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Fallbrook has a sizable population of collectors of vintage motorcycles, including some bikes that were loaned to Guggenheim Museum’s “Art of the Motorcycle”—which inspired Mary Perhacs, executive director of the Fallbrook Art Center, who put together the first “Wheels of Desire” Motorcycle show in 2003 and again in 2004.
Due to the illness of the first curator, Rainbow resident Dick Pearce, the show was sidelined for a few years, but now it has returned. The third annual “Wheels of Desire” will be held July 11–Aug. 15 at the art center. Featured are some of the rarest and most sensational motorcycles to be found in southern California, including a 1899 DeDion, 1917 Harley Davidson board tracker, 1947 Vincent Black Shadow, one of the first Hondas, and some modern custom motorcycles. A section of the show, sponsored by Monster Energy, is devoted to motocross/supercrossfor younger enthusiasts. The primary curator is Fallbrook resident Greg MacDonald, who will have bikes in the show and has worked with several area collectors to gather “the best of the best” examples of bikes spanning over 100 years—and who has managed to get his hands on the 1899 DeDion Trike. Perhacs praises MacDonald, “who had the connections (as well as a very fine collection himself), and more importantly, the respect of his peers who agreed to lend their wonderful bikes.” The other curator is Jim Swan, also of Fallbrook, who has assembled a collection of Monster Energy Supercross/Motocross bikes from the dawn of motocross, in the 1960s, to the present. The difference between motocross and supercross is that motocross is raced cross-country while supercross happens in stadiums. Swan, who sits on the board of directors of the Art Center’s nonprofit parent organization, Fallbrook Arts Inc., is very familiar with the history of the “dirt bike” as he owned a motorcycle dealership in Illinois. He secured the Monster Energy sponsorship, along with its help obtaining historic and current bikes of this genre. According to Swan, “Motocross started in the 1960s, probably in Europe, and in the early 70s, the Japanese companies got involved. I’ve got an early 70’s Husqvarna, a Husqvarna 250 MX.” He has also obtained a Hodaka Super Rat (circa 1970) that was one of the very earliest Japanese motocross bikes, made by a combination of Japanese and American interests. “We will also have some stepping stone bikes. By the early 70s, the Japanese had started to dominate motocross, so one of the earliest bikes is an Elsinore by Honda, one of the real stepping stones in the history, that was done to penetrate the American bike market. Nineteen seventy three [1973] was a watershed year for a major manufacturer,” recalls Swan. He says the exhibit will also probably have a championship bike from the mid- 1980s, the heyday of motocross, and then a current Team Kawasaki Monster Energy, Kawasaki 250 Supercross, that has been ridden by Christophe Pourcel, who just won the 250 Supercross Championship in 2010. This addition is new, and is in keeping with Perhac’s philosophy, of, as she puts it, “always expanding our audience, and realizing the regional popularity of this sport, it seemed like a natural addition.” Visitors will be treated to a wide cross section of bikes—not only the diversity of the makes and models, but they will also be able to read the stories posted by each bike with notes about the bike’s history and the history of the bike’s owners … some of whom discovered their treasurers in ‘baskets’ and worked for over 20 years restoring the machines. Not all the bikes are ‘museum’ pieces … some are ridden daily by the owners who are loaning their “babies” for the five week show. The exhibit will also include motorcyclerelated art from several artists : Mark Jurecki is a sculptor who lives in Carlsbad. His two pieces are ceramic. One piece, “Won’t Start” shows a man failing to kick-start a chopper based on a 61 panhead. His companion has lost interest. This work was inspired by a roadside tableau in Florida. Menifee artist Don Roth’s whimsical work “Touring Tabby” is from his “Kool-Kat Kollection.” The work is acrylic on canvas with some use of airbrush. Finally there’s Murrieta artist Rich Stergulz. Rich has created two new works just for theshow, including a painting of “Harley Mike” who rides a 1930 Harley Davidson. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, July 10, from 5-7 p.m. ($20 per person, FAC Premier Level Members Free), with the show running daily from July 11 to August 15. Hours: Mon-Sat 10-4, Sundays Noon-3. Admission is $8, FAC Members Free. Fallbrook Art Center is located in Fallbrook’s Historic Downtown District at 103 South Main, Fallbrook CA, 92028. For other information, please call FAC at 760-728-1414 or visit www.fallbrookartcenter.org. |
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You don't have to be a biker to appreciate "Wheels of Desire"
The Fallbrook Arts, Inc. website development was provided by the County of San Diego at the recommendation of Supervisor Bill Horn.