Speed Racer
Cafe Racer
The Ace Cafe, located in London’s Ace Corner, North Circular Road Stonebridge, is one of the most concurred reunion points by Cafe Racer enthusiasts. It reunited about one thousand bikes in the early 60’s welcoming visitors 24 hours a day.
Cafe Racer enthusiasts arrived around eight o’clock, waiting for the clock to mark midnight so they would clear the street and get ready for the burn-ups all the way to the Bussy Bee, another biking culture icon located twelve miles away from ACE on Watford. There were times in which they decided to ride their Cafe Racer jewels to Club 59. Along with jukeboxes, a new activity was born, it consisted on putting a record on, get on the bike, ride a pre-established course and return to the bar before the song was over. This open-street course consisted of typically three to four miles, including bridges, intersections and curves making it really hard to complete due to the cars, pedestrians or anything that could get in your way while accelerating to full throttle. In order to complete the course, the rider would have to maintain an average speed of 68 MPH, giving these daredevils an adrenaline rush that few could handle.
The typical Cafe Racer was either a mono or twin cylinder between 500cc. and 850cc. –needless to say that they all were made in Britain- some examples of such bikes are: Matchless G12 CSR and G15; Norton Atlas, Dominator and 650SS; Royal Enfield Super Meteor, Constellation and Continental; Triumph Trophy and Bonneville; BSA Lightning, Spitfire, Shooting Star, Super Rocket and Thunderbolt; Velocette Venom and Viper Clubman; Vincent Grey Flash an so on.
Although the above mentioned bikes are icons nowadays, there is no doubt that the true pioneer of them all is the BSA Gold Star –its DBD34 Clubman version is any collector’s dream and represents the quintessential Cafe Racer- which basic concept dated back to the early 30’s. Amongst the best manufacturers we can mention are: Eddie Dow (Gold Star) or the Rickman brothers Don and Derek Rickman (Metisse chassis builders for the Bultaco Pursang), who created the first Tribsa back in 1959, after putting together a Triumph motor and a BSA chassis.
The British motorcycle manufacturers had to keep the pace on the ever-growing Cafe Racer market, hence, they built the Royal Enfield Continental GT and the always beautiful Velocette Thruxton Venom, but they would pay a high price for not being aggressive enough as it took them a decade to launch such models. Something that Japanese maker Honda was going to take advantage of introducing the CB 750, a modern, reliable, safe, and well-equipped tour-cylinder machine.
The last expression of the Cafe Racer culture was the Norton John Player with its huge white body and black exhaust. Although Britain claims to be the place where the movement began, this did not prevented Italian makers to grab a piece of the market by introducing the Ducati 750. Cafe Racer and Harley-Davidson are also related in Harley Davidson’s most sporting bike in its history, the XLCR 1000, a monument with seductive lines derived from the Sportster.
What started as a reunion amongst some friends that preferred a power bike that suited better for their highways and country roads, has become part of not only European culture, but part of the motorcycling history of the twentieth century post WWII.
For more information on Ace Cafe and Cafe Racer you can log on to:
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Speed Racer Thermos Funtainer 12 Oz Beverage Bottle $9.95 Thermos invented the first vacuum bottle over 100 years ago and has continued to innovation and style in insulated products. Unsurpassed commitment to quality and design means that when it comes to keeping it hotter, cooler and fresher, no one does it better than Thermos…. |
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Speed Racer Mug $7.50 Refuel with Speed Racer with this coffee mug bearing the Speed Racer logo!… |
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Speed Racer Movie Cake Topper $8.00 Race to the finish line of cake and ice cream at your Speed Racer party and top off your cake with this Speed Racer Cake Decoration Kit. Kit includes 2 cars that can be used as toys after the party and a stand-up background…. |
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The New Adventures of Speed Racer: The Race Against X/ The Creature from the Sombra Lagoon [VHS] $6.55 … |
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Speed Racer: Boss [VHS] $0.76 … |
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Speed Racer – The Movie [VHS] $2.40 Despite the title, this disc is not a feature, but three episodes of the Japanese animated series that debuted in the U.S. in syndication in 1967. In “The Car Hater” (episode 26) a whip-wielding tycoon whose son was killed in an accident damns all autos as “rolling weapons”–until Speed teaches him the error of his ways. In the two-part “The Race Against the Mammoth Car” (episodes 7 and 8), Speed … |
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The World’s Fastest Indian $6.50 A movie that exudes affection and goodwill, The World’s Fastest Indian is an unabashed mash note to a lovely character from New Zealand’s recent past. Burt Munro, played by Anthony Hopkins, is a cantankerous Kiwi with an obsession: he’s been tinkering with his 1920s-era Indian brand motorcycle for years, pushing it to ever-faster speeds. It’s the 1960s, and Burt has the utterly mad idea of takin… |
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Speed Racer [Blu-ray] $4.62 An over-the-top, sensory overload experience determined to replicate its frantic, television-anime origins, Speed Racer is wild enough to induce a headache or wow a viewer with one dazzling effect after another. Adapted for the big screen as a live-action feature, Speed Racer is written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the sibling team behind the intensely satisfying The Matrix and its bu… |
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Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection $18.58 Speed Racer: The Complete Classic Series Collection… |
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Speed Racer Party Game $0.74 Race to the finish line like Speed Racer! The Speed Racer Party Game makes an action packed party activity. Game board measures 24″ x 38″. For 2 to 8 players…. |
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Speed Racer Costume $65.97 Speed Racer Deluxe Adult Costume Go speed racer go! Includes: Jacket with belt attached and traditional blue side trim, white pants and matching movie cap. Available Sizes: One size fits most Don’t forget to pair with Speed Racer child costume ! |
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Racer Costume $49.99 High Speed Chase Adult Costume This race car driver has a fantastic pit crew ready to cheer her on as she drives fast around the track! Costume includes: Racer style mini dress with zipper front and long sleeve jacket. Available Sizes: Small Medium Large Extra Large 1X/2X $52.99 3X/4X $52.99 Boots not included. |
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Emile Hirsch Speed Racer Signed Framed Photo 11×14 Jsa $81.4 Emile Hirsch Speed Racer Signed Framed Photo 11×14 Jsa EMILE HIRSCH SPEED RACER SIGNED FRAMED PHOTO 11X14 JSAEvery signed item comes fully certified with a tamper proof hologram certificate of authenticity and is backed by the SportsMemorabilia.com Authenticity Guarantee. |
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9203-104 Racer Metal Sunglasses $149 If you have a craving for speed and style, the Racer from TAG Heuer was made just for you. The wrapped silhouette is designed to protect against harsh wind and sun, while also providing a comfortable aerodynamic fit. With its no crack technology and sturdy frame, this pair of sunglasses is ready to stand up to your active (and stylish) lifestyle. |
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Lucky Bums Plastic Racer Sled $44.95 The Lucky Bums Plastic Racer Sled is the ideal product for the little ones to scoot down a small hill or for parents to pull them on a snow packed walkway. Made of durable plastic and complete with a sure grip steering wheel, wide track center ski, and two handbrakes, the Plastic Racer Sled lets the little ones get some speed, carve turns, and enjoy the sledding hill on a sleek and modern design racer sled. |
