S.E. Rochelle Reliability Run -March 30th, 2019, Durham NC

Saturday March 30th 2019

All bikes are welcome but the oldest bike to start and finish wins the prize. 

SCHEDULE:

WHEN: Saturday March 30th, 2019

WHERE: James Joyce Irish Pub

                912 W Main St 

                Durham, NC 27701

Noon - 1PM

Registration (FREE)

1 PM - 2PM

Reliability Run (40 mi) and Duke Campus Photo

3PM - Till 

Award to the Oldest Bike to Complete Run

Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/589235178258323/

1913 & 2013 Reliability Run Vintage Motorbikes from all over the world will started and finished in Durham, NC. A 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 motorbike successfully completing the ride.  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.

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

-Brian/Chad

Bull City Rumble 12: Sept. 2-3, 2016 -North Carolina's Largest Vintage Motorcycle Show & Rally -Downtown Durham, NC (Labor Day Weekend)

September 2-3, 2016

The Bull City Rumble is a world-renowned vintage motorcycle and scooter rally hosted by Ton Up NC annually on Labor Day Weekend in Durham, NC. Thematically, the event has its roots in the traditional rivalry of Mods vs. Rockers, the sensationalized clash of two youth cultures- scooter riding mods and motorcycle riding rockers, in 1960’s England. The event has evolved from its humble beginnings in a parking lot in 2005 to a multi-venue, multi-day rally drawing thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world.

The hosts, Ton Up NC, are a small not for profit group of enthusiasts with a singular goal: to promote the riding, restoration and racing of vintage motorcycles. 2016 marks Ton Up NC’s 13th anniversary as an organization and marks the 11th edition of the Bull City Rumble. When not organizing events, the members of Ton Up NC compete nationally in vintage dirt and road motorcycle racing.

On Labor Day weekend, 2016 (Sept. 2-3), downtown Durham will again be filled with the sights and sounds of vintage scooters, motorcycles and enthusiasts from all four corners of the globe. The historic Lucky Strike Tobacco Warehouses in Durham’s Brightleaf District serves as the backdrop for the annual bike show on Saturday, September 3 where judges are not necessarily looking for the prettiest and cleanest machines but who are looking for well ridden bikes with personality and craftsmanship. Later, festivities move indoors to the Social for some of the finest burlesque dancers in the South, Rock and Roll music and refreshments.

Make plans to come join us for one of the best two-wheeled events in the South: The Bull City Rumble September 4-5, 2015.

Pre-Register Here

BIKE SHOW CATEGORIES INCLUDE:

• Vintage British (up to 1979)
• Vintage European (BMW, Guzzi, Ducatti etc. up to 1979)
• Vintage Japanese (up to 1979)
• Vintage American (up to 1979)
• Post Vintage (1980-2000 classic sport bikes etc. vs. cruisers)
• Retro Modern (Modern Bonnie, Guzzi V7 Classic, Kaw w650 etc.)
• Competition (vintage dirt/road race bikes)
• Vintage Scooter/Moped

All entries must run.

THE SCHEDULE:

Fri. September 2 

7:00pm-?  Rumble Registration Pre-Party

Green Room

1108 Broad Street, Durham, NC

Sat. September 3

11:00am Motorcycle Breakfast

1:00pm Vintage Motorcycle, Scooter and Cafe Racer Show

1007 W. Main Street, Durham, NC

4:30pm Bike Show Awards and AHRMA Charity Raffle

1007 W. Main Street, Durham, NC

5:00pm-? Bull City Rumble After Party at The Social

Featuring: 

Little Lesley and the Bloodshots

Hearts and Daggers

The Low Counts 

plus Burlesque

1007 W. Main Street, Durham, NC

WHERE TO STAY:

Days Inn ($51 and up)
3460 Hillsborough Road Durham, NC 27705 (919) 383-1551

Red Roof Inn ($60 and up)
1915 N Pointe Dr Durham, NC 27705 (919) 471-9882

Hilton Garden Inn ($101 and up)

2102 West Main St, Durham, NC 27705 (closest to the Rumble epicenter)

Hampton Inn Suites ($101 and up)
1542 North Gregson Street, Durham, NC 27701 (919) 688-8880

Marriott City Center ($139 and up)
201 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701 (888) 236-2427

Homewood Suites by Hilton (from $125)

 3600 Mount Moriah Road, Durham, NC 27705 (919) 401-0610

PRE-REGISTER HERE FOR $20 AND SAVE:

http://tonup.bigcartel.com/product/bull-city-rumble-11-pre-registration

Please support this year's sponsors:

Hemo Bioscience

Combustion Cycles

Durham Tire

CITY LIMIT MOTO

Viking Bags

Motorcycle House

James Joyce Irish Pub

Alivia's Durham Bistro

New Bull City Rumble 10 Products...

BULL CITY RUMBLE 10 T-SHIRT.

Your new favorite back t-shirt.

$20 BUY IT HERE and SUPPORT THE RUMBLE.

BULL CITY RUMBLE 10 SHOW PRINT.

Stunning 4 color print. Limited edition of 200.

Hand-signed and numbered by the artist: 

Martin Cimek 

(Cafe Racer TV, Mods vs. Rockers Comics/Gear etc. etc.)

$25 BUY THEM HERE and SUPPORT THE RUMBLE.

For more information on the Bull City Rumble vintage motorcycle and scooter show go to www.bullcityrumble10.com

Bull City Rumble Poster Bundle

Get all three Bull City Rumble Posters in one shot for $9.98.

All posters are 11" x 17" full color machine printed.

Included in this bundle:

Bull City Rumble 7 event poster ©2011

Bull City Rumble 8 event poster ©2012

Bull City Rumble 9 event poster ©2013

All posters designed by Martin Cimek (Triumph, Mods vs. Rockers Comics, Ton Up Chicago).

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

New! BULL CITY RUMBLE 9 BUNDLE: (Shirt/Patch/Stickers for $20)

The Bull City Rumble 9 Bundle includes:

One Bull City Rumble 9 two-sided shirt: Small-XXXL
(note that XXXL's are one-sided print T's)

One Bull City Rumble 9 Rally Patch

Three Ton Up NC Stickers

A $30 value for Just $20 plus s/h

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

2013 International Motorcycle Shows: Atlanta Recap.

Ahhh… the final event of the motorcycle calendar year, The International Motorcycle Shows Atlanta edition, is now just a bittersweet memory. We'd like to thank those of you stopped by to check out our exhibit, chatted with us about our bikes and/or the Bull City Rumble, financially supported us by buying some Ton Up NC/Bull City Rumble merchandise, to Ton Up Highlands for bringing some bikes for the display, to Combustion Cycles for lending us a trailer and motorcycle and an extra big thanks to the staff at Progressive International Motorcycle Shows for inviting us to participate again this year. I hope you all had as much fun as we did.

For those of you who missed it or just had questions about the bikes in the display, below is a L-R list of the bikes that we brought (feel free to email us with specific questions at tonupnc@gmail.com):

1951 Vincent Black Shadow Series C

1961 Triumph 5TA Speed Twin "Bathtub Bike"

1964 Triton

1966 Norton Atlas

1962 Triton (not pictured)

1966 Triumph T120 "Big D" TT Special

1973 Bultaco Pursang 350

If you missed this stop in the IMS tour, there are still a several left to check out and likely one that is close to your neck of the woods if you are in the North, Midwest, or Left Coast. Click for a complete International Motorcycle Shows tour listing.

We hope to see you all next year at the races, shows and on the streets of NC and beyond… for a complete schedule of upcoming races and events you might see us at click here. To help support our mission and help us fund upcoming events please purchase something from our online store by clicking here.

Duc girls Ton Up in Atlanta.

Jenna Pye on the Atlas. 

L-R: Marcus, Brian, Chad, Fletch (Ton Up Chicago)

Ton Up NC = Riding, Racing and Restoration of Vintage Motorcycles

JKutchma and the Five Fifths LIVE 3.28.2013

A fine Thursday evening for a show it was. On this night, the band was JKutchma and the Five Fifths. J, one of my oldest pals from life and one of my favorite local Durham musicians, took the stage at the Pinhook in downtown Durham, NC at about 11:30pm and played about an hour of great music. J, up to this point, probably best known for his work in the rock band, Red Collar, has been doing this solo thing (well sort of solo, but with a backing band) for a spell now and is about to release his second album under the JKutchma and the 5/5 moniker in June 2013 on Last Chance Records. The music is not always exactly country and not always exactly rock and roll all the time, but definitely lingers somewhere in those two realms. From the brooding "I'll Survive" to the toe tapping "Teenage DMZ" he's probably got you covered when it comes to a tune that you'll be humming long after hearing it and live he leaves a quite an impression. If you are in the area on or one of his future tour dates, I'd highly recommend going out to check him out, he rarely disappoints. Watch the video below to see what I mean.

Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles

-Brian

2013 Rumble Shirts for sale now!

Design by Martin Cimek

The new 2013 Bull City Rumble shirts are now available for sale!

Buy them here!

We will also have these available for sale at all upcoming events, including the Charlotte International Motorcycle Show next weekend 2/22-24.

Thanks for your support!

-Brian

The S.E. Rochelle Reliability Run

Every Spring in Durham

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

-Brian/Chad

Updated: 2/5/2014

Honky Tonkin' with Howie and Swingle

John Howie Jr. and Rosewood Bluff @ Casbah

On December 8, 2012 after an afternoon of front porch banter and an abundance of bloating Mexican food for dinner we decided to roll out to the local concert hall, The Casbah (home of the 2011 and 2012 Bull City Rumbles), to see some of the finest country music the area has to offer: John Howie and Rosewood Bluff and Melissa and the Swinglers.

Melissa Swingle (Left) and the Swinglers @ Casbah

Melissa Swingle and her band the Swinglers were the second act on the bill this evening (we missed the first). Melissa is veteran of the local alt. country/blues/garage rock scene. Her bands: Trailer Bride, The Moaners and now, The Swinglers always deliver the goods. Swingle's erie Southern drawl layered over some reverb soaked guitar is always a winning formula and tonight was no exception.

Melissa and the Swinglers @ Casbah

Melissa and the Swinglers @ Casbah

Jowhn Howie @ Casbah

Next up was local music legend, John Howie. John has been at this country music thing for a while now, his current project arose from the ashes of the Two Dollar Pistols and continues in the beer-drenched sorrowful honky-tonk fashion that you've come to expect from him. Needless to say, we enjoyed the show immensly.

John Howie Jr. and Rosewood Bluff @ Casbah

John Howie Jr. and Rosewood Bluff @ Casbah

Ton Up NC = Riding, Restoration and Racing of Vintage Motorcycles

-Brian/Marcus