Legend Of The Motorcycle
Encyclopedia
The annual Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’Elegance is a competitive event held on a 44-mile (72 km) scenic loop that begins at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, California
and follows the coast down, along, and back up the mountain ridge-top that overlooks the Pacific Ocean
. It is the only world-class concours d’elegance
exclusively for motorcycle
s.
This atypical concours d’elegance
was established to create a competitive event for motorcycles that previously, only had been associated with fine automobiles. It was planned to include exhibits of up to two hundred motorcycles that represent almost a century of motorcycle history and three featured brands—Vincent
, Henderson
, and Excelsior.
Historic motorcycles also will be on display, such as Rollie Free
’s Vincent
HRD Black Lightning, which he rode across Utah
’s Bonneville Salt Flats in September 1948, exceeding 150-miles-per-hour and breaking a decade-old speed record.
A few motorcycles whose significance is rooted in the present and, perhaps in the distant future may turn up in vintage shows and motorcycle museums, also will be showcased at the concours
every year—such as motorcycles built by legendary motorcycle builders who include Japanese minimalist master, Shinya Kimura
, and the noted bike builder, stuntman, and innovator, Indian Larry. In 2008 the founder of the West Coast Choppers
, Jesse James
, showed his Radial Hell aero bike, which is powered by a 7-cylinder Rotec radial aircraft engine. West Coast Choppers unveiled their Airstream Bike at the Legend show, which cost over $300,000 and was made for Airstream
CEO, Bob Wheeler. Ian Barry
at Falcon Motorcycles
also unveiled The Bullet Falcon, at the 2008 concours. It was custom-created for the skateboarder and actor Jason Lee, and won "Best Custom" at the show.
The one-day-event is run by a selection committee made up of vintage motorcycle experts, who scour the world for the best in unique, rare, or accurately-restored running specimens. Over 10,000 entries are submitted for consideration in this concours per year, and finalists are established by the prior autumn.
On average, 6,000 visitors attend the event, including motorcycle luminaries such as Peter Fonda
, the son of Steve McQueen
, Chad McQueen
, Ewan McGregor
, and the famed stuntman and racer, Bud Ekins
.
Auction house Bonhams
& Butterfields holds an annual sale of motorcycles in conjunction with this concours.
Half Moon Bay, California
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, USA. Its population was 11,324 as of the 2010 census. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea....
and follows the coast down, along, and back up the mountain ridge-top that overlooks the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. It is the only world-class concours d’elegance
Concours d'Elegance
A Concours d'Elegance dates back to 17th Century French aristocracy, who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during Summer weekends and holidays...
exclusively for motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s.
This atypical concours d’elegance
Concours d'Elegance
A Concours d'Elegance dates back to 17th Century French aristocracy, who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during Summer weekends and holidays...
was established to create a competitive event for motorcycles that previously, only had been associated with fine automobiles. It was planned to include exhibits of up to two hundred motorcycles that represent almost a century of motorcycle history and three featured brands—Vincent
Vincent Motorcycles
Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. Their 1948 Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle...
, Henderson
Henderson Motorcycle
Henderson produced 4-cylinder motorcycles from 1912 until 1931. They were the largest and fastest motorcycles of their time, and appealed to sport riders and police departments. Police favored them for traffic patrol because they were faster than anything on the roads...
, and Excelsior.
Historic motorcycles also will be on display, such as Rollie Free
Rollie Free
Roland "Rollie" Free was a motorcycle racer best known for breaking the American motorcycle land speed record in 1948 on the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah...
’s Vincent
Vincent Motorcycles
Vincent Motorcycles was a British manufacturer of motorcycles from 1928 to 1955. Their 1948 Black Shadow was at the time the world's fastest production motorcycle...
HRD Black Lightning, which he rode across Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
’s Bonneville Salt Flats in September 1948, exceeding 150-miles-per-hour and breaking a decade-old speed record.
A few motorcycles whose significance is rooted in the present and, perhaps in the distant future may turn up in vintage shows and motorcycle museums, also will be showcased at the concours
Concours d'Elegance
A Concours d'Elegance dates back to 17th Century French aristocracy, who paraded horse-drawn carriages in the parks of Paris during Summer weekends and holidays...
every year—such as motorcycles built by legendary motorcycle builders who include Japanese minimalist master, Shinya Kimura
Shinya kimura
Shinya Kimura is a Japanese born custom bike builder and founder of Zero Engineering and Chabott Engineering, he originated the "zero style" custom bike.-Zero Engineering:...
, and the noted bike builder, stuntman, and innovator, Indian Larry. In 2008 the founder of the West Coast Choppers
West Coast Choppers
West Coast Choppers is a lifestyle brand that began selling screen-printed t-shirts and stickers with the company's Iron cross/Maltese cross logo while founder and "master marketer" Jesse G. James was finishing high school, packaging the accoutrements of the chopper lifestyle long before any...
, Jesse James
Jesse G. James
Jesse Gregory James is an American television personality and CEO of West Coast Choppers, a manufacturer of custom-made motorcycles. James was the host of the reality TV shows Jesse James is a Dead Man on Spike TV and Monster Garage, on the Discovery Channel, and the focus of the documentary...
, showed his Radial Hell aero bike, which is powered by a 7-cylinder Rotec radial aircraft engine. West Coast Choppers unveiled their Airstream Bike at the Legend show, which cost over $300,000 and was made for Airstream
Airstream
Airstream is a brand of luxury recreational vehicle manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio, USA. It is currently a division of Thor Industries. The company, which now employs fewer than 400, is the oldest in the industry. Airstream trailers are easily recognized for their distinctive rounded...
CEO, Bob Wheeler. Ian Barry
Ian Barry
Ian Barry is an award-winning industrial designer, and co-owner of Falcon Motorcycles, with Amaryllis Knight. He plays guitar in the progressive metal band Black Math Horseman.- Career :...
at Falcon Motorcycles
Falcon Motorcycles
Falcon Motorcycles makes custom motorcycles in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 2008 by industrial designer Ian Barry and his partner Amaryllis Knight, and specializes in the design, engineering and fabrication of one of a kind machines, built around the derelict engines of pre- and...
also unveiled The Bullet Falcon, at the 2008 concours. It was custom-created for the skateboarder and actor Jason Lee, and won "Best Custom" at the show.
The one-day-event is run by a selection committee made up of vintage motorcycle experts, who scour the world for the best in unique, rare, or accurately-restored running specimens. Over 10,000 entries are submitted for consideration in this concours per year, and finalists are established by the prior autumn.
On average, 6,000 visitors attend the event, including motorcycle luminaries such as Peter Fonda
Peter Fonda
Peter Henry Fonda is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda...
, the son of Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen
Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen was an American movie actor. He was nicknamed "The King of Cool." His "anti-hero" persona, which he developed at the height of the Vietnam counterculture, made him one of the top box-office draws of the 1960s and 1970s. McQueen received an Academy Award nomination...
, Chad McQueen
Chad McQueen
Chadwick S. "Chad" McQueen is an American actor, film producer, martial artist and race car driver. He was born in Los Angeles, California to actor Steve McQueen and Filipino-born actress Neile Adams.-Personal life:...
, Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
, and the famed stuntman and racer, Bud Ekins
Bud Ekins
Bud Ekins was one of the foremost stuntmen of his generation. Born James Sherwin Ekins in Hollywood, California, he is known to most as the actor who jumped the fence on a disguised Triumph TR6 Trophy 650cc motorcycle in The Great Escape, and who drove the Ford Mustang 390 GT in Bullitt...
.
Auction house Bonhams
Bonhams
Bonhams is a privately owned British auction house founded in 1793. It is the third largest auctioneer after Sotheby's and Christie's, and conducts around 700 auctions per year. It has 700 employees....
& Butterfields holds an annual sale of motorcycles in conjunction with this concours.
External links
- Legend of the Motorcycle International Concours d’Elegance
- Interview with Jared Zaugg (co-founder of the Legend of the Motorcycle)