| It has been referred to as the “Granddaddy
of all street rallies,” and on this edition of Corbin’s
Ride On, we were there—we’re talkin’ Bike
Week in beautiful Daytona, Florida!
Bike Week has been a tradition in Daytona since 1937, but
bikers have been coming here since 1904; however, there are
a few more folks in attendance now than there were in those
early days. For example, in 1947 there were 176 riders present,
but this year the folks here expect more than 600,000 riders
to be cruisin’ the streets! There is no doubt that during
this time of year that Volusia County, Florida, is turned
into the center of the motorcycle universe.
Okay, now let’s talk about bikes! You would not believe
the bikes that we saw during our stay there, and trust us,
lookin’ is one of the favorite past times of the week!
Concerning the bikes themselves, it seemed as if all the parking
lots looked as if they were holding custom bike shows. There
were cruisers and customs galore; in fact, there was just
about every type of two- and three-wheeler imaginable!
There were plenty of vendors and other attractions, and
there were several runs and contests as well such as a “Dyno
Drag Contest.” In addition to that, everyone loves to
hit Boardwalk and visit legendary watering holes such as the
Boot Hill Saloon. And since Bike Week is about cruisin’
and lookin’, our pal Dennis Gage took to the streets
in search of a rare bike to catch his eye. After a bit of
walking, Dennis found a bike that satisfied both his old and
new curiosities. He found Gwen Banquer and what seemed to
be his immaculate Brough Superior; however, upon a closer
inspection we found that there was more than meets the eye.
Calling himself a “restorer and re-creator,” Gwen
told us that this bike was basically brand new except for
a vintage 1938 Brough Superior tail light that he had at home
and had installed on the bike. Gwen’s creation is powered
by a Harley-Davidson Evolution motor because he wanted a bike
that when riding long distances, he could pull into any H-D
dealership for whatever parts or supplies he needed. Gwen
told us that he always liked retro styled bikes and that he
had always “wanted something old looking, old feeling,
but made from new parts.” We would like to say that
he has fashioned this bike admirably with the best of old
and new. Next, Dennis found Mike Sullivan from Ohio who had
created a bike called “Simon Says.” Commissioned
by Charlie Simon, this bike is All-American Heartland right
down to the ears of corn depicted in the paint. This Midwest
ride is powered by an S&S 117 cubic inch motor built by
the folks at High-Tech which tells us that it is not only
show but also has plenty of go! Finally, Dennis got the chance
to do some cruisin’ of his own in a mod looking Corbin
Sparrow! As Dennis said, “It’s a future classic!”
Perhaps the truest sentiment expressed came from one happy
yet exhausted biker who told us simply and sweetly, “If
you love bikes, you just have to come.” We could not
have said it better ourselves. If you would like more information
on Bike Week in Daytona, Florida, give them a look on the
web at www.bikeweek.com.
Until next time, remember, “Keep the shiny side up,
and Ride On!”
Back to Episode CRN0003
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