Story and photos Paul Garson For $10 you would walk, rather, ride away on a fully restored vintage Honda CB750. But that was only a bit of the red and chrome icing on the cake when bike fans gathered on September 22, 2018 for the 11th running of the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club’s event held where else but Venice, California within wafting distance of the Pacific Ocean and the last few feet of the famous Route 66. After a sunny morning run up the Pacific Coast Highway and back, some 200 bikes and riders streamed into the event parking area soon joined by a sea of other machines riding in from as far away as Arizona to take part in the festivities… bikes on show, bands, food and drink and vendors offering a smorgasbord of products. Here’s a look at some of the outstanding bikes that made their appearance including those entered in the competition as well as those found lurking in the parking area.
ABOVE VanTech 1966 Ducati Monza Junior 160cc. The bevel gear motor was fitted into a 1967 VanTech frame widened to take on the Ducati oil sump. The café racer classic was restored by Holly and Rob Walker. ABOVE RIGHT Bavarian Baggage Supreme – Winner Best European Category. 1966 BMW R60/2 is fitted with TR sidecar all kitted up for long distance traveling in style with owner R. Beaver. BELOW You could also call the 11th VVMC rally a birthday bash for what has been touted as the World’s First Superbike, the venerable Honda CB750 that set seismic waves rolling when first introduced in 1969. For this iteration of the VVMC rally giveaway, Shannon Sweeney of SS Motorcycles orchestrated the ground-up build based around a 1971 motor but keeping as close to original ’69 as possible. Raffle winner was Peter Brigida from Plymouth, MA. Italo-American…sort of. 1970 Aermacchi 350SS road racer was one of several Italian competition bikes favoured by Marc Crocetti. Bikes took four of the top 10 places at the Isle of Man Junior TT from 1968-70. HarleyDavidson, looking for smaller displacement bikes for their line, bought 50% of Aermacchi in 1960.