This is a true story about an ORIGINAL BOOZEFIGHTERS’ creation. It is a genuine CAFÉ RACER built from scratch by Vern Autrey. There are a lot of mechanical innovations included but most of all I like his personal touches to make it a unique custom design. For example…there is a fifth of real JACK DANIELS BLACK inserted into the top of the tank and held in place by Velcro. WHY? Just because! And why is it named the “ALL AMERICAN CAFÉ ??? Well go figure…or ask Vern the next time you see him. It’s just his kind of thaaang!

March 19, 2007 on our way back from the SONY film interview we (Dancer, Edith, and JQ) dropped Pat Q off at her daughter Becca’s house in Walnut, CA. and continued on to Vern’s ranch outside of Beaumont, CA.

Vern had been telling me (JQ) about a café racer he was building. Said he did a few little things that would make it scat pretty good on those desert cow-trail’n races he’s still into. Must be working out good for he’s got a big collection of trophies to back it up. Not bad for an old Boozefighter that’s 81 years young I’d say.

We had a good time visiting with him and his wife Betty, touring the ranch, seeing his memorabilia collection and all. But most interestingly was that bike he built. Vern decided to give us a bit of an exhibit of its performance abilities.

Out on a dry lakebed – there were speed demons running their speed machines. All kinds of race cars would run the long strip, then bring them back and tweak the carbs and such, then go run again. There wasn’t anything-official going on – just a bunch of people blowing the cobwebs out.

There were quiet a few motorcycles out there too. Among one group of people there was a hot sounding 1200 Harley Sportster. It caught Vern’s eye so naturally he had to investigate. The dude on the Sporty had to keep twisting on the throttle to keep it from die’n with that deep POP – POP – POP’n sound.

“That motor sounds pretty strong,” Vern says. “Is it fast?”Yeah man – it’s fast. What ta hell are you ridding there pops? Oh that’s just my café racer, Vern replied. I see you’ve got a Boozefighter sticker on it. Are you a Boozefighter? Yeah well I’ve been accused of being one a time or two. I thought Boozefighters only rode Harleys. That’s a Honda isn’t it? Well there you go think’n. But as long as I keep winning nobody’s told me I can’t, Vern added with a smile.

Then the dude smarts off and says…say old-timer, that thing you’re riding sounds like it’s grinding rice. If I spot you a little distance ya think you could finish a quarter wiff me? No body spots me anything and I’ll run you for a half if you want too. Ya wan’a put a little money on it? Only way I like to run. How about a hundred? Vern pulls out five big ones and waives it in his face saying, how about we make it interesting…you got $500.00?

So then the dude calls a huddle with his friends and they all start digging in their pockets for cash. Eventually they come up with the matching funds. A natural by-stander was selected to hold the winnings and Vern and the dude pull their bikes out on the strip.

The dude looks over at Vern with a smirk and asked…do you want a roll’n start or just say go? GO! Vern hollered out as he popped the clutch and shot off like a dart. The Sporty dug into the packed salt / sand and sprayed up a storm as it finally got traction and sped off after Vern. It was hard to see a half a mile away but looked like Vern took him.

Then there looked like some kind of confrontation going on between the two and they lined up facing the starting point. Suddenly you could see them off again with a big rooster tail following the Harley, and its strong unwinding motor sound was heard really loud. But as they got closer there was no doubt…Vern’s whinning 1972 Honda Café Racer was in the lead again. As he crossed the finish line, approximately 13 links ahead, he had this funny “AW SUCKES” grin on his face. He enjoyed that!!!

As Vern collected the $1000.00 purse the dude approached and shook his hand, and inquired…man what’s ya got in that thing? Vern gave a rare smile and said, nothing but a bunch of bumble bees with long legs, and as you can see it’s topped off with Jack Daniels – yuck – yuck – yuck.

JQ `HISTORY’

Post Note: Later I learned those bumble bees’ long legs has something to do with a low in take off and a topping out winding gear. Go figure! But the big question is: What badass BF’er is goin’a tell Vern he can’t keep rid’n and rac’n and win’n on that rice grind’n Café Racer?

"CAFE RACER BEFORE PAINT JOB."