This 1915 Harley-Davidson board tracker sold for $99,000 at Mecum’s Monterey auction.
Once a year in mid-August, the adjoining coastal towns of Monterey and Carmel, California, become ground zero for gearheads. Most people refer to it as Pebble Beach or the Pebble Beach Concours, which is a one-day event on Sunday. In reality, Monterey Car Week lasts 10 days. Primarily a car event, it is common to see motorcycles at numerous shows and around town. The Monterey Historics feature vintage racing cars, and quite often you will see a Brough Superior, a Honda CB92 or even a Crocker in the pits.
On Wednesday night a traditional kickoff party is held at the Monterey Jet Center. Gordon McCall and his wife, Molly, have been hosting The Motorworks Revival for 27 years. Gordon is an avid motorcyclist, and you can always count on some custom and/or famous motorcycles being mixed in the fold and featured at the party.
Wayne Rainey’s GP Yamaha was on display during the Wednesday night Motorworks Revival kickoff party.
There are no shows on Thursday, but plenty to see at the auction previews. A 1952 Vincent Black Shadow was sold at the Mecum sale for $101,750 including buyer’s premium, while a 1915 Harley-Davidson board tracker brought just shy of $100,000, selling for $99,000. Other interesting offerings include a 1983 Benelli Sei that was the property of the late Bluesman and Rocker J. Geils, although it failed to sell at $17,000, and the high bid for a 1908 Harley-Davidson “strap tank” replica was $85,000. Over at the Gooding sale, Steve McQueen’s old 1931 Brough Superior SS80 sold for $88,000, and a 1957 Ducati double overhead cam 125 GP sold for $93,500.
In May, the Quail Lodge hosts The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, and in August they host the equally entertaining Quail Motorsports Gathering, which has a motorcycle class along with many cars of distinction. The Concorso Italiano at the Black Horse Gold Course celebrates Italian Vehicles, and it’s considered a cardinal sin not to have motorcycles when you celebrate Italian machines. Most Italians began on motorcycles, hence their healthy respect for them. For years, Concorso had a special spot for motorcyclists to stow their gear.
There are other shows featuring motorcycles along with cars, so many that you can’t get to them all. What a dilemma to have! Next year’s events are Aug. 18-26, 2019.
A pair of ZEUS motorcycles at the Motorworks Revival — the wave of the future?
A 1949 Harley-Davidson WR was presented at the Motorworks Revival as a Joe Leonard tribute.
This highly modified Moto Guzzi on display at the Motorworks Revival ticked all of the boxes.
1947 Indian Chief came from Delhi, India. It won first place in the motorcycle class at the Quail Motorsports Gathering.
The owner of this 1955 MV Agusta was admonished by judges at the Concorso Italiano to “never restore it!”
1952 Vincent Black Shadow sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction for $101,750.
Ex-Steve McQueen 1931 Brough Superior SS80 sold for $88,000 at the Gooding auction.