First
Thursday
A real Bone Shaker
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On the first Thursday of every month a crazy little happenin' occurs at
"Dulonos Pizza" in Minneapolis. I'm talking about the most diverse and
wacky gathering of motorcycles I've ever seen! Oh sure! There's the usual
line-up of American bikes and clones. Then there's the big four Asian manufacturers
have to offer. But then you start to notice other monikers you haven't
seen lately and some home brew barn jobs to boot! How about a Briggs and
Stratton Chopper? or a motoguzzi cafe racer complete with a handmade gas
tank!! This event started as a Norton Owners Club meeting. Now those boys
are pretty cool and they've got some fine examples of the Limey paint shaker!
I used to have one myself (an 850 Commando that was a little faster than
its brakes but that's another story) Notice: its Norton "Owners", not Norton
"riders" club, so ya could bring anything to the meetin'! Well of course
a few Triumphs, BSA's, BMW's and the like started arriving. Then some choppers,
Bobbers and |
other customer specials started
showing up too. Now it's grown so big the original Norton Club is so dwarfed
by all the rest of the hoopla they don't even have the summer meetings
there anymore! Find a city of Minneapolis map. Look for the corner of Lake
Street and Lyndale Avenue. That's where its at on the first Thursday evening
of every month ...rain, shine or snow! The place, Dulonos Pizza has great
food and drink (612-827-1726 607 W Lake St). They've been there since
1957 and have all kinds of Italian food, with light and dark beer on tap.
Bikes started showing up at 4:00 but the comings and goings last till well
after dark. As you cruze to Dulonos you will see lots of scoots of all
types getting thicker as you get closer. Then the smell of pizza and exhaust
fumes will put you on auto pilot! By 7:00 (in the summer months) expect
to see between 300 and 600 motorcycles! No Kiddin'!! There is also a handful
of hotrod cars and weird powered stuff like a motorcycle powered lounge
chair or a rocket powered toilet. Well there you have it, from Ariels to
Zundaps! Cream of the crop? I don't know if I'd go that far... but something
is definitely rising to the top at First Thursday!
Till Next Month,
Keep 'er tuned and tighten
the chain
Wiz
Noelski and Johnny's Custom Ducks |
A 60's Guzzi |
Whens the last time you seen a 40's Rudge
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