David Mann's Chopperfest 10

QUICK Throttle MAGAZINE PO Box 3062 • Dana Point, CA 92629 949-388-3695 DECEMBER 2014 [email protected] • www.quickthrottle.com 07 - AERIAL CYCLONE 09 - DAVID MAnn’s ChoppERFEST 10 - RIDE & EVENT CALENDAR 12 - QUICK THROTTLE GIFT GUIDE 16 - SCOTTSDALE H-D ParTY 19 - WHAT’s A WANKEL? 20 - A MAUI RIDE I’m sure that most people who came to the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona on October 5, 2014 didn’t come to see a glockenspiel or an oboe. People came to see and bid on the Ariel Cyclone motorcycle that had once belonged to Buddy Holly. The Musical Instrument Museum hosted an auction of memorable objects that belonged to the late country music star Waylon Jennings on behalf of his widow Jesse Colter. On May 13, 1958, rock ‘n roll star Buddy Holly and two members of his band, the Crickets, had just returned from a whirlwind tour overseas, when they took a taxi to a Triumph dealership in Dallas, Texas. They had left another motorcycle dealership after being treated rudely by a Harley-Davidson salesman, who implied that the Crickets were just some kids who would not have the money to buy a Harley. Thankfully, things have changed at Harley dealers since then. and settled down in Greenwich Village to write and until the true cause of the crash would be record. Near broke, he grudgingly agreed to do this revealed. Ironically, Holly’s own brother, winter midwestern tour. By the time the tour reached himself a commercial pilot, pinpointed the Clear Lake, Iowa, Buddy was so fed up with the cause almost immediately, but no one believed 23 - PATH HOME unheated bus that he arranged to charter a plane him. This tragic accident would later be referred to as from Dwyer Flying Service to take him and his two “The Day the Music Died” in a monster hit by Don 24 - LOVE RIDE band mates to their next stop. The flight was set to McLean called “American Pie.” take off near midnight on February 2nd but the show Buddy’s father kept the Cyclone until 1970 when 26 - LOUIS OR THE KNUCKLEHEAD? ran late and it took off just after 1 am on February he sold it to a man from Austin, Texas. In 1979 the 3rd, 1959. two original Crickets along with new Cricket, Sonny 30 - 2014 TRIUMPH T-100 On the same tour was J.P. Richardson, known to Curtis, now living in Clovis, New Mexico, where early rock ‘n roll fans as “The Big Bopper” who had they had made all their early recordings with Buddy Buddy purchased a new Ariel Cyclone and his band written and performed a huge blockbuster of a hit at Norman Petty’s Clovis-based studio, located the mates purchased new Triumphs: a TR6A and a called “Chantilly Lace.” When “Jape” as his pals bike, purchased it, had it restored and presented it to Thunderbird 6T. They paid $3,200 in cash for the called him, heard about the flight, he talked Waylon Waylon Jennings for his 42nd Birthday. Waylon was WRITERS: three bikes and three motorcycle caps with wings Jennings into giving up his seat. He had laundry to by then an authentic Country & Western superstar on the front. After a trip to a local department store do and was also fed up with the rickety, unheated and was on tour nearby. When he returned to his CD, Randy Twells, Lisa Dalgaard, Mike Dalgaard, to purchase Levi jackets, jeans and boots to replace bus and wanted to beat the tour to its next stop in hotel and was given the bike he threw a leg over it Famous Jake, Tom “PIR8” Tinney, Ray Seidel, their sport coats and slacks, they rode the bikes 350 Moorhead, Minnesota. The nearest airport was in and started it up right there in his hotel room. He miles back home to Lubbock, Texas. Fargo, North Dakota, and that’s where the chartered later commented that he was sure Buddy wouldn’t Robert Sweeney, Art Hall, “Wild Bill” Saxton Ariel only manufactured 179 Ariel Cyclones. They flight was bound. have minded. It was Midnight! Years later when he were built for the American market. This was the top Another band member, Tommy Alsop, flipped a coin moved from Nashville to Arizona, Jennings sold the PHOTOGRAPHERS: of the line for Ariel motorcycles. The engine was a with Richie Valens who was on the tour singing his bike as part of a monster yard sale and it went thru a BSA A-10/Ariel Huntmaster 650c.c, 40 horsepower Top Ten hit, “Donna.” Valens won the toss. He had a series of owners before being re-acquired by Jennings Randy Twells, Art Hall, Ron Sinoy, twin cylinder. Buddy’s bike was painted Cherokee red terrible head cold and wanted to get to the next tour just before he died and was sold at this auction. CD, George Childress with black trim. The original tan seat was changed date early so he could get some sleep. When Buddy Jennings died 43 years after his good friend Buddy in later. There are only seven of these bikes known to found out his band had bailed out on him he was Chandler, Arizona on February 13th, 2002. 34 - STREET VIBRATIONS exist today in complete and original condition. annoyed with Waylon and said, “I hope that darn Another native of Texas, Gary Busey, played the WEBMASTER: Buddy Holly was a major rock and roll star, having bus crashes,” and Jennings famously replied, “And I part of Buddy Holly in the movie “The Buddy 37 - THESE MEN ARE MY LIFE Chrome Horse Promotions www.chrome-horse.net penned and performed such huge hits as “That’ll hope your dang plane crashes!” It was a remark that Holly Story” in 1978. Busey came very close to Be the Day” with his band, the Crickets, as well as Waylon was to regret for the rest of his life. dying in 1988, after crashing his Harley-Davidson major solo hits like “Peggy Sue.” He was on the 40 - SANTEE CAR & BIKE SHOW QUICK THROTTLE LLC® 2014 is published monthly and NO reproduction of content is permitted without The chartered flight went down on a farm just into a guardrail and fracturing his skull. He was not Publisher or Editor’s prior written approval. Publisher and Editor assume no financial responsibility for errors in ads now infamous “Winter Dance Party” tour with after take off from the Clear Lake, Iowa airport. wearing a helmet at the time of the accident and he 43 - NEW PRODUCTS beyond the cost of space occupied by error; a correction will be printed. Publisher is not liable for: any slandering his road band version of the Crickets that featured The pilot, a young local boy, wasn’t certified to spent two hours on the operating table and “died” of an individual, or group as we mean no malice or individual criticism at any time; nor are we responsible for Waylon Jennings on base since his two friends who fly with instruments. As the plane took off he hit once on the table before being brought back to life. the opinions or comments of our columnists; and promises, coupons, or lack of fulfillment from advertisers who accompanied him on his recordings were fed up white-out conditions and literally flew the plane at The Ariel Cyclone sold at auction on Sunday 46 - BIKETOBEER FEST are solely responsible for the content of their ads. Publisher and Editor are also to be held harmless from: failure with the road and wanted to stay home in Lubbock. top speed directly into the ground just a few miles October 5, 2014 at the Musical Instrument Museum to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our control; all suits. claims or loss of expenses; this includes but is not limited to, suits for libel, plagarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a persons Buddy had already moved to New York City, met a outside Clear Lake killing Holly, the Big Bopper, for $450,000. Needless to say, this bike is beyond name or photograph. Publisher and Editor do not promote excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The girl who worked in his agents office, gotten married Valens, and himself. It would be almost 40 years legendary. ON THE COVER: PHOTO BY HEATH DA CHIEF Quick Throttle name and logo is owned nationally by Chris and Lisa Dalgaard. DECEMBER 2014 9 It was a clear and sunny winter introspective look the same as ities like heated or air conditioned day making for a pleasant 90 min- song lyrics give feeling when writ- buildings as the elements demand. ute ride to Ventura, from Long ten and sung by the original artist. Not being a rugged outdoorsman Beach, for my annual trek to a fa- He had a style that was authentic, I appreciate permanent restrooms, vorite show - The David Mann truely unique and instantly recog- food vendors, walkways and other Memorial Chopperfest. Coming nizable, even by a casual observer creature comforts missing in the soon, Dec 14, will be the 2014 such as myself. vacant field temporary venues. gathering of bikes, builders, and Friday night will feature a pre-par- enthusiasts at the Ventura coun- David passed 11 years ago and ty sponsored by Street Chopper ty Fairgrounds. This is a show an idea came to have a memorial Magazine from 8pm-2am at the of scoots from the old days, de- ride/event back then which gave Tavern Bar in Ventura. void of overpriced theme bikes birth to the now yearly rendition covered in bodywork, too expen- of the David Mann Chopperfest.

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