Bikes, Babes, Barbecue….what better sums up the SoCal Kulture scene. But sometimes you have come up with a whole new menu when the cupboard is bare.
Back in 2007 when they couldn’t find a descent bike party in the area, four Venice Beach vintage bike fans put together the Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club… Shannon Sweeney, Jeff Verges, Hunter Knight and Patrick Dunn-Baker.
Says Shannon, “Here in the Venice area we have a bunch of bike shops but no local activity, so we put this event together so everyone could network. And we did it so that it encompasses all motorcycles, everybody welcome. It’s a chance to meet other creative-minded people, to ride bikes, and have some interesting bike and art community conversation.”
The first event back in 2007 was a great success and so plans were set in motion to schedule more events, the latest and greatest 6th annual rally transpiring this past Saturday September 14, 2013 and the third time at the same location Venice. Spearheading the event was VVMC Brady Walker, a studio recording engineer as well as an event planner as well as a vintage road racing. He spent months dealing with the paper work and cajoling the local officials until a location was squared away, a place usually occupied by Sunday shoppers looking for fresh vegetables, as it were a Farmer’s Market. However on this particular Saturday several thousand spectators drawn to a smorgasbord of tasty vintage machines of types, descriptions and personalities.
In addition to the bike show, spectators were entertained by five bands including the soon to be famous rocknroll phenomenon called Flynt, a group of 14-year olds that rocked the house. The crowds were well fed tasty barbecue and had chances via a raffle to win great prizes provided by the rally sponsors, the proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Fire Department. For $10 you could also take home a beautifully restored 1960s bike, the funds raised helping to pay for the cost of staging the rally and for promoting future VVMC events. The bike competition included Best British, Best American, Best European, Best Café, Best Customs, Best Japanese, Best Race Inspired, Best Custom Exhaust and last but not least Ugliest Bike. Milestone Machine Highlight of the bike show was 1960s dual Triumph engined dragster, once the quickest bike in the world and just recently restored. Bike won Best Race Inspired trophy. This year’s party also saw the largest turn-out of lovely ladies in the pin-up competition vying for the coveted pink sash and title of Miss VVMC 2013.
More info: www.venicevintage.com
Time to XR it Home…See you next year at the 7th Annual Venice Vintage Motorcycle Rally….
Please follow and like us:
