No Love Party | Part 6

The Pike

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No Love Party | Part 5

Everyone’s favorite. Piston’s bar.

Stop by if you’re in the mood for a drink and Mr. Piston’s Leather.

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No Love Party | Part 4

Bob’s Big Boy. Always a Classic.

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No Love Party | part 3

Stop #2, Sugar Bear’s.

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No Love Party | part 2

Part 2 of 7: The coolest old school motorcycle shop around.

If you’re in the LBC and want to visit a cool, old school motorcycle shop, take the drive over the Vincent Thomas Bridge and get yourself to Century Motorcycles in San Pedro. It’s what a motorcycle shop should be: filled with vintage bikes, old photos and trophies, and a hint of oil in the air that makes you feel right at home. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the opportunity to meet Cindy Rutherford, the owner. If you’re really lucky she won’t run you down in her motorized baby buggy she pilots, and that has been rumored to do smoky burn outs all over 911’s up and down Pacific Ave. The shop has been passed down from her pop who started the shop in 1936. When we were at Century the day of the poker run, Cindy had us say “hi” to her dad whose ashes are right in the show room resting, appropriately enough, in a Vincent tank. We asked her to tell us a little about him and here’s one of the stories she shared:

“My Dad’s name was William Cotton, and during the depression he raced Harleys. He never lost a race. Later on, out of our sign business, he used to sell the motorcycles he won racing for pink slips. That’s how we got the money to open Century where it is located now. Boy, he would wax those guys every time! I got to hold the pink slips. After he would beat them up on “Vincent” Mountain (Rancho Palos Verdes starting at the reservoir) he would offer to let them win their motorcycle back for $100.00 in a drag race by the shop. He would tell those guys, “Now son, I am a pro, and pros don’t race for free. Give my daughter a $100.00 to hold and I’ll tell you what–you take a couple of laps with my Vincent Lightning and I will take the motorcycle I just won off of you and see if I can beat you again.” They fell for it every time, and he would beat them every time. Ever see a grown man cry? It isn’t always a pretty site. I might add that he wouldn’t let just anyone ride The Lightning, just the real qualified riders. He often said some of them couldn’t ride a stick horse. His Vincent Lightning is the 30th one made out of only 30 bikes.”

So, get over there, say “hi” to Bill, and spend some time with Cindy and her son, Tim. You’ll be glad you took the time.

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