The Checker Taxi Stand

Gonzo · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:05 am Post subject: 2009 California meet

Hi there,
Does anybody know something about a 2009 Checker Car Show in California, or any other Checker meet in California? I'm going to try to visit the US again, but I have to schedule my holidays. Tickets for the flight are very cheap, but I have to make bookings early.
All the best,
Gonzo

john_w · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:41 am Post subject:

Gonzo,

The California chapter has a meeting every July in LA (specifically, the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia, CA). Kathryn Bassett and Joe Pollard coordinate it. Joe was at the Board of Director's meeting in K'zoo and covered some of the planning. We will have more specific details after the California chapter's meeting later this month. But for now, I believe the date of the show itself is Saturday July 25, 2009. (Note: this is a change from their normal schedule of holding it on a Sunday so people can use Sunday to start back home.) I don't know any details as to hotels, etc. There will most likely be opportunities for people to individually (or in small groups) visit other car related locations such as museums but, due to traffic conditions, there are not currently any formal motor tours planned.

I plan to hook my tear drop camper on behind the 81 A-12 and drive out RT-66. While in the LA area I will visit my brother-in-law in the LA area and attend the show.

NOTE: once everything is finalized, I will include the details in the newsletter, probably starting with the Fall / October issue.

John W

Peter · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:56 am Post subject:

Hi Gonzo!

how about a Dutch Checker meeting first?? Wink

Peter
_________________
1968 Checker Marathon V8 - The Netherlands

Gonzo · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:17 am Post subject: Thanks

Thanks John, please keep us posted, I've so many plans again for next year. I visited Joe a couple of months ago. So funny, happens quite often, I've been Emailing people for many years, but never met them. And after those many years we finally meet. Same thing happened with me and Joe. Know what? Ill post a pic of Joe and me, maybe people recognise me next year in CA. Wink

Hé Peter, alles goed?
Yeah I know, we should have a Dutch meet this summer, I'll send an Email to everybody. Unfortunately Peter v/d Merwe's former Checker ended up in a car crash. I heard there was a lot of damage, but nothing that can't be fixed. Sounds like Joe is getting more and more business from the Netherlands.....

All the best!

Gonzo & Moos

Gonzo · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:06 am Post subject: Gonzo and Joe

Picture of Joe Pollard & myself

Gonzo

I noticed that there was not even one pic of my own Checker in my uploaded photos. This is a pic I like a lot. For you that do not know the Ace cafe, this is where it all begun in the UK. If you are a bit familiar with the history of R&R, and especially motorcycles called cafe-racers, this used to be the home of the 59 club. The place was closed down in the seventies, but re-opened a couple of years ago. Every year there's the "rockers-reunion", with the historical "Brighton Burn Up", an illegal race, held in the late fifties, early sixties. Nowadays we do that very race, but nothing illegal, just as a tour.
No, not with the Checker, with my own built XS650 Cafe-racer. Cool

Picture of Gonzo's Checker

john_w · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

Gonzo,

You would have liked the 650 BSA Spitfire Mark IV "Lighting Special" I used to have, one of the original "cafe racers". Someone gave it to me to pay off a debt ... it used to be a flat track racer before I got it ... I did a frame up on it, and then sold it for something more reliable ... 1976 650 Yahama twin followed by a 1969 750-4 Honda ... finally got rid of the 750 in 1993, too many idiots on the road who couldn't / wouldn't see motorcycles

John W

Gonzo · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:30 am Post subject: Wow

That BSA, that's one of THE machines. I definately like that type of bikes...