- Joined
- May 4, 2005
- Location
- Orinda, CA
- Moto(s)
- A funky red & white Italian named Gianni Cervo! Versys - two of 'em! And a Ducati for laughs.
- BARF perks
- AMA #: 281672
This story starts a long time back. 2006 to be exact. That year I overcame my fears and sloth to go enter the Centopassi. If you don't know that name, it's an event that Ducati used to sponsor to highlight the wide ranging capability of the then new aircooled Multistrada. In 2006 it was a four day event that began in Nice, then moved to Bardonecchia . It was a time/speed/distance rally with special tests at the beginning and end of each stage.
It just so happened, that much to my surprise, I was the only Yank riding in the competition class that year, but fortunately I was adopted by a team from the UK, pictured below.
On the right is the captain, Colin Barlow. Colin is the best and most accomplished street rider I've ever known, and passed from cancer in 2011. In the middle is Dave Robinson, and on the left is Dominic Gill. Dom and I have remained close. We frequently ride together over there, and he keeps my UK bike in his shop in Yorkshire.
I made a lot of friends on that event, not all of whom are pictured. One of whom is Peter Hennissen from the Netherlands. Peter (now retired), sold motorcycles for many years, and he also was a guide with a Dutch motorcycle touring company.
The reason for posting all of this is that after years of me badgering them, they finally came over this way to ride!
I was very excited about getting them over here, and obsessed about routes. When we planned the trip last year, my biggest concern was getting them here before fire season begins in earnest. Of course, I didn't anticipate the winter and spring we had this year.
Out of the blue, my friends chipped in. My closest non-riding friends, Chris & Gail offered up their granny flat for my friends to use, making the critical error of showing Dom how to find the wine cellar.
Let me look at that again.
Good times beckon.
But it wasn't just housing. I offered Dom the use of my Versys, but Peter was not crazy about using my Enfield, when out of the blue, Gwynne offered up the use of her NC! Thank you, Gwynne!
Bikes ready to go!
(to be continued)
*edit* I forgot the photo of meeting them at SFO.
It just so happened, that much to my surprise, I was the only Yank riding in the competition class that year, but fortunately I was adopted by a team from the UK, pictured below.
On the right is the captain, Colin Barlow. Colin is the best and most accomplished street rider I've ever known, and passed from cancer in 2011. In the middle is Dave Robinson, and on the left is Dominic Gill. Dom and I have remained close. We frequently ride together over there, and he keeps my UK bike in his shop in Yorkshire.
I made a lot of friends on that event, not all of whom are pictured. One of whom is Peter Hennissen from the Netherlands. Peter (now retired), sold motorcycles for many years, and he also was a guide with a Dutch motorcycle touring company.
The reason for posting all of this is that after years of me badgering them, they finally came over this way to ride!
I was very excited about getting them over here, and obsessed about routes. When we planned the trip last year, my biggest concern was getting them here before fire season begins in earnest. Of course, I didn't anticipate the winter and spring we had this year.
Out of the blue, my friends chipped in. My closest non-riding friends, Chris & Gail offered up their granny flat for my friends to use, making the critical error of showing Dom how to find the wine cellar.
Let me look at that again.
Good times beckon.
But it wasn't just housing. I offered Dom the use of my Versys, but Peter was not crazy about using my Enfield, when out of the blue, Gwynne offered up the use of her NC! Thank you, Gwynne!
Bikes ready to go!
(to be continued)
*edit* I forgot the photo of meeting them at SFO.
Last edited:
arty
for SCCA!
We were out of there in about 40 minutes. 
