Nov. 19 and 20, 2011
An inexpensive room, a few tanks of gasoline, and "a happening!" The grand poo-bah of this event (Dean Tanji) wrote these words, and I'm going to appropriate them, with the proper attribution, naturally.
Pink's is an honest-to-goodness Hollywood icon, sub-cultural gathering spot and 2007 IBR bonus location. The establishment doesn't know we are coming nor do they care. Whether you're Mike Kneebone, Barack Obama, Lisa Landry, Angelina Jolie, or Elvis, everyone waits in line. And the 1-hour+ wait at midnight for a $3.10 chili dog is a unique Hollywood experience. Jacked up pickups, bouncing lowriders, Porsches, pimpmobiles, junkers, and LD motorcycle rigs all share a miniscule parking lot while stretch limos and Hummers circle the block while their contents wait in the 1-hour+ line. Besides us LDRiders with ATGATT, it would not be unusual to see unique body piercing, facial tattoos, the best body modifications that money can buy, spikes and dreadlocks, prom dresses, grunge street wear and barefoot surfers standing in line.
The long distance riding community is another group that really seems to know what fun is. Now, of course, many of these people are "Type-A" personalities - and it shows.
Just for example...many of the regular participants recognize traffic entering just north of downtown Los Angeles can be a traffic headache - even on a weekend night. Which is partially why this event 'starts' around 10pm - and ends...oh, when the last person decides to leave.
Our ride into town was exciting - from 60 MPH to 20 in the blink of an eye! Gotta be a good rider, just to get here, it seems! This is the eighth annual version of this event...
So, what d'ya do? More of the "bench racing" or "shoot-the-bull" that comes with riding some incredible activities. Now, since I just recently joined this little gathering of enthusiasts by doing my first Saddlesore just a couple months ago; these people 'get it'.
No, they're enablers...yes, they are: 😂
So, we get finished...head back to the bikes, and another hour or so (much less traffic...) back to the room. I'll met the others tomorrow at their hotel; I had points to use, so I'm staying a few miles away. Nothing but the sounds of the freeway in the distance to lull me to sleep...
Pinks - Nov., 2015
So we went back. At some point in the history of this event, it's been held in conjunction with the The International Motorcycle Shows® which is the world’s largest consumer motorcycle show tour. Since this event is based out of southern California, the first show of the season typically happens in Long Beach. Coincidence, or just good planning? The show has had periodic stops in the Phoenix metro area, thus there's not been a need/desire to make the 400+ mile trip just to go to the motorcycle show.
This time, we're able to stay a LOT closer to the establishment, since we now have family reasonably close to it! Woo-hoo!
Yes, we went back to Pink's in 2016...this was the only photo I took. Much earlier, and, yes, the line is much shorter.
Nothing changed...still a fun time! Is there a return trip in 2019? Perhaps a full weekend, including a trip to the motorcycle show? New blog entry if that happens! 😎
20190714
An inexpensive room, a few tanks of gasoline, and "a happening!" The grand poo-bah of this event (Dean Tanji) wrote these words, and I'm going to appropriate them, with the proper attribution, naturally.
Pink's is an honest-to-goodness Hollywood icon, sub-cultural gathering spot and 2007 IBR bonus location. The establishment doesn't know we are coming nor do they care. Whether you're Mike Kneebone, Barack Obama, Lisa Landry, Angelina Jolie, or Elvis, everyone waits in line. And the 1-hour+ wait at midnight for a $3.10 chili dog is a unique Hollywood experience. Jacked up pickups, bouncing lowriders, Porsches, pimpmobiles, junkers, and LD motorcycle rigs all share a miniscule parking lot while stretch limos and Hummers circle the block while their contents wait in the 1-hour+ line. Besides us LDRiders with ATGATT, it would not be unusual to see unique body piercing, facial tattoos, the best body modifications that money can buy, spikes and dreadlocks, prom dresses, grunge street wear and barefoot surfers standing in line.
The long distance riding community is another group that really seems to know what fun is. Now, of course, many of these people are "Type-A" personalities - and it shows.
Just for example...many of the regular participants recognize traffic entering just north of downtown Los Angeles can be a traffic headache - even on a weekend night. Which is partially why this event 'starts' around 10pm - and ends...oh, when the last person decides to leave.
Our ride into town was exciting - from 60 MPH to 20 in the blink of an eye! Gotta be a good rider, just to get here, it seems! This is the eighth annual version of this event...
So, what d'ya do? More of the "bench racing" or "shoot-the-bull" that comes with riding some incredible activities. Now, since I just recently joined this little gathering of enthusiasts by doing my first Saddlesore just a couple months ago; these people 'get it'.
No, they're enablers...yes, they are: 😂
 |
| Dumpy, dive-style hot dog place - world-famous, so they say! |
 |
| A parking lot full of serious motorcyclists. |
 |
| Huge lines but they tend to move fast. It also gives time to shoot-the-breeze with another group of people. |
So, we get finished...head back to the bikes, and another hour or so (much less traffic...) back to the room. I'll met the others tomorrow at their hotel; I had points to use, so I'm staying a few miles away. Nothing but the sounds of the freeway in the distance to lull me to sleep...
 |
| Partly cloudy and cool - hey, it's almost winter time in the desert!! |
Pinks - Nov., 2015
So we went back. At some point in the history of this event, it's been held in conjunction with the The International Motorcycle Shows® which is the world’s largest consumer motorcycle show tour. Since this event is based out of southern California, the first show of the season typically happens in Long Beach. Coincidence, or just good planning? The show has had periodic stops in the Phoenix metro area, thus there's not been a need/desire to make the 400+ mile trip just to go to the motorcycle show.
This time, we're able to stay a LOT closer to the establishment, since we now have family reasonably close to it! Woo-hoo!
 |
| We meet up with Marc & Dee for the trek across the desert to Pink's - again! |
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| One of those "shot while going down the road" photos |
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| Same story...some of the same people are here, but then there are others that have made the journey. |
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| By the time the evening is in full swing, we have consumed virtually all of the 'close-in' parking. |
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| Hey, the people in cars might be pissed, but we jam five bikes in the space of two cars - we win! |
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| Hey, look - it's Marc & Dee! |
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| Oooh...blurred, but an image of the event's Grand poo-bah, Dean Tanji. |
Yes, we went back to Pink's in 2016...this was the only photo I took. Much earlier, and, yes, the line is much shorter.
Nothing changed...still a fun time! Is there a return trip in 2019? Perhaps a full weekend, including a trip to the motorcycle show? New blog entry if that happens! 😎
20190714
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