for anyone in the area of solvang california, do yourself a favor and stop by the
motorcycle museum. this is a small storefront containing the stunning personal collection
of virgil ehlings (sorry if that's not spelled correctly). he has one of the 3 guzzi v-8
reproductions, lots of old race bikes, a honda 500 cc GP bike (pre 2-stroke) raced
by none other than mike hailwood! there's another honda signed by agostini. up front
are a mint crocker and one of the brittens. lots of old MV race bikes. a supercharged
180 mph vincent. a couple of baloney-slicer guzzis, an unrestored ~1915 indian. mr ehlings
wasn't there at the time of my visit,
but i'm told he hangs around frequently. wish i could have met him.
Thanks for the report. Did you take any pictures? :)
Quote from: abby normal on June 16, 2008, 07:19:19 AM
for anyone in the area of solvang california
How long's that been there? I was just in Solvang a few months ago and I grew up around there. Now I'm 1000 miles away :(. I'm bummed I missed it.
we had plan on heading there yesterday on the way back from pismo beach, but decided to go back the way we came (58 > 33).
two people from our group went the other way, so maybe the went through solvang on their way back.
Quote from: derby on June 16, 2008, 09:05:06 AM
two people from our group went the other way, so maybe the went through solvang on their way back.
We did go through. No pics I am sorry to say :( It is an amazing collection and only part of it is on display at any given time. All the bikes are said to run and are started and a somewhat regular basis.
You can get an idea of the collection from the website though an in person visit is the best way to appreciate the bikes.
http://www.motosolvang.com/ (http://www.motosolvang.com/)
I've been to solvang a handful of times and never knew they had a moto museum! Will be sure to check it out the next time around... after I have my filling of Ableskivers and sausage!
Mucho Nice [thumbsup]
Bikes for sale, too:
http://www.motosolvang.com/for_sale.htm
Quote from: msincredible on June 16, 2008, 08:09:12 AM
Thanks for the report. Did you take any pictures? :)
i did ... on the wife's camera. i'll see if i can access it long enough to get some down-loaded.
btw ... mr ehlings is supposed to be a really nice guy. hopefully a trip by any of us here
will coincide with his presence there.
Quote from: Duc L'Smart on June 16, 2008, 12:03:14 PM
Bikes for sale, too:
http://www.motosolvang.com/for_sale.htm
I like this little one. :)
(http://www.motosolvang.com/images_new/For_Sale/1965_Triumph_Tiger_Cub.jpg)
Virgil Elings is an alum of the same college that my parents attended, and my mother chats with him at the occasional gatherings. I haven't met him myself, but I understand him to be a very modest, unassuming guy.
His museum is definitely on my to-visit list. [thumbsup]
Pennyrobber and I stumbled on Solvang and the museum when our ride leader missed a couple turns coming up from LA, and another member on the ride suggested it. Awesome place to stop!! Definitely a cool place, and I could spend all day just hangin out in town. Planning to go back someday. Pics from our visit:
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/CA%20Trip%201-11-08/CA-trip6.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/CA%20Trip%201-11-08/CA-trip7.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/CA%20Trip%201-11-08/CA-trip8.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/CA%20Trip%201-11-08/CA-trip9.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/CA%20Trip%201-11-08/CA-trip10.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/CA%20Trip%201-11-08/CA-trip11.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/CA%20Trip%201-11-08/CA-trip12.jpg)
Thanks for posting pictures! [thumbsup]