I attended the Quail motorcycle show in Carmel, CA. The event took place at a beautiful venue featuring numerous unique and rare bikes, as well as notable figures in the motorcycle industry. During the event, I chatted with Wayne Rainey, who signed a hat for my kid, Mark Hoyer, the editor of Cycle World, and Steve Baker. Baker, an esteemed figure in racing road and dirt track TZ750s, shared his experiences. Other attendees included Richard Pollock, Troy Lee, and members of the Yoshimura family. The event was held on a golf course.
Wayne Rainey noticed my Shell racing specialties shirt and shared a story about racing for Shell and receiving his last bike from them before passing. He mentioned that Shell initially provided the bike without a crankshaft, believing he would not ride it. Wayne noted this amusingly. I acknowledged his efforts to support new talent through MotoAmerica and to reintroduce American riders to the MotoGP starting grid. He plans to ride again on a specially equipped bike at the Laguna Seca round of MotoAmerica.
With Mark Hoyer I mentioned his podcast and asked about the status of the XS650 project. He said the bike is running well and he is considering building an AHRMA racer. He is currently sourcing parts and making plans. He confirmed that he visits this site occasionally.
The Quail festival occurs annually, and each Friday, participants can join a 100-mile ride with lunch and dinner through the Carmel Valley, beginning with laps at Laguna Seca. I plan to join the ride next year with the XS.
Regarding the bikes, the show featured many old and unique models, including Vincents, Velosettes, Indians, a Thor, and custom bikes. There was special recognition for Bimota, Yoshimura, and early Honda models. While there was a notable presence of Yamahas, only one XS was displayed, which was surprising. Ducati had limited representation. The program varies each year.
Here are some photos.
Wayne Rainey noticed my Shell racing specialties shirt and shared a story about racing for Shell and receiving his last bike from them before passing. He mentioned that Shell initially provided the bike without a crankshaft, believing he would not ride it. Wayne noted this amusingly. I acknowledged his efforts to support new talent through MotoAmerica and to reintroduce American riders to the MotoGP starting grid. He plans to ride again on a specially equipped bike at the Laguna Seca round of MotoAmerica.
With Mark Hoyer I mentioned his podcast and asked about the status of the XS650 project. He said the bike is running well and he is considering building an AHRMA racer. He is currently sourcing parts and making plans. He confirmed that he visits this site occasionally.
The Quail festival occurs annually, and each Friday, participants can join a 100-mile ride with lunch and dinner through the Carmel Valley, beginning with laps at Laguna Seca. I plan to join the ride next year with the XS.
Regarding the bikes, the show featured many old and unique models, including Vincents, Velosettes, Indians, a Thor, and custom bikes. There was special recognition for Bimota, Yoshimura, and early Honda models. While there was a notable presence of Yamahas, only one XS was displayed, which was surprising. Ducati had limited representation. The program varies each year.
Here are some photos.
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