Antiques Roadshow

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

ROUNDUP

THE ROADS WERE MAGNIFIcent, the racket glorious, the company grand. That pretty much sets the scene for the second-annual Cycle World Classic, a rolling concours through Sonoma Valley backroads.

The idea was simple. Rather than put on yet another soundless static display of old motorcycles, we’d zing the old dears along wine country roads, then do the judging, bug splatter and all. Between entrants, staffers and guests, we put about 45 bikes on the road.

Starting and ending at Sears Point Raceway, the route covered 55 miles, including a halfway coffee-and-donut break at the Hess Collection Winery, home to the finest marble-lined pissoirs ever to grace a road run.

Back at the track, entrants watched the AHRMA roadracing stalwarts or ambled around the swapmeet while we judges went to it. While many of the entries truly were concoursquality, this wasn’t the place to be if you get all Type A about correct fender-bolt patterns. Example: Last year, a tie in the Street Specials class was decided in favor of a cafe Norton with dice as valve-stem caps.

Best of Show went to a tastefully oil-misted Norton 500 Single. Built in 1926, it also happened to be the oldest bike entered. Owner Paul D’Orleans, a graphic artist by trade and president of the North American Velocette Club by choice, recently acquired the bike from England. “I’ll never own a Picasso or a Rembrandt, but I can afford an old Norton,” he said.

About his vigorous riding style through the vineyards? “Hey, I’m using the bike as the makers intended.” Bonus points for verve.

Best of Show plus First through Third in each of five classes received etched bottles of cabernet as prizes. None too shabby, either, going by the unclaimed Third Place Pre-WWII trophy I was forced to sample.

David Edwards