Santiago Chopper Tribute To The Isle of Man Guzzi

to have the opportunity to compete at that level was worth the trip We continued racing in the Midwest and Canada until 1982. Over the years, we won many races and two championships and had a hell of a fun time racing! The sidecar racing started one at the races in Canada. After I had finished my race, we went over to a nearby corner to watch the sidecars run. We were watching these guys going around when Alma said, “That looks like a lot fun.” I agreed they look like they were having a great time. And to my surprise she said, “Let’s get one, and I will be the passenger and you can drive.” I answered yes. Later she was telling some of our racing friends about what she was going to do, they said she was crazy and she would never have the guts to do that. Her answer was, “Put your money where your mouth is!” She won and collected. I never had any doubt. Oh yes, she also won the rookie passenger of the year award from the Sidecar Racers Association. She was a very dynamic person, that’s what I loved about her. When she got into something, she was in 100 percent. When she wanted something, she went after it—even me. She picked me out of a crowd at a bike event and said to a girlfriend, “he is the one I want.” Now the question was, how she was going to let me catch her—a blind date. She knew a few members of the Detroit Highwaymen—I was a member. So with a little help from my friends, the rest is history. Thirty years later, she told me all about it. For the ladies reading this, she would tell you, go after the things that you want. In many cases, you will have only one chance to get it. She took no chances on gifts; she gave me her list. And ladies, don’t hope or hint about what you want, he will never get the message, tell him. Alma and I were married 38 years; she passed away in September of 2006 after fighting ovarian cancer. She loved life, going places, and doing things together. She wrote me a letter a few days before she died and ended it by saying, “We had a Great Ride.” It was true, we did have a great ride, and this story is dedicated to my sidecar passenger!

Joseph Rocheleau

After all this great reading and photo look back to the IOM TT, I can’t thank Joe enough for sharing his story with us. This is real; it’s old school. The bond between him and his wife Alma racing together goes beyond the power of motorcycles. It is life, it is love; it is a relationship that we all can learn from and be inspired by. Just when you think it’s over, it’s not over because ace Journalist Scott Odell went to the Isle of Man the summer of 2013 after this story ran to cover the race for Born To Ride. So in this issue, we’re seeing 1974 to 2013 and 2015 with Alain Bernards tribute Ducati to the Isle of Man all in this issue.

Two years ago I did my first Guzzi cafe racer, and I fell in love with the guzzi sport. It was something very different and the mechanical aspectss of this Italian bike are incredible-the power and torque of this engine are so cool. The customer saw an article about my Guzzi Memphis in a French magazine, and he contacted me to build this bike. He gave me total control over the project to create something original. The bike will be delivered to the French Riviera, it’s called Guzzi of Man. In tribute to the Isle of Man Races. If you would like a theme Motorcycle Concept built designed & fabricated for you give us a call at Santiago Chopper. 423-883-4867