Pictured: SE Rochelle and Wife, Durham, NC circa 1920something.
In April 2013, Ton Up N*C presented the SE Rochelle Reliability Run as a 100 year tribute tribute to S.E. Rochelle's contribution to North Carolina's motorcycle heritage. Here were the details:
1913 & 2013 Reliability Run
Vintage Motorbikes (1969 and Older) from all over the world will started and finished in Durham, NC via Greensboro, NC (Natty Greene's Brewery). A 120 mile low speed round-trip ride through the Carolina countryside. The ultimate two-wheel attrition test of mechanic and machine. Awards were given to the oldest motorbikes successfully completing the ride. Categories included: British, German, Italian, American, Japanese and Scooter
SCHEDULE: Saturday Morning April 6th, 2013 -Launch Location Motorco in Durham, NC: Kickstands Up
-Arrive at Greensboro lunch location
-Return to Durham, NC
-Awards
RULES and REGULATIONS: 1) Motorbike must start and finish under own power. 2) Motorbike age determined by manufacturer year, month and serial number. 3) Mechanical stops are allowed but tools an supplies must be stowed on motorbike. 4) This is NOT a race and all local, State and Federal laws must be followed. 5) Route to be posted to pre-registrants 6) Pre-register with name, year, make and model of motorcycle by emailing tonupnc@gmail.com
Inside Rochelle's Durham shop (photo courtesy of Durham Library).
Sidney Edgar Rochelle (1878-1960) was a veteran, a business man and most importantly to us, a motorcycle enthusiast from Durham, NC, the place a handful of us Ton Up NC boys call home. From 1910 to 1954, SE Rochelle owned and operated the local Harley Davidson/Henderson/Indian dealership formerly located on the corner of Parrish and Corcoran St (and later on Mangum St.) in Durham. This was North Carolina's first Harley Davidson Dealership.
Rochelle not only provided the Durham motorcyclists with bikes, he created a motorcycle community in ways ranging from his promotion of motorcycle related attractions at the local amusement park, to the organization of a riding club and many local versions of the AMA sanctioned Gypsy Day Tour rides. Rochelle's Gypsy Day rides consisted of a round trip from Durham to Greensboro and back. Rochelle's club also traveled all over the USA.
Outside the old shop on Parrish Street, SE Rochelle is 2nd from right. (photo courtesy Durham Library).
Chad and I outside the old 208 Parrish Street location of Rochelle's old shop. It is Dos Perros restaurant now.
Whirl of Death motordome at Lakewood Park in Durham (photo courtesy of Durham Library).
Rochelle's Durham Gypsy Day Tour ride circa 1923 at Trinity College now Duke University.
(photo courtesy of Durham Library)
Durham motorcyclists band together (photo courtesy of Durham Library).
SE Rochelle and his motorcycle club circa 1910 (photo courtesy of Durham Library).
For more information on SE Rochelle, visit the Endangered Durham website, to which I am indebted for much of my knowledge about Mr. Rochelle.
Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles
The chill of fall, the smell of burnt oil and gasoline, the twist of the throttle and the cloud of dust that follows. There's nothing quite like a dirt-bike ride on a cool autumn morning. The trails and tracks at Henderson, NC's North Carolina Motorsports Park have been a weekend playground for us Ton Up NC folk for some time now. Here's some pics and video from some recent weekends at NCMP and a few from the not so distant past...
Marcus and his Taco
Brian on Chad's 441
Alex and Jim sort the T25T "Field Pig"
Chad in a moment of XR200R love.
Eric and son on the TT.
Trail videos...
If you know of other great NC places to ride, public or private, do let us know. We're always looking to explore new and interesting dirt.
Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles
Dick Mann was born June 13, 1934 in SLC, Utah. Dick Mann is the two-time winner of the AMA Grand National Championship. Dick Mann was inducted in the the Motorsports and Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. Dick Mann raced flat track, TT, motocross, observed trials and road races. Dick Mann was the second winningest rider in the AMA Grand National Series history (24 national victories). Dick Mann is known as one of the most talented and versatile riders ever and for wearing a cheap straw hat while working on his motorcycle. On July 28, 2012, at the ripe old age of 78, Dick Mann designed the AHRMA scrambles course in Terra Alta, WV and posed for pictures with members of Ton Up N*C.
The campground was thick with old American iron, the sounds of thumping engines echoed through the countryside and the smell of burning gasoline and oil permeated the air...
Thanks again to the AMCA for having us and thanks to everyone who stopped by our tent to say hi and/or to buy some Bull City Rumble gear. The next AMCA Southern National Meet is scheduled for May 16, 17 and 18, 2013. We will be there, you should plan on attending too.
If you missed us at the AMCA meet and would still like to get a Bull City Rumble shirt, patch or poster please visit our store.
Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles
