Moto Beach Classic 2018
It is obvious what gets us going… If you're reading this, you too likely enjoy riding motorcycles, building motorcycles, surfing, surfboards, art, music, beer and all the fun stuff that goes with those things. Roland Sands is one of these people and he ramped up his Moto Beach Classic event for the second year, to be bigger and better than the first, with one of the best Punk Rock band lineups, two days of Super Hooligan racing, and the West Coast Board Riders surf contest, all on the sand in Huntington Beach, California. How they were able to talk the state of California into letting them have 40,000 punk rock listening, motorcycle fume breathing, surf turkeys to come out and drink beers, party to Bad Religion and watch some badassery in the form of motorcycle racing on the beach is beyond me, but bravo lets party!
For me, I was racing the Super Hooligan class aboard the Deus Emporium/ BA Moto built Triumph Scrambler, shaping surfboards alongside Surfboard builders Hall of Famer Mike Minchinton in the Minchinton Surfboards/Shaper Studios mobile shaping trailer, as well as competing in the West Coast Board Riders Surf and Turf division Representing Huntington Beach Boardriders. There was a never a dull moment to say the least!
Run what Ya Brung racing took on a whole new meaning when I ran from my surf heat straight to the racing pits and hopped on my '66 Triumph 500 Surf Scrambler in my shiny Deus wetsuit, redwing boots, and Bell helmet. No time to change! Drop the surfboard, saddle the cycle, grip it and rip it! The Crowd loved it at my expense, but hell if you aint having fun then you ‘aint livin’! To be fair that wetsuit was surely more aerodynamic than my moto gear?
From “Run what ya Brung” racing to Super Hooligan Racing, my gear and motorcycle changed, but the attitude did not. Thats the beauty of Super Hooligans it is serious, but not really. Fast but not everyone. I was somewhere in the middle. Between average joes, Freestyle Motocross icons, Former Flat Track national champs, and pro surfers. Its a melting pot of talents from all walks of life and everyone is having a hell time, but theres money and bragging rights on the line and no one showed up to get last place. Everyone is pinning it, racing all different kinds of motorcycles, getting squirrelly, racing a track the could fit in my backyard and just really going for it.
For us the highlight was surely the Surf and Turf moto/surf division. At the end of the surfing portion on Saturday morning we (Huntington Beach Boardriders) sat in second place behind the Southbay Boardriders team, but we know the moto portion would be our time shine. Myself and teammate Justin Mulford ended up finishing first and second to wrap up the win! But it got better when got the chance to get up on stage in front of the 20,000 fans to accept the trophy before the headliner of the night Social Distortion, (who, lets be honest, everyone was actually there for…) came on to finish off the weekend. Punk Rock, Surf, Motorcycles, I am already ready for next year!
Text by Forrest Minchinton, Images by Monti Smith
