Nearly 100 Show Entries Highlight the 33rd Annual El Camino Motorcycle Show & Parts Exchange
There was mix of great antique, vintage and classic bikes at this year’s 33rd event…and also mixed emotions… since it was the last of the Bator International El Caminos. But that’s not saying the last of the event itself. More on that later.
While semi-torrential rains last year nearly flooded the upper parking structure at El Camino College in Torrance, the event’s traditional site, this go-around on Saturday, September 20, 2008 was a classic SoCal bright and sunny day reflected in the chrome, polished alloy and nickel gleaming from the rows of bikes, nearly 100, set up for display and judging.
Speaking of judging, this year’s event may well have been the toughest yet for Chief Judge Dave Carleton and his fellow experts thanks to the number of quality restorations hitting the 100 point mark and many more in the 99+ category. The restorations have been fine-tuned each year, motivated by our judging criteria, steadily increasing to a level of quality, dare I say, reaching perfection. And that’s directly related to the fact that 95% of our judges are AMCA certified.
All the bikes were winners, each demonstrating their restorers’ and owners’ dedication to the sport and to keeping history alive and rumbling along. Some of the highlights included the three 100 point bikes of Marvin Perz: 1970 Sonic Weld Triumph and Blair Beck’s 1974 Phantom 125 Ossa, both in the On/Off Road category and Tim Stafford’s 1964 BMW R50 in the Vintage & Classic European category.
Awards for first, second and third places were handed out as well as People’s Choice that went to John Messina and his 1941 Harley EL. The Sponsor’s Choice trophy went to Paul Wheeler and his 1987 Harley FLH while the George & Karla Threedouble Memorial Plate award for Best Restoration went to Richard Phillips and his 1964 BSA Lightning. Topping things off was Best of Show going to the 1923 Harley Sport Twin of Frank Colver.
Taking a look back at the history of the longstanding and popular event, like the song from the Grateful Dead goes…it’s been a long strange road…starting when Glenn Bator of Bator International resurrected the show back in 2000 after it passed from Jim McClure who had run the event some seven years, then into the hands of the L.A. Chapter of the AMCA.
Says Glenn, “After let’s say a major decline, we entered the picture. We strove to run a professional event, and yes, I’m known to run a tight ship and am a bit anal-retentive, so I didn’t brook any shenanigans with an emphasis on respect from all both sides. We put the show back on firm ground, even if atop a parking structure, and it’s been a good run for all involved. I’ve been fortunate to rely on a core of friends both at El Camino and Hanford smoothly including Phil Weiner and Rick Nelson both of whom I’ve known for decades. The Bator International relationship with El Camino College has been a great one and the school administration tells us our annual show has been their favorite event.
“We’d also like to thank the good people at Walnecks Classic Cycle Trader for throwing in their sponsor’s hat for this last go around and for their longtime support and to all of the volunteers and show judges that unselfishly gave their time and energy to make these last eight years a very smooth and well run event. “To sum it up, El Camino was a great time for us and I’m glad it went out with a bang, but now onwards and upward to new adventures as we’re going into producing auctions and teaming up with some other major motorcycle related companies on new endeavors. And finally we’d like to add that we are engaged in discussions with other individuals who may continue to promote the El Camino event. So this is just a transition, hopefully a seamless one where we move from the promoter position to a sponsor position. I still want to have our name on the trophies and line up my bikes up on display and have a presence at the event. Finally, I’ll be able to get out from coordinating the event and walk around like everyone else, kick back with a soda and kick tires and be one of the people enjoying all the great motorcycles and vendors El Camino has always attracted.”
Best Regards to all,
–Glenn & Deni Bator
