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motorcycle touring holiday Germany Europe classic Ducati Bimota Superbike experience
Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica at the Montlhery Cafe racer festival
The 2015 Cafe Racer festival held on the Montlhery circuit south of Paris with Sylvain on his Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica and friend Olivier with his Moto Guzzi Le mans.
THE CRANKCASE .COM will be joinning the 2016 event as part of a guided tour starting in Frankfurt, Germany, then following up with a couple of days in the Vosges mountains.
Which means it's a great opportunity to take along the Hailwood Replica to make it 3 Hailwoods on the banking, as Olivier will be bringing his along too, instead of the Guzzi.
Montlhery is strongly recomended to visit even if you don't join us for the full weeks' touring.
2015 Glemseck Cafe Racer tour film
CLICK HERE for 4 impressive minutes of film and pictures cut together by Natalie and Simon, who joined the 2015 Glemseck Cafe Racer tour.
Great to have these memories of a brilliant week together.
Neckarsulm German 2 wheeler museum
Another world class motorcycle museum that we love to visit in the hometown of NSU.
The museum shows the history of bicycles and motorcycles including foreign makers, which adds to the variety of the exhibits.
Nicolis museum Verona
We are always looking for new destinations for THE CRANKCASE. tours.
Recently we found the fascinating Nicolis Technical museum near Verona, which we have added to the Italian Tour schedule.
IAA Frankfurt 2015
A dream visit to the German Motorshow, the IAA in Frankfurt on a press day to see the latest in the 4 wheel world as well as one or two special motorcycles.2015 Glemseck 101 Cafe racer sprint weekend
A short gallery of some of what we saw at Glemseck this year, it doesn't get much better than this.THE CRANKCASE. Tea Party 2015
The annual THE CRANKCASE. Tea party took place on Saturday 15th August 2015.
With around 100 guests attending, whether to join us on the bike tour over to the Schottenring Oldtimers Grand Prix, or just to drop by and enjoy the company in THE CRANKCASE. yard with bar-be-que, live music and chat.
CLICK HERE to see the photo gallery
Schottenring Grand Prix tour 2015
Once again a great event with great weather, some old favourites among the riders and bikes and as always something new to see.
CLICK HERE to see the event pictures
The Vincent collector.
Another visit to Kurt to see his outstanding private collection which includes a superb Vincent series C contingent.2015 Spa Bikers' Classics
The 14th Spa Francorchamps Bikers' Classics was as always a perfect classic racing event with an enormous variety of bikes to be seen on the circuit.
Plus the excitement of several races including the 4 hour endurance held on Saturday night and finishing at midnight..
Here is just a small sample of the weekends' activities.
Montlhery Cafe racer festival 2015
A superb event with a great combination of sprint races and track riding on the historical banked circuit.
Plus everything that is new to see in the Cafe racer scene.
We love it and can't wait to go back.
CLICK HERE to see our picture gallery.
Michelstadt Motorcycle museum
Just right for an hour or 2 stop on our way further south, for a coffee and to visit this fascinating collection of continental motorcycles and scooters,Porsche museum Stuttgart
This high tech and high quality museum is a must see when touring in the area.Local Vincent collection.
A local collector has built up a fabulous private museum of all the bikes that he values the most, including one of each C series Vincent in all their forms.
Luckily we could make an appointment to enjoy a few hours with Kurt showing us around.
Mulhouse 'Schlumpf' 'Bugatti' museum
The French National Motor Museum is one of our favourite tour destinations.
The museum was often called the Schlumpf or 'Bugatti' museum after the two brothers that assembled the collection and the large number of Bugattis included.
Mulhouse Cité du Train museum
A couple of kilometres away from the Cité de lautomobile is the sister museum for trains, which is also fascinating with an enormous quantity and variety of trains on display.2014 Intermot motorcycle show
Accompanied by some fantastic sunny weather we took a couple of days to visit Cologne and the area with the Intermot show for the main event.
Here is a picture gallery of some of the show highlights.
Distinguished Gentleman's Ride 2014
Button top, suit and tie... All who took part dressed up for the Distinguished Gentleman´s Ride in Frankfurt am Main on 28th of September. THE CRANKCASE. invites you to see more pictures of this funny and sunny Sunday event. CLICK HERE.Glemseck 101 cafe racer 2014
The Glemseck Cafe racer sprint weekend is one of the best events in the year.
We enjoyed another 3 days of petrol headed action rounding off a superb week long touring in the black forrest and the Vosges French national park.
All that's left is to look foward to next year.
2014 Schottenring Oldtimers Grand Prix
Another great trip to Schotten for this almost 'secret' Classic Bike race event with famous riders such as Phil Read, Toni Mang, Dieter Braun, Kurt Florin, Chas Mortimer and Helmut Dähne present.
Masses of world class machines to be seen up close in the paddock and on the track giving superb photo opportunities over the whole weekend.
Take a look at the photo gallery to see just a small part by CLICKING HERE.
THE CRANKCASE. 2014 Tea Party
The 4th THE CRANKCASE. Tea Party took place on Saturday August 16th, the same weekend as the Schottenring Oldtimers Grand Prix.
This was the first time we had a band as entertainment, our good friends The Double Dylans provided a great atmosphere.
CLICK HERE to see the photo gallery of the whole weekend.
Spa Bikers Classics 2014
As usual Spa was a wonderful trip, with so much to see, it goes by so quickly and just leaves us eager for next year.
Take a look at just a small taste of this years event and promise yourself to go in 2015 !
Heiner Beckmann motorcycle museum
The Spökenkieker vintage and veteran bike run is one of the most charming bike events we had the pleasure to visit this year.
Held annually at the Heiner Beckmann motorcycle museum in Harsewinkel-Greffen.
CLICK HERE to see our picture gallery.
Christmas 2013
This is our 2013 christmas card that we have designed and had printed this year.
If we have your address then you should have recieved one by post.
Otherwise, we wish you all a very happy christmas holiday and a successful new year 2014.
There is however no guarantee that the model Ducati is actually buildable.
As it says: don't dream it, ride it !
Weekend Taunus Tour
A couple of wonderful days in the Taunus with Jürgen and Daniel riding the Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica, the Bimota DB2 tricolore, the Honda GB500 Clubman and the beautiful MV Agusta F4 1000.
You can join us on a similar trip: one day, weekend or as long as you wish, write to the email address on the right side of the page to enquire.
Distinguished Gentlemans Ride
This charity event takes place all over the world. This year we joined the Frankfurt ride in aid of prostate cancer research.
More than 3000 riders in 150 cities around the world collected donations for the worthy cause, and we had a whole lot of fun riding our bikes and showing off a little on a lovely sunny Sunday in and around Frankfurt city.
2013 Hockenheim Classics
A great mix of 4 and 2 wheeled classics and racers on the Hockenheim Grand Prix circuit for a whole 3 day weekend.Glemseck 101 Cafe racer 2013
Once again, the Glemseck 101 Cafe racer sprint amazed with an increasing variety and quality of shows and bikes.
This unique event promises to get even more essential visiting in the future.
It's hard to have to wait until 2014 for the next Glemseck tour.
Schotten Oldtimer Grand Prix '13
Celebrating its' 25th anniversary in style with some famous riders invited such as Freddie Spencer and Phil Read.
Otherwise the usual outstanding entrance of classic sporting bikes and sidecar outfits parading on the narrow public road circuit in the town of Schotten.
THE CRANKCASE. tea party 2013
Once a year we throw a 'tea party' at our house for old and new friends. Ride outs and tours all over the weekend, especially to the Schottenring Oldtimers Grand Prix with bar-bee-que and refreshments provided in the yard.
CLICK HERE to see some of the fun.
2013 Spa Bikers' Classics
One of the highlights of the Classic Racing calender; this years event was just as spectacular as ever.
CLICK HERE for 3 pages of pictures.
Christmas 2012
if we have your address, then you might have had one in the post box.
Otherwise all the best for the holidays and the New year,
and hope to catch up with a few more of you in 2013
Ian and Brigitte
Intermot show Cologne 2012
The Cologne Intermot show is a must to see what's new for next season and there are plenty of interesting 'not so new' bikes to see as well.
Plus the chance to meet up with some friends and enjoy an evening together in the wonderful city of Köln famous for its cathedral, good food and 'Kolsch' bier.
Biketoberfest in Oschersleben.
Biketoberfest is a 4 day event with racing on Saturday and Sunday in several classes including modern Superbikes and classics, plus a cafe racer sprint.
The party is also a good reason to be there especially with the Pirker brass band playing not only traditional German drinking songs, but modern rock and a bit of AC DC etc. thrown in, something to be experienced.
Hockenheim Classics 2012.
A really impressive 2 day event where a variety of bikes and cars from vintage to Formula 1 share the track.Hockenheim Motorsport museum
An impressive variety of rare and interesting motorcycles makes the Hockenheim museum essential visiting. Here is just a taster of some of the jewels from the car and motorcycle collection.Ducati 851 film taster
Here is a taster, before the film cassettes go to be digitized and edited. A low definition cut of the bike being started and riden for the first time since 1995, great sound !
1 minute 37 seconds
Ducati Mike Hailwood Replica
The starting sequence for the Hailwood and riding out of the yard.
1 minute 2 seconds.
Retromotor 2012
A spectacular one day event with the charm of a village fete, where a few old cars and motorcycles turn up for a bit of fun.
But the really special part is that you don't normally find Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Freddie Spencer, Luigi Taveri, Piero Laverda or Marco Lucchinelli at your village bazaar !
And they aren't the only ones . .
Agostini on 6 cylinder MV Agusta
From the 2012 Retromotor, he only did one or two laps on this irreplaceable master piece, and the sound !Glemseck cafe sprint 2012
An event that is becoming cult for a good reason. A real cafe racer sprint on Saturday in 2 classes, but for private entrants only air cooled bikes up to 1000cc with 1, 2 or 3 cylinders or up to 750cc with 4 cylinders.
Lots of stands to see and a great stage show in the evenings.
The Crankcase. 2012 tea party.
Great memories of a great day with a lot of great people.
After visiting the Schottenring Oldtimers Grand Prix, we came back to the yard to find it filled with people and bikes.
CLICK for 5 and a half minutes of friends old and new.
The Crankcase. tea party 2012
A great weekend with great bikes, really great weather and even greater people. Thanks to all those who came for making it what it was and I'm already looking foward to the next one.Schotten oldtimer Grand Prix '12
The Schotten oldtimer Grand Prix was as fascinating as ever, here you can see photos and a few films of the bikes, the atmosphere and the action.Rhine valley
Howard and Paul left to go back to the UK on Wednesday morning but wanted to take the scenic route as much as time allowed. We went across country to the Rhine, had a farewell coffee at Bennos bar and then they could take the ferry to the west bank and take the autobahn from there.Return from Schotten
With the camera fixed to the back of Garrys' 851, we got a couple of nice shots of the rest of us, but only when he wasn't too far ahead, which wasn't very often. Thanks for waiting Garry.Sunny Sunday in Spessart
A whole day of some glorious roads in Spessart including the Horstein hill, Jacobs valley and a stop at the Engländer pub.Spa Bikers Classic 2012
4 Pages of pictures from the 2012 Spa Francorchamps Bikers Classic held on June 29th, 30th and July 1st.The making of
We recently asked a very good friend if he could help make some films of the bikes. Bruno Schneider of http://www.metropolisfilm.de/ has enormous experience in the film and television business, he gladly agreed to help us and started last Sunday shooting scenes in the yard.Italians in the yard
A whole week of preparation for filming, but a very satisfying one as all of the most precious bikes were cleaned up and could be photographed together for the first time.Schotten Grand Prix 2011
pictures from the 2011 event.The Crankcase. tea party 2011
Our first proper tea party was a great sucess which brought together old and new friends for a whole weekend. Especially impressive were the visitors not only from our locality and even the UK, but those from New Zealand; who were by chance on a European tour and made the extra effort to come and visit us, as well as Schotten of course.The honeymoon: October 2007.
When my boss in Japan asked me where we had been for our honeymoon, my answer was that we haven't had any time for a honeymoon because I was constantly travelling to Japan for work.
His reply: well bring Brigitte with you next time . . .