“Time’s fun when you’re having flies,” as the frogs like to say.
Susie and I were headed north in the Subie and we stopped at the In-N-Out in Gilroy. I had an Animal Style burger. We had just had a nice telephone conversation with Steve Seidner, CEO of CSC Motorcycles. The two events had me thinking about the California Scooter Steve donated to the In-N-Out foundation. I realized that had been 11 years ago. Time speeds up as we age, I think. It feels like it was yesterday.
Steve donated a custom built bike to the In-N-Out charity auction every year during the California Scooter days, each one painted with a custom theme, with all proceeds going to the In-N-Out Foundation. That year, the good folks at In-N-Out asked us to base the color theme on Melanie Troxel’s In-N-Out funny car.
The 2011 In-N-Out California Scooter was simply magnificent. Chrome Lucky 13 wheels, custom paint, a painted frame, a custom seat…ah, the list went on and on. I watched Lupe and Tony put the In-N-Out bike together and it was a hoot.
That year’s In-N-Out dinner and auction was awesome. I met one of the principals in the In-N-Out founding family who took me in tow and explained what the auction was all about, the prizes, and bit of the family’s background. She is a most charming woman…bright, attractive, and articulate. The CSC bike was the major item to be auctioned that year, she explained, and it brought a good chunk of money into the In-N-Out charitable foundation. I met and chatted with Melanie Troxel, the In-N-Out funny car driver, who is bright, articulate, and attractive (are you sensing a theme?). I asked her what it was like to pilot a funny car, and with a wink, she told me it was over before you realized it.
That was quite a night. Those were good times. And those were interesting little motorcycles. We rode them all the way to Cabo San Lucas and back. Yep, we rode to Cabo and back on 150cc motorbikes (you can read that story here). And it all happened more than a decade ago. It seems like it was yesterday. Or did I mention that already?
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Be nice to see where these bikes are now! Hopefully well kept and ridden
well i guess i just dont see how the andrews sisters and their WW2 patriotic music mates with chinese commie motorcycles.
I imagine there’s a lot you “just don’t see.”
The 150cc CSC engine was manufactured in Taiwan, not China. Other components were also manufactured in Taiwan (not China). The 250cc CSC Mustang engine was manufactured in China. Not that it makes any difference. Most folks ride motorcycles that have substantial Chinese content, including BMW, Harley, and others.
I suppose I could ask how you are submitting your comments and present you with other witty questions. Is your computer or cell phone one of those rare ones manufacturered in Philadelphia? But I recognize it would be pointless. Ignorance is bliss, and far be it for me to interfere with your happiness.
joe, you rode all over china in support of zongshen.
so please excuse me if i got the idea that CSC was Chinese.
and again i will say, the Andrew Sisters were not made in china.
which was much more the point than cell phones or any other recycled comment about harley
content.
Not a problem. I’m pretty sure most folks realize the Andrews sisters are not Chinese. Thanks for commenting.
I love In-N-Out. I’m there on the first or second day I set foot in California. Cheeseburger, fries, vanilla shake. When I visit family in Raleigh, NC, it’s the Char-Grill. Cheeseburger, fries, vanilla shake.
In-N-Out is an American classic. It’s one of my favorites.
The beginning of the relationship with Zongshen.
Yes, indeed. I had a lot of fun working with CSC and Zongshen. Many memorable experiences and great moto adventures. Made some great friends, too. You are one of them.
Great video, it was well made and expertly edited! It had the right combineatio on still shots and moving video to bring it to life. BTW I think I am in love with Lupe. Who knew that such beautiful women worked in the back at CSC! I only toured the front when I was out there in 2018 or so…another mistake on long line of them. Now I have CSC on my list when get back to left coast! Well done and good story too!
Those were fun days.