Monday, June 17, 2013

Sunday's Blind Lizard

Yes, if you're keeping track, Father's Day weekend was mostly dedicated to things Motorcycle.  Saturday's Show at the fairgrounds was phase one, Sunday's event on Nicollet Island right in the heart of Minneapolis was phase two.  I hadn't intended on going, but there was going to be a special presentation made that I just didn't want to miss.  On top of that, it was an incredibly beautiful day, perfect for a long, sleek black Morphous to once again see some highway miles.

As is my custom, I was early and therefore, one of the first ones there.  The Blind Lizard Club was still setting up their tents, the free chili, lemonade and water; the narrow brick streets empty and still quiet.

The first 3 with the food stand and center of activities beyond......


Our friend Jack's Honda, he with his back to us directly beyond the bike.  Jack rode one of these to Sturgis from Minneapolis and back again.



Scott, one of our VJMC members showed up with his dog, taking one of the few parking spaces where his ensemble could fit.


Harvey's BSA, Pam's Yamaha.....


The tree-lined, picket fenced neighborhood...


Pins made from melted Honda pistons, or so the story goes.....I got mine a couple of years ago.


One way to look at it......


I wasn't quite this dapper, in fact, I'm never quite this dapper.  Pam was discussing something very important with him.


Commerce on one side of the street.....


Mike and his wife Colleen have 100 lapel pins made up every year for the event and sell them street-side for $5 each.  Mike comes up with a new design each year (creates ongoing demand).  Colleen has them in a cigar box and 'markets' them along the sidewalk until they're gone.  Every year, folks seek out the 'Pin Lady' to take advantage of the limited supply.



Regarding that Special Presentation mentioned earlier, unknown to Colleen, last fall, hubby Mike found a beat up old 1958 Lambretta in a garden shed.


All winter and up until just a few days ago, Mike along with a huge amount of help from Bob as well as others, put the finishing touches on the scooter to present it as a surprise to Colleen at the Lizard.

Mike got a friend, another Mike, someone that knows Lambretta's better than the rest of us and whom offered much help as well, to ride the scooter in, park it next to Colleen and present it to her while the rest of us filmed and took photos.  She was selling pins and it was very obvious that she had no clue what her dear partner had been up to over the last few months.  It was tough because more than one of us almost let the cat out of the bag since we were all busy asking, offering help, checking on the status and so on.


Colleen knows this Mike and only upon hearing it more than once and checking out the personal license plate on the back did it soak in that she's now a scooter owner.





Note the large Wind-up Key on the back, it was actually turning via an electric motor as the scooter made its entrance.


Colleen had to get back to business and continue her marketing of pins.


One of Chip's fantastic Suzuki collection.......


Minneapolis downtown skyline....



22 comments:

  1. Why do so many people find so many cool things in old sheds? I have to build a shed so I can find something cool in it, too...

    Looks like a great day. Madison surely has a similar event. I should look into that.

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    1. Martha, don't be in too big of hurry.....there's a lot of old stuff in sheds that isn't cool and should have been disposed of.

      Slimey Crud is a very close event.... :)

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  2. That is an amazing restoration job. Where does one learn those skills? It seems beyond me.

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    1. David, the project looked daunting to me but then I wasn't involved. These guys DO know what they're doing and like solid challenges.

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  3. What a nice way to spend a sunny day.

    Great job on that Lambretta. Love the paint scheme and Mighty Mouse on the headlight. Awesome that everyone was able to keep the secret too.

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    1. It was a day defining summer; perfect for strolling outside. Each one of Mike's machines has a Mighty leading the way.

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  4. Coop:

    an amazing day to socialize and look at vintage bikes. That Lambretta is a work of art.

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    1. Bob,
      I'm still not sure why the British paint scheme on the Italian machine but then the world is full of mysteries. I did learn of how they accomplished getting that graphic 'blown up' and it was very creative.

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  5. Neat get together! People up there are into things and enjoy life.

    That is good to see, especially around scooters and motorcycles. Pretty cool!

    Looks like you all had a lot of fun!

    How did the name derive for the event?

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    1. Deb,
      It's billed as a Family Event and there were entire families in abundance. As usual, the local Minneapolis Tour on Segways made their pass through the event.....must have been 30 people bobbing their way up the street. They look at us and we look at them. :)

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  6. Difficult to see... but the state issued lic plate ... " COLLEEN "... Mike was a God.. for about an hour... :o)

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    1. Well it may have peaked at an hour, the residual benefits will go on and on I'm sure.

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  7. The " BRIT " flag is a nod to the " MODS ". British scooterist in the late 50's and early 60's would hang mirrors all over their scooter... paint them with flags...etc etc. Lambretta's, Vespa's... They were called Mods.. I assume a take off of modern. The Mods rivals was the " ROCKERS "... think Marlon Brando in the Wild Ones... or the Fronz... Greasers. The Mods Vs Rockers would clash and full blown fights would result..sometimes with fatalities. Today there are many Mods Vs Rockers events across the country...but they are friendly now. :o)

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    1. Thanks for clearing that up.....I should have figured that out.

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  8. What an awesome Day! Love the pins they are super cool. I bet she was so excited when she realized it was her scooter. They did a wonderful job, love the winding key, that is just the perfect touch.

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    1. After lots of hard work, much of the intended benefit of the scooter was whimsy. I think it happened.

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  9. What a nice collection. Especially love the scooter. It has a lovely colour scheme.

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  10. Sonja, that to me has been one of the best parts of BL. Like with so many things we tend to split into factions. Most were well represented Sunday.

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  11. Steve Arhelger named the club in about ...oh...the 70s. It was originally for ancient and homebuilt motorcycles, and old racing bicycles (and bicyclists). the founders were afraid old bicycling traditions (from which motorcycling was born) were being forgotten...

    a club/event history has yet to be written

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    1. The shot I took of Harvey and his young friend examining a bicycle involved the bamboo frame that it was made of.

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