2008 Rockers vs. Mods, Dallas

By Jonathan Whitney
Published on February 3, 2009
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A retro Ducati GT1000 (above) fits in perfectly with lots of British iron and even the occasional Honda.
A retro Ducati GT1000 (above) fits in perfectly with lots of British iron and even the occasional Honda.
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On a gray Easter morning, black and chrome clash with suede and tweed. The Rockers and the Mods descend upon the town, 2-stroke scooters screaming like bees; the bikes are booming, thumping singles pounding the road. But this isn’t Brighton, England, and this isn’t the Sixties. It’s Dallas, Texas, and it’s 2008.

Both tribes brave the balmy morning. The Rockers are here, wearing their jeans in their boots, white silk scarves ’round their necks, bandanas over their faces beneath pudding-bowl helmets and sleek, metal-framed goggles. The Mods have shown up, too, in their most modern of dress, wearing suits and ties and fishtail parkas. The gathering started with a Friday night meet and greet, and a midnight ride across town.

Now preparing for their third event (March 20-22, 2009), the Annual Rockers vs. Mods event in Dallas begins bike by bike, scoot by scoot. They come in ones and twos and threes to a parking lot just off the interstate beneath Moto Liberty, the local gear shop. Café racers of all makes find their way out of dusty garages and into the eyes of lookers on. Old Triumphs cut to the bare minimum, BSAs reflecting all in their chromed tanks. A lovely-but-worn Norton sits proudly wearing its silver heart on its sleeve. The scooters are there in full force. Vintage Vespas and Lambrettas rasp through the gears, with worn paint and stickers galore on more than one classic scoot.

The ride begins
At half past one the riders gear up; helmets are cinched and gloves pulled. For those more authentic bikes not blessed with the invention of electric start, many a starting ritual is enacted. Find top dead center, tickle the carbs, 10 Hail Marys, whatever it takes.

Soon, they’re all off, over 60 bikes and scooters, a staggered parade from the past. While modern rides are welcome, those true in spirit look like they’ve made a turn off of the M1 in 1963 and found themselves in the middle of 21st-century Dallas.

The first stop is Harley territory: Rick Fairless’ bar, Strokers Ice House. With a forecast of rain and temps around 50F, big cruisers are few this afternoon. Soon, vintage European metal overruns the motorcycle parking behind the bar.

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