Moto Guzzi Classics in the (German) news

[LeRoy]

Those of you who appreciate the long-time presence of Moto Guzzi dealers and supporters might enjoy this article on Moto Guzzi Classics and Mark Etheridge of Long Beach, CA. Of course, you'll need to read German or suffer through the throes of Google translater. Either way, it's well worth the time.

The article appears in the German motorcycle classic magazine called, literally enough, Motorrad Classic. It also showed up in my online version of Motorrad. Here's the online version:

http://www.motorradonline.de/motorraeder/moto-guzzi-classics-in-kalifornien/687746

[Cam3512]

What's the date of that article?  Photos are old.  That's my Stornello Scrambler in one photo.  I bought it from him a few years ago.

Regardless, Mark's a great dude.

[LeRoy]

What's the date of that article?  Photos are old.  That's my Stornello Scrambler in one photo.  I bought it from him a few years ago.

The article is in the current issue. It seems pretty likely that it was something they had on the shelf waiting for a slot in the printing schedule. This magazine regularly publishes article on classic bike workshops and brand gurus. Being Germans, the tone of the article was one of bemused fascination. Something along the lines of "you won't believe how this American operates." As anyone who has been there knows, it's anything but the kind of compulsively organized shop that a German would run. And all the better because of that.

[Chuck in Indiana]

The article is in the current issue. It seems pretty likely that it was something they had on the shelf waiting for a slot in the printing schedule. This magazine regularly publishes article on classic bike workshops and brand gurus. Being Germans, the tone of the article was one of bemused fascination. Something along the lines of "you won't believe how this American operates." As anyone who has been there knows, it's anything but the kind of compulsively organized shop that a German would run. And all the better because of that.

Oh, yeah.  I was out there a few years ago, and Mark was going to have a Christmas party. I cleaned and organized for 3 freekin days so there would be room for people to sit, eat, etc. He told me it took him a year to get over that. Couldn't find anything.  Believe it or not, he knows where stuff is in those piles of.. uh.. stuff.
He's building a bobber for a guy now, and he, I, Josh, and the owner were brainstorming the headlight/speedo combo. The owner mentioned maybe in the headlight shell. Mark looked at him, went over to a pile, and started digging. Came up with one of Nick's Chang shells. Perfect. How he knew it was in that pile, I'll never know..

[Arizona Wayne]

I used to be like that, visually disorganized, but mentally I knew where everything was........until my accident.  Now I'm both visually and mentally disorganized. 

[Rox]

Guzzi Classics: Great with the old stuff. The new stuff on the other hand no. I learned the hard way the difference between "Etherizing" and "Eaganizing"...

[Chuck in Indiana]

Guzzi Classics: Great with the old stuff. The new stuff on the other hand no. I learned the hard way the difference between "Etherizing" and "Eaganizing"...

True. Mark doesn't do injection, computers, etc. That used to be handled by Sean Fader, but he's moved on. Mark *does* know loops, early stuff, though.
Yeah, the article is old. Beaver hasn't been there for a couple of years. He/she (don't know) started getting testy with the customers. Had some health issues, and Mark, of course,  spent *way* too much money he didn't have with vets.  The drag car (Valiant, national record holder) broke something in the front end and hit the wall. It's no longer there, either. Went to the drags with Mark one night, and was almost on "reality" TV. It's not all that real, but was fun. Time ran out, and the next run was when the crash happened. Reality TV screwed up, there..
Good guy.. a character of the highest order. 

[Cam3512]

Chuck, I agree 100%.  Can't ever say a bad thing about Mark, or I will hunt you down. One of the most generous guys I've ever met.  Tell him Cam said hey.