ducati

Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2016

May 24, 2016 By pete

1964 MV Agusta Triple, Virgil Elings

By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Dave Fetherston unless otherwise noted

In my previous article, I interviewed Gordon McCall, the organizer of the motorcycle show held every May since 2009 at the Quail Lodge Resort in Carmel Valley, California. It is generally regarded as the premier motorcycle concours in the country.

One of the emcees at the show is Paul d’Orleans, a well-known motorcycle writer (www.the vintagent@blogspot.com). Paul describes the ambiance of the show better than anyone. “The world of motorcycles has all the ingredients of a good, enriching drama: heroic deeds, political intrigue, design brilliance, cut-throat business practices, quirky characters, national tensions, cultural biases, Eros and Thanatos. When diving into the muck of motorcycle history, we find unexpected riches.” [Read more…] about Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2016

The Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2014

May 28, 2014 By Brandy

'If you can't run with the Big Dogs, get off the road!' A Big Dog with a 1975 Laverda 750 SF2, owned by Jon Martino

By Brandes Elitch
Photos by Petya Elitch

“The world of motorcycles has all the ingredients of a good enriching drama: heroic deeds, political intrigue, design brilliance, cut-throat business practices, quirky characters, national tensions, cultural biases, eros, and thanatos.” – Paul d’Orleans

In previous columns, I’ve covered the Monterey Historics, the week long series of racing, shows, club events, and exhibitions culminating with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. I’ve covered an event called “The Legends of the Motorcycle,” held for 3 years at the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay, CA. In May, I attended for the first time The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, the sixth iteration of this event, which seems to have stepped into the void when the Legends event was unfortunately discontinued. There are many concours events for the automobile, but to my knowledge this is the only world-class motorcycle event. Perhaps someday someone somewhere might try to duplicate it. However, it would be tough to beat the ambiance of the Monterey Peninsula, in this case a luxury resort with a championship golf course set on 850 acres in Carmel Valley. [Read more…] about The Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2014

Quail on Two

May 19, 2009 By Lynch

Tom Stephens’ Ducati MH900e won the Design and Style Award. It has a Ducati carbon fiber accessory body that mimics the contours of the original. Ducati made 2000 of these Pierre Terblanche designs in 2001/2. All were sold over the internet. The bike was Terblanche’s updated homage to Mike Hailwood’s historic Ducati win at the Isle of Man in 1978. Credit: MTL

A full report on the first Quail Motorcycle Gathering

By Michael T. Lynch

The Quail Lodge in Carmel California has a long motorsports tradition, but it wasn’t until May 8-9, the Friday and Saturday before Mothers’ Day this year that it held its first motorcycle-only event. The Quail Motorcycle Gathering enjoyed clear days in the mid-60s, with a brisk breeze at times.
[Read more…] about Quail on Two

New Motorcycle Event at the Quail in May

February 25, 2009 By pete

As the Quail Lodge prepares for the Quail Motorcycle Gathering, this is the quality of entry they hope for. This Ducati 750 Imola is thought to be Paul Smart’s backup bike for the 1972 Imola 200, which Smart won, putting Ducati on the road to unmatched success in World Superbike racing. It is seen at a vintage race at Laguna Seca, just a few miles from Quail Lodge. Credit: Michael T. Lynch

By Michael T. Lynch

In 2003, a new event was added to the August Monterey Peninsula Automotive Festival Week, The Quail–“A Motorsports Gathering.” Since then, this brilliant combination of cars, cuisine, celebrities and cognoscenti, set on the verdant grass of the golf course that is part of the Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club, has become the hottest ticket during the week, with a sellout taking place each January in less than two hours. The Management of that event hopes to repeat their success with its premier all-motorcycle concours on Saturday, May 9th. [Read more…] about New Motorcycle Event at the Quail in May

First Annual Monterey Motorcycle Meet

July 23, 2008 By pete

Another Motorized Festival on the Monterey Peninsula

By Michael T. Lynch

This 1915 Cyclone board track racer was sold at the MidAmerica Auction on Friday night. The winning bid was a whopping $520,000. Despite European interest, it happily stayed in America. Credit: MidAmerica Auctions.

Since the Monterey Historic Automobile Races and the Pebble Beach Concours were scheduled on the same weekend in 1973, a week long automotive festival including vintage races, concours, public and private parties, tours and many other events has been created. [Read more…] about First Annual Monterey Motorcycle Meet