2010 Rallies & Events
IMS San Mateo, California
Story and Photos by Rodent
The second show in the 2010-11 season brought the International Motorcycle Show to suburban San Francisco the weekend before Thanksgiving. For some reason probably cost, this first class motorcycle trade show is held in the burbs of San Mateo at the Event Center rather than the Moscone Center in San Francisco where the attendance would be comparable to their New York show at the Javits Center in Manhattan.
Progressive Insurance is the title sponsor of the entire tour, so I must assume the insurance business is alive and well in these tough economic times. They added a few extras to entice more enthusiasts to attend. An antique bike show plus long time industry personality Bob Kaye is doing a USA preliminary showoff for Robin Bradley’s World Championship that has finals in Sturgis. Somehow bikes entered in the various IMS shows will judged and the winner(s) will go to the finals in Sturgis. Hey, I ain’t into all the technical details but I’ll betcha that none will go on an impromptu run like at Pebble Beach or the Dirtbag Challenge, runs at the opposite ends of showmanship!
Setup Friday morning under drizzling rain didn’t dampen spirits but it did dampen a lot of bikes. There was free bike parking and other vehicles were charged a parking fee. Saturday was the big day in the rain. The crowds came, the vendors worked the crowd, and I shot bikes including the new Ducati Devil’s first US public showing. Hung out with Mike Corbin, John Reed and John’s wife Jenny. John said he might build a bike for the World Championship in Sturgis.
All in all the show on Saturday was crowd inspired by or because of the rain.