The Quail Motorcycle Gathering 2011 will feature the world’s most famous motorcycle, the John Edgar Lighting, star of the renowned “Bathing Suit Bike” photograph, shot in Bonneville Salt Flats in 1948. The John Edgar Lighting will join the display of fine motorcycles at the third annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering, taking place on May 14, 2011. This year, the event will pay tribute to a century of racing at Isle of Man, while also showcasing the top motorcycles from the past, present and concepts for future.
Building on the success of its sister automotive event, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the upcoming day-long celebration will offer guests an opportunity to compare the aesthetics and engineering of the world’s rarest pre-war and post-war sports and racing bikes, alongside custom motorcycles. For the first time, the optional full Concours judging will be offered for those enthusiasts interested in entering a motorcycle and competing for the coveted blue ribbon in their class.
“We are delighted to celebrate our third Annual Quail Motorcycle Gathering and bring together some of the most exciting motorcycles in history,” said Courtney Porras Ferrante, Signature Events Director for The Quail Events. “Our guests will have the exclusive opportunity to view the array of exceptional bikes at The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, while enjoying a picnic lunch and live auction, and a beautiful spring weekend in Carmel.”
With collectors and enthusiasts, attendees will view the latest products from leading motorcycle manufacturers, dealerships, accessories and lifestyle vendors. Guests will also enjoy live entertainment and a Southern-style barbeque lunch prepared by the culinary team at Quail Lodge. Attendees will gain access to Bonhams & Butterfields live auction of rare motorcycles and memorabilia, which will include Steve McQueen’s 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross, which he famously rode shirtless on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1971. The auction will also feature a custom Yamaha R1, signed by World Champion Valentino Rossi, with proceeds to benefit Riders for Health. For more information about the Bonhams & Butterfields Auction, visit www.bonhams.com/quailbikes.
The headline Vincent HRD motorcycle F10AB1B900 was factory built in 1948 for Los Angeles sportsman John Edgar. Prepared by Philip Vincent and Phil Irving, it stands as prototype for the British marque’s Black Lightning series. Edgar engaged Rollie Free to ride this unfaired, un-supercharged 1,000cc Vincent at the Bonneville Salt Flats on September 13, 1948, where an official 2-way average of 150.313 mph set the A.M.A. American Class A speed record to eclipse Joe Petrali’s 136.183 mph record on a Harley-Davidson in 1937 at Daytona Beach. Free wore a bathing suit and tennis shoes, and stretched flat out on the bike to streamline himself for extra speed needed to hit the “magic 150” mark.
Edgar, whose goal was to have the world’s fasted street bike, detuned his record-holder to ride the roads of southern California, where it was also ridden by his son, William. In 1958, Edgar loaned the Lightning to an aircraft engineer to campaign as a road racer. Subsequently, without Edgar’s permission, or sale, the Edgar HRD passed from one claimed “owner” to another, several times. William Edgar inherited title to the Vincent when his father died in 1972 and, in 2002, he signed over his original 1948 California Certificate of Ownership to 3rd owner Herb Harris. Known as both the “John Edgar Lightning” and the “World’s Most Famous Motorcycle,” F10AB1B900 was recently purchased from Harris by William E. (Chip) Connor, newest of this legendary bike’s only four legal owners, and its presenter at this year’s The Quail Motorcycle Gathering.
Tickets to The Motorcycle Gathering are $65 per person, $15 for children 12 and under, and inclusive of lunch, live musical entertainment and access to the Bonhams & Butterfields Auction. The benefiting Charity will be Riders for Health, an international non-profit organization that provides health workers across Africa with reliable, motorized transportation as well as the necessary training in riding, driving, and maintenance. For more information on the organization, please visit www.riders.org. Event tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.quaillodgetickets.com.
To kick-off The Quail Motorcycle Gathering, enthusiasts are invited to participate in the one-day Quail Ride on Friday, May 13, 2011. The Ride, limited to 50 participants, will wind through 100 miles of the backroads of the Monterey Peninsula and conclude with a private dinner. The fee to participate in the Ride is $250 per rider, and includes a gift bag, lunch, track time at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and admission to an intimate dinner reception featuring special guest speakers, and a private sneak preview of the Bonhams & Butterfields Auction motorcycles. Ride participants also will receive a ticket to The Quail Motorcycle Gathering and an invitation to display a bike as an entrant.
[Source: Quail Motorcycle Gathering]
Gratefully, Herb Harris showed this bike before at select events so I was able to see it at the 2007 Legend of the Motorcycle Concours and the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours. It’s a pretty amazing machine considering all its history.