Saturday 9 August 2014

Invited as a judge at ACE CAFE REUNION 2014 - Independently acclaimed as the world's coolest motorcycle event!

 
Three Days, Three Rides, One Reunion!

I'm honoured and excited to have been invited by Mark Wilsmore, founder of Ace Cafe, to be a member of the panel of judges assisting in selecting the 'Best Ridden Cafe Racers' for their awards on Saturday 13th September from 1 - 4pm. So put these dates in your diaries for a very special weekend!
 
Taking place over three days from 12-14 September and first held in 1994, the 21st annual Ace Cafe Reunion Weekend & Ride With The Rockers, this year not only celebrates the unique history, culture and style of Ace Cafe London and what it represents, this year includes with Triumph as key sponsor and marks the 50th anniversary of the seaside events of 1964, the Mods & Rockers!
 
The weekend's events, all being captured on film by a crew from USA for the ever increasingly popular Cafe Racer TV show, includes with the guys from Dime City Cycles and their latest build, a cafe racer inspired by the iconic Triton, built in collaboration with Ace Cafe London, and powered by a modern, twin cylinder Triumph motor.
 
This annual event acts as a focus in the motorcycling calendar for all those who are not only interested in the Ace Cafe, Ton Up and Rocker heritage, but also for many others who enjoy a weekend full of rock n' roll and fun!

Friday 12th September from 6pm - The Continental Run Ride-In & the global premiere of something that is at present top secret!

Saturday 13th September - Cafe Racer & Rockers Ride-Out & something that is at present top secret!
Depart: 10.30am: flagged off by the Mayor of Brent
Destination: Battersea Park (Central London)

Sunday 14th September - Brighton Burn-Up & Ride With The Rockers
Depart: 10.30am - flagged off by the Mayor of Brent
Route: A406 - A40 - M25 - M23 - A23 to Madeira Drive, Brighton Seafront

 
Over the years, Ace Cafe London has forged lasting and strong links to the global motorcycling and rockin' community, which is reflected by the many visitors from overseas, one of the largest contingents being The Continental Run, and which starts with a party on Thursday 11th September at Cafe Hubraum in Solingen, Germany, before departing the next morning to cross Holland, Belgium and France, gathering numbers en route to the ferry, arriving at the Ace late Friday afternoon, and culminating in an evening of rock 'n' roll!

Friday 12th September - In addition to the spectacle of the arrival at the cafe of the "Continental Run", to include with Triumph based cafe racer special feature bikes from both Castrol and, Germany's renowned aftermarket parts specialist, LSL, this year celebrating their 30th anniversary. Firing up the party weekend, there will be live rock n' roll with the band Porky's Hot Rockin', DJ's Bill & Jimmy Guntrip and Burlesque with Emerald Fontaine. This evening will include the launch debut and unveiling of what at present is to remain top secret!
 
Saturday 13th September - at 10.30am, and all being filmed by Cafe Racer TV, the Cafe Racer & Rockers Ride-Out to London's historic Battersea Park will depart from the cafe, led again this year by the Limited Edition Ace 904S Thruxton Special, returning to the Ace for the 6th annual Cafe Racer Review, which this year includes celebrating the 90th anniversary of Warr's Harley Davidson, the oldest official dealership outside of the USA, with prizes for the best cafe racer based on this marque as well as for the "Best Ridden Cafe Racers", "Best Classic Cafe Racer", "Best Modern Cafe Racer" and "Best Triumph Cafe Racer".
Amongst the various items to be awarded by the invited special guest judges to the five "Best" cafe racers, each winner will receive a "Rockers" anniversary pack, this year being the 50th anniversary of the 1964 seaside events, regarded today as a seminal moment in the iconography of 20th century youth culture.
Sponsors of the competitions also include Triumph, Metzeler, Lewis Leathers, Red Torpedo, Lucky 13, Pacto Helmets, La Rocka!,19-60, Prison Blues, Delta Music, Veetone Records, Jukebox & Retro Fair, Cafe Racer Magazine (USA), Jack Lilley Triumph and Warrs HD with awards and prizes being presented on the Ace stage from 2.30pm where the evocative and seminal Joe Meek produced track, Telstar, will be celebrated along with Mike Sarne's Ton Up anthem "Just For Kicks" as the soundtracks of cafe racing and the 1960's.
Returning for Ace Cafe Reunion 2014, we are again delighted to host Manx man and renowned author Mick Duckworth who will be signing copies of his definitive hard back book "Ace Times - Speed thrills and tea spills, a cafe and a culture".

The feisty London Rockin' Rollers who have been rollin' with the punches since 2007, will be with us again, raising funds on Saturday 13th September for The Samaritans, the cafe's chosen charity and which was founded in 1953 by the late Rev. Chad Varah.

Sunday 14th September in Brighton - The Brighton Burn Up & Ride With The Rockers, has been an integral part of Ace Cafe Reunions since 1996, and is a free, grand day out at the seaside on Brighton's famous seafront road, Madeira Drive. With trade and club stands and displays, wheelie machine, live music and special guests, it's an experience not to be missed!
As well as an array of club, trade stands and displays, and live bands, the annual short seafront service and blessing is being kindly undertaken by Father Denis of the 59 Club, which, as well as being a church charity, is also a motorcycle club, following a visit to the Ace by the late Father Bill Shergold in 1962.

There will also be a "Best Scooter" competition on the seafront at Brighton.
As part of Battle of Britain Week and with Sunday being Battle of Britain Day, the cafe's chosen charity RAFA "Wings Appeal" will be in attendance and, for your convenience, the charity Riders For Health will be on the seafront with a "helmet park" where you can leave your gear and enjoy the day.

Ace Cafe Reunion Weekend Entertainment (yes, it's all free!)

Music -
Friday 12th (at the Ace) Porky's Hot Rockin + DJ's Jimmy & Bill Guntrip + Burlesque with Emerald Fontaine.

Saturday 13th (at the Ace) The Kingshakes, Lew Lewis & The Twilight Trio, Big Black Cadillac, Restless + DJ's Bill & Jimmy Guntrip & Little Carl + Burlesque with Emerald Fontaine.

Sunday 14th (in Brighton) Lew Lewis * The Twilight Trio, Mark Keeley's Good Rocking Tonight + DJ's Bill & Jimmy Guntrip.