Re: CAFE Racers, Was Import Regs

[greg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

On Fri, 25 Jul 2003, Jim Cheney wrote:

> "Many safety and emission regulations have been altered to include them.
> Fuel economy regs for them are different. As far as I know, they are still
> not
> included under CAFE (this is where the term CAFE Racer arose, underpowered
> but highly stylized cars in the 70's, such as the Mustang II King Cobra),"
>
> Actually, no.  A Cafe Racer was a term for a performance motorcycle up through
> the 60's.
> Does anyone know where the term really comes from?  I dont, but I know it
> pre-dates the
> 70's - and I've never heard it in the context listed above.

When motorcycles were catching on in Europe (I think Britain), the
motorcyclists would go from coffee shop to coffee shop, often times racing
to the next one. I believe there was one race that involved going on a
circuit to specific locations and across a bridge and then back again, but
I'm not totally sure on that. Either way, I believe it was the racing
between coffee shops is how CAFE races got their name/start.

Perhaps others have more information.

BTW, this was all described on History channel (I think) covering the
history of the motorcycle.

Greg
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided