My Obsession

by Anonymous

When I was 3, I was visiting my grandmother when 2 Harleys and an Indian stopped for gas across the highway. It's been a downhill ride since. I don't have any photos, my ex decided that she really needed all that stuff.

My aunt and uncle lived in an agricultural area when we all moved to CA after VE day. I would spend summers there and, when I was 12, I managed to start making a little extra cash walking down the road and sorting eggs in the mornings. The next year, I added an afternoon job picking berries. When I was 14, my legs were long enough that I could drive a tractor and make 'real' money.

Near the end of the summer, aunt and uncle moved to the city and I found Ed Kretz' motorcycle shop in Monterey Park. I'd go every chance I had and look over the used bikes and recount my savings to see if maybe I had missed the few dollars that I was short.
One day, Ed Jr. called me over to the parts counter and told me I might have better luck looking at the stuff listed for sale on a bulletin board they had in the back. I found a card touting an almost new '54 Velocette, make offer.

I went back and found out that Ed was willing to let me call the guy (probably was hoping I'd get a bike and stop hanging around the shop) and yes, he would consider selling it for $150 and yes, Ed was going to lunch and would give me a ride over to see it.
It only had 68 miles on it, the original owner had only managed to get it started twice. I could keep at the bike shop until I learned to ride it and Ed talked the guy into letting me have it for $125 so I'd be able to buy gas and get it serviced.

I learned the trick of getting it started, learned to start, stop and turn without crashing, and rode it for 2 summers.

In '56, a 1 cylinder bike started seeming small potatoes, so I went back to Ed Kretz and was able to trade it for a hotrod '49 Triumph 650 twin. That bike was scary fast, but it always seemed a little small next to the big hogs. After I graduated in '58 and got a real job, I traded again and ended up with a big '39 Harley 80 cubic inch flathead. I spent a fortune getting it to go as fast as the Triumph, but it was big and sounded big.

Now, all these years later, I gave my worn out '57 Harley to my son and got a new Triumph that has all the good things about the '49 and none of the bad things. Of course, I just had to modify it and it is scary fast.

Too bad that all the old hangouts are gone, I'd love to take it around Stans or Scrivners drive in or The Nest or the old Baldwin Park In 'n Out just to show that the old fart's still at it.

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