It takes a good deal of nerve to simply call your shop “The Shop”. As if there was only one, and you couldn't possibly get it wrong. That's the privilege of age, which has made this Californian workshop a true institution.
If you're involved, directly or indirectly, with vintage American two-wheelers, you've undoubtedly heard of a legendary workshop simply called “The Shop”. A mysterious place, somewhat like a museum, whose reserves of rare spare parts are said to be inexhaustible. All of this is somewhat true; this shop does indeed exist, on the edge of Route 101, the famous Pacific Coast Highway that connects Canada to Mexico, passing through all of California.
The Shop is located in Ventura, about a hundred kilometers north of Los Angeles. Upon arrival, you're immediately surprised to discover a few gems in the display window, including a Thor and a Pope, as well as an Excelsior and a few Indians. These machines are either in excellent original condition, or were restored several years ago, which has given them a very pleasing patina. This matches the overall feel of the entire shop, whose old-fashioned, dusty appearance betrays its very long existence in these premises.
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
It all began when its founder and current owner, David Hansen, was still young. The year was 1967, and Dave discovered motorcycling with a 250 Honda scrambler. But he wanted something bigger, and if possible, something equivalent to a Harley, but specifically not a Harley. So, he bought an Indian Scout, which he found too fragile for his large frame, before replacing it with a Chief in parts. This forced him to get his hands dirty and learn the basics of the trade, with the help of some old-timers. Caught up in the passion, he bought other Indians at a time when they were worth little more than 100 greenbacks. By 1968, his garage increasingly resembled a workshop specializing in the Springfield brand, a reputation that quickly spread throughout the town, and then the surrounding area. For four years, David Hansen worked on his bikes, and those of his friends and an ever-growing number of customers. Until, in 1972, he decided to officially open his establishment, which he named "The Shop". It was first located on Fix Way, near downtown Ventura, before moving in 1975 to the edge of the "One-O-One."
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
Since then, nothing has changed in these premises, except that from time to time, Dave replaces the motorcycles displayed in his showroom, just to entertain customers and the many curious passers-by. Because with only one person at the counter, there can sometimes be a bit of a wait before being served. No big deal; it's an opportunity to linger over the richly and varied content of the display cases, but invariably "not for sale." Too bad for memorabilia collectors, they can drool over Ed Kretz's small cast iron Sport Scout or a pair of ornamental bricks extracted from the old Springfield factory, but without hoping to take them home. On one of the shelves sits a 1902 single-cylinder, which, according to David Hansen, is the oldest Indian still in existence. The man knows his stuff; we're happy to take his word for it. Besides the bikes in his shop, he owns about forty more in his personal collection, safely stored away at home. Harleys and Indians, but also Popes, Hendersons, Thors, Excelsiors, Ner-A-Cars, and even two Crockers.
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
Those who prove their worth by confessing their deep passion for these old machines to Dave might just be lucky enough to get a little backstage tour. You pass behind the counter and through a corridor that immediately immerses you in the atmosphere. Aisles of shelves on each side, knowing that everything on the left is Harley, everything on the right is Indian. And they go all the way to the ceiling. Then you enter a first workshop, then a second. Then an inner courtyard, where a few bikes await, including a Dispatch Tow, the Indian equivalent of the Servi-Car. But that's not all, because here's another workshop, with its share of bikes under construction or covered with tarps. And still more premises, not all of which we'll discover. Because eventually, they follow and resemble each other. Hansen opens two doors for us, and each time we come across tons – yes, tons of parts for old American bikes. "I bought all this at a time when it was worth nothing, you understand?" he says with an embarrassed air, almost as if justifying such potential wealth. As if one could fault such a lover of these rolling antiques for having fallen for them before anyone else. And of course, he's surrounded by his peers; his staff consists of a knowledgeable salesperson, two mechanics, and a specialized lathe operator. Among them is Johnny McClure, who rides a 1200 Chief every day, accompanied by his wife on a '49 Scout. Johnny loves to build fast engines, but also to ride them. He owns a 1938 Indian flat tracker, as well as a more modern 2002 Chief, which he pushes to the limit on the Bonneville salt flats. His last personal best was 255.83 km/h, not a class record, but his personal best. And that's what matters most to the dedicated team at "The Shop," who don't seem to be seeking fortune or expansion, but simply to perpetuate the local legend this shop has been for almost 45 years.
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
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Indian in THE SHOP Ventura California, Indian Motorcycle specialist[/caption]
CAMERON’S CROCKER
There's so much of everything everywhere in this shop that you sometimes walk past a marvel without even noticing it. It's only on the second glance that I marvel at this project bike, covered in superficial rust. A strange machine that happens to be one of David Hansen's two Crockers. It belonged to John Cameron, one of the co-founders of the Boozefighters MC in the 1940s. He was known for his love of antique Harleys, owning several semi-overhead valve engines from the '20s and even a rare "cut down job" based on an H-D 8-valve boardtracker engine. But also a 1938 Crocker, tinkered with during the fifties. Its V-Twin was housed in a reinforced Harley JD frame, where it was connected to its three-speed gearbox. On the single front downtube, you can still see the reinforcements, made with spring leaves welded in place. The fork is a rare mix of a 1929 Springer, already with "I-Beam" rear arms like on the 1930 VLs. A model sold as an accessory for the 1928 and '29 Twin Cam JH and JDH. As for the engine, Cameron, having blown his original cylinder heads, re-equipped his Crocker block with Knucklehead cylinder heads with custom, open rocker arms. When the bike was featured in "Big Bike Magazine" in 1972, it was already running on these Morad aluminum rims. And it is exactly in this livery that Dave Hansen intends to restore it. Hoping that he will one day finish this beautiful piece of Boozefighters history, because he also has a few other projects on the back burner…
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David Hansen THE SHOP Ventura[/caption]
David Hansen THE SHOP Ventura[/caption]
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Franck Margerin, Laurent Scavone, Fred Fosse, Charlie Lecach, David Hansen, Philippe Canville[/caption]
