet

Thursday, Jan 11, 2018, 7:00 PM

11 Rockers! Went

Check out this Meetup →

 

Have a great Wednesday and if you want to come check us out at the 59 Club Orange County Section, it will be great to see you.

poster

 

A Few Videos that I like today.

Wednesday already

Well I thought to start the day off right I would add some Videos that I personally like.
Below is the Race Of Gentlemen, I think it may change to Race of Gentle Folk as lots of Girls are getting into this and I applaud that.

Below is a video from New Zealand, plent of mates over there are into the same as I, so thought I would show you this and yes, like back home, Right Hand drive.

Next up is back home a few years ago at the Ace Cafe with Mark Wilsmore.

Below is a day with the froggies, these guys know how to put on a show, check it out.

Have a Great Wednesday and hope this puts you in a great frame of mind to get you through the next few hours.

Peace & grease As Always.

We have a Meet up tomorrow in Fullerton if you are interested.

Always a great place to meet up, swap a few stories, have some food and beverages and have a look at life on 2 wheels, if you can make it out to Fullerton, it will be great to see you, always a fun night and always great Motorcycles turn up.

59 oc meet1

If you are into Motorcycles, the old school style of these machines, and enjoy meeting like minded people, then come along as you are always welcome in our group, we are close knit family style Motorcycle club that enjoys riding to interesting places and like this meet, we like to just hang out and chat to other Guys and Gals that like what we are into.

59 oc meet11

We shall be at Roscoe’s in Fullerton from 6:30pm onward, be great to see you, no hang ups, no attitude just great people. see you there tomorrow.

59 club costume party