On Friday the 13th, the day before the big Saturday show, participants were invited to go on a little 100 mile local tour from the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California, to the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca Raceway. About 100 bikes took the tour after the organizers explained the difference between a race and a tour. After a tour of the track and some lunch, it was back to the Quail Lodge to get the bikes show ready and enjoy a dinner in the evening.

The 3rd Annual May Motorcycle Gathering at the upscale Quail Lodge in toney Carmel Valley (located a little east of the Pacific Ocean) is the logical successor to the now defunct “Legends Of The Motorcycle” event that was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in nearby Half Moon Bay, California.

Also held at the Quail Lodge in conjunction with the Gathering was the traditional yearly Bonhams Company auction of motorcycles and related items. This year’s highlight was the auction of legendary icon Steve McQueen’s 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross he rode shirtless onto the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The rare bike was sold for a record breaking $144,500. Also there was a donated Valentino Rossi replica Yamaha GP racer with the proceeds going to charity.

It is interesting to note that the prestigious Bonhams traces its lineage back to the late 1700’s in England during the American Revolution. There were of course the usual fine offerings by Bonhams: antique motorcycles and collectable artifacts placed inside the main building for pre-auction viewing.

The layout of the bike show is superb, held on a huge grass driving range in front of the Quail Lodge buildings. The few upscale tasteful commercial exhibitors are spaced neatly around the edge of the grass. The show opens to the public at 10AM and ends at 3PM. The auction began at 1PM and continued until the last bike was sold. Included in the price of admission was a delicious lunch for spectators and participants.

Once inside the gate coffee and donuts were available. Then it was time to start shooting bikes, the scene, and whatever under the grey sky. The weather stayed perfect all day. Mert Lawwell was interested in my story about one-armed Gypsy using his device so she could ride. Craig Vetter, inventor of the Windjammer Fairings, was hanging out meeting and greeting.

A Confederate Wildcat, converted to a Barnett’s Magazine bright yellow street tracker by Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles, was in the middle of this fabulous collection of pristine motorcycles.

We ran into Ed Nichols former media boss and Gil Campbell, the longtime CEO of nearby Laguna Seca Raceway. After a great lunch and espressos compliments of Ducati, it was off to the auction where we saw a ’70 Triumph twin sell for $2,500 and a R32 BMW sell for 100-large. Go figure!

The world’s strangest Harley-Davidson vehicle was on display owned buy a guy from Petaluma, California—a little white open car with an early Harley engine in it made in Milwaukee and San Francisco for a World’s Fair. Willie G. Davidson said when he saw it his grandpa had mentioned it but he knew nothing about it. One thing for sure, it is an extremely rare Harley-Davidson product.

Only three-years-old and already there is no doubt that this Quail Motorcycle Gathering ranks right up with the best motorcycle shows in the world. We have to give a shout-out to Quails Signature Events Manager Courtney Porras Ferrante for doing an outstanding job.