Comments on: Pebble Beach Concours to Feature Motorcyles for First Time http://www.sportscardigest.com/pebble-beach-concours-to-feature-motorcyles-for-first-time/ Sports Car Digest focuses on Classic Car Auctions, Concours d’Elegance, Vintage Car Racing, Road Rallies and other historic automotive events. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:16:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Venselhttp://www.sportscardigest.com/pebble-beach-concours-to-feature-motorcyles-for-first-time/#comment-9280 Michael Vensel Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:19:26 +0000 http://www.sportscardigest.com/?p=4366#comment-9280 What a wonderful surprise to discover that Gunga Din lives! In the 1960's while stationed at F. E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming I became friends with a quirky individual - Tom Pelkey, who purchased Gunga Din from the defunct factory and had it shipped to the base (around 6 or $700 I believe). After uncrating it we fired it up. The incredible sound could be heard a mile away. In spite of the funky tires we couldn't resist riding it and immediately began breaking speed limits on the back roads of the base. Over the following months Tom cleaned it up and allowed me to ride it numerous times. I was undoubtedly the first (and perhaps only)rider in the US to take it to the limit (which at the 6000'+ elevation was an indicated 140 or so) out on US 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie (Oh to be 19 years old and heedless again!). I was in those days riding a 1960 Harley XLCH so it was a special privelege to get a few turns aboard a truly sophisticated V-twin. I still have a B & W snapshot of Gunga Din w/Tom standing next to it. Was he perhaps the guy who began selling off its parts? He owned a Shadow and a production Rapide, as well, although I'm sure he understood the historical value of his newest acquisition. He, however, never seemed to really love riding - just collecting.Anyway Gunga Din was (and is) an amazing motorcycle. I'll never forget the thrill of passing cars at twice the legal speed limit - no silencers, no fairing - nothing but the huge Smiths speedo between me and the crisp high plains air. (The big Smiths I see has disappeared, to be replaced by a standard size clock. Many other parts appear as they do in my snapshot - that's good!)Incidentally, my current bike is a modified 2006 Sportster 1200R - I'm still in love w/motorcycles and big V-twins, in particular, sophisticated or not.Feel free to contact me.Michael Vensel 308 Manfre Rd. Watsonville, CA 95076 831-728-9538 What a wonderful surprise to discover that Gunga Din lives! In the 1960′s while stationed at F. E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, Wyoming I became friends with a quirky individual – Tom Pelkey, who purchased Gunga Din from the defunct factory and had it shipped to the base (around 6 or $700 I believe). After uncrating it we fired it up. The incredible sound could be heard a mile away. In spite of the funky tires we couldn’t resist riding it and immediately began breaking speed limits on the back roads of the base. Over the following months Tom cleaned it up and allowed me to ride it numerous times. I was undoubtedly the first (and perhaps only)rider in the US to take it to the limit (which at the 6000′+ elevation was an indicated 140 or so) out on US 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie (Oh to be 19 years old and heedless again!). I was in those days riding a 1960 Harley XLCH so it was a special privelege to get a few turns aboard a truly sophisticated V-twin. I still have a B & W snapshot of Gunga Din w/Tom standing next to it. Was he perhaps the guy who began selling off its parts? He owned a Shadow and a production Rapide, as well, although I’m sure he understood the historical value of his newest acquisition. He, however, never seemed to really love riding – just collecting.

Anyway Gunga Din was (and is) an amazing motorcycle. I’ll never forget the thrill of passing cars at twice the legal speed limit – no silencers, no fairing – nothing but the huge Smiths speedo between me and the crisp high plains air. (The big Smiths I see has disappeared, to be replaced by a standard size clock. Many other parts appear as they do in my snapshot – that’s good!)

Incidentally, my current bike is a modified 2006 Sportster 1200R – I’m still in love w/motorcycles and big V-twins, in particular, sophisticated or not.

Feel free to contact me.

Michael Vensel
308 Manfre Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
831-728-9538

]]> By: Waynehttp://www.sportscardigest.com/pebble-beach-concours-to-feature-motorcyles-for-first-time/#comment-5347 Wayne Sat, 18 Apr 2009 01:29:31 +0000 http://www.sportscardigest.com/?p=4366#comment-5347 Yeah, when they say "capitalize on growing interest" they mean jump on the band wagon of Legend of the Motorcycle Concours. Sandra Kasky has adamantly said no to motorcycles at Pebble Beach for the last decade until she saw that someone proved there was genuine, international interest and now she wants a piece of the pie. Who are they kidding? I'm all for bikes getting their due but bikes at the Pebble car show will still be a third wheel. Besides, isn't Pebble Beach located on 17 Mile Drive - the road that doesn't allow motorcycles? Enough said. Yeah, when they say “capitalize on growing interest” they mean jump on the band wagon of Legend of the Motorcycle Concours. Sandra Kasky has adamantly said no to motorcycles at Pebble Beach for the last decade until she saw that someone proved there was genuine, international interest and now she wants a piece of the pie. Who are they kidding? I’m all for bikes getting their due but bikes at the Pebble car show will still be a third wheel. Besides, isn’t Pebble Beach located on 17 Mile Drive – the road that doesn’t allow motorcycles? Enough said.

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