Top 10 Things At Corsa Motoclassica

Tom Roderick
by Tom Roderick

There were a lot of cool goings-on during this year’s Corsa Motoclassica at Willow Springs Raceway. Saturday had an excellent variety of vintage bikes and parts on display and for sale at the bike show and swap meet. But racing is what really draws the attention of spectators and participants, and there was lots of it over the course of the three-day event. For in-depth coverage on these aspects of the Motoclassica, please see our vintage agent’s (Tod Rafferty) report here.

On Sunday, E-i-C, Kevin Duke and I, spent the afternoon cruising the pits, hobnobbing with anyone willing to talk to us, taking snapshots and enjoying a weekend motorcycle event that was (almost) non-work related. In doing so, I managed to string together a list of 10 things that caught my attention throughout the afternoon. Here’s what I found.

10. Custom Yammy

This Yamaha bobber was parked at the entry gate alongside a few other bikes for sale. Asking price: $2500. Considering this custom, one-off build pretty much uses the same kickstart Single powering the modern SR400, but at a price $3500 less than the new one, I suggest making an offer to its Nevada-based owner. Instant hipster street cred included.

9. Anvil & Torch

They’re a little hard to make out against the backdrop of the black trailer, but the items on this makeshift workstand include an anvil, a vise and an acetylene torch. Not usually the tools of modern pit crews, but indispensable items for repairing the vintage machinery at this event. Note the nearby fire extinguisher.

8. Custom Pipe

This stainless steel gem was custom built by one of the participants in his spare time – about 20 hours of his spare time.

7. Electric

Arthur Kowitz is the man responsible for the eMotoRacing class/series. An intermittent short circuit spoiled his chances of winning during the weekend on his very trick Brammo Empulse, but fellow East Coast compatriot, Pete Nicolosi, took home the trophy on Sunday aboard his basically stock Empulse, while Jeff Clark, aboard a modified Zero SR, took the win on Saturday. The shade Kowitz is resting beneath is actually the solar panel charging his race bike, courtesy Solar Alternatives – free race gas!

6. Studebaker

Manufactured for less than 30 years, ending in 1967, Studebaker trucks are a rare sight. This particular model looks great from 20 feet away, but up close you see it’s often used (no show truck here), and has been modified with numerous tie down anchors in the bed, and modern bucket seats in the cab.

5. Aermacchi

It was a toss up between Harley-Davidson Aermacchi Singles and Honda parallel-Twins as to which bike was the most popular model to be racing at the Classica (you were bumping into one or the other every time you turned around), but this particular Aermacchi took home an award, so the nod goes to H-D.

4. Start

Many years ago the sight of riders dashing across the track to bump-start their bikes was common at the beginning of motorcycle races. Would it be such a bad thing to reinstate? Marquez was sprinting a good pace after crashing his RCV a couple weeks ago.

3. Gilera GP

Most 1950s era Grand Prix racers have been confined to a retirement of museum art, but not this particular four-cylinder Gilera. Before there was MV Agusta and its four-stroke inline-Four there was Gilera. In the first nine years of Grand Prix racing Gilera won 35 of a total of 77 500cc races (nearly half!). Geoff Duke was responsible for 14 of those 35 wins. Gilera quit 500cc Grand Prix racing in 1957, leaving a vacuum in the series which MV Agusta promptly filled. You have to wonder how different Grand Prix motorcycle racing would have been had Gilera continued.

2. Indian

Ralph Wessel and his pair of Indian Scouts were the only entrants in the Class C Handshift division. Competitively hand-shifting a motorcycle while circulating a race track can’t ever be easy, but even Mr. Wessel must admit this was an easy win.

1. Honda RC181

According to Virgil Elings (owner of the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum), this ex-Mike Hailwood Honda RC 181 GP racer is one of three to exist in the world. Honda owns the other two. To see the bike in person is a rare treat, to hear it run is even better!

Tom Roderick
Tom Roderick

A former Motorcycle.com staffer who has gone on to greener pastures, Tom Roderick still can't get the motorcycle bug out of his system. And honestly, we still miss having him around. Tom is now a regular freelance writer and tester for Motorcycle.com when his schedule allows, and his experience, riding ability, writing talent, and quick wit are still a joy to have – even if we don't get to experience it as much as we used to.

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