[JackC]

Long ago, I went to the "Mecca" of Motorcycle shops with my uncle, who rode (still has it) a Guzzi Eldorado or Ambassador - don't remember which, but it was the first motorcycle I went over 100 mph on, back in '72 or 73, but I degress.

The shop was in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. and was called "Ghost Motorcycles". I figure close to Geeto. Are they still around? I tried searching on the web but didn't come up with anything last time I checked. I remember it was a really cool shop, crammed with old, unusal bikes (remeber this was the early 70's).

I just saw a ducati frame on egay from motorcycle world, which I think was in Port Washington, and wonder if they are the same place, just renamed.

Just curious....

 

[Camelhairy]

quote:
Long ago, I went to the "Mecca" of Motorcycle shops with my uncle, who rode (still has it) a Guzzi Eldorado or Ambassador - don't remember which, but it was the first motorcycle I went over 100 mph on, back in '72 or 73, but I degress.

The shop was in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. and was called "Ghost Motorcycles". I figure close to Geeto. Are they still around? I tried searching on the web but didn't come up with anything last time I checked. I remember it was a really cool shop, crammed with old, unusal bikes (remeber this was the early 70's).

I just saw a ducati frame on egay from motorcycle world, which I think was in Port Washington, and wonder if they are the same place, just renamed.

Just curious....

 

[Camelhairy]

quote:
The shop was in Port Washington, Long Island, NY. and was called "Ghost Motorcycles". I figure close to Geeto. Are they still around? I tried searching on the web but didn't come up with anything last time I checked. I remember it was a really cool shop, crammed with old, unusal bikes (remeber this was the early 70's).
Just curious....

Back when I was racing in the AAMRR my good friend George Rockett rode some very fast formula III Ducati's for them.

FC

 

[ROSKO]

Yup, they are still around. Gone through several manifestations and now they are 'Ghost' again and reside in the very same spot on Main St. Port Washington. I'm friends with some of the family, the owner (without dropping names) does sell things on ebay under the name 'Competition Motorcycles' (as I recall). At one point the grandfather and uncle split ways 'Ghost' being one and 'Comp.' the other. The details are sorted and not for me to disclose here in detail, lets save it for a chat trackside this season.

The shop is there and I can honestly say the stash of bikes and parts he has is probably beyond all our wildest dreams. He might not even know where all the stuff he has stashed is.

Speaking of mecca, the Ghost T-shirt is still one of my favorite shop t-shirts ever. I think my father bought his first bike there.

To top it all off, about ten years ago I did end up with a lot of great machine tools from that shop.... which I later had to pass-on for lack of space. A damn shame.



BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

 

[texmawby]

i know a couple of guys that rode for ghost. i'll happily trade stories next raceday (ply me with shine and i'll probably tell you more).

great name, great history!

texy



Edited by - texmawby on Feb 10 2007 09:07:55 AM

 

[ROSKO]

for years the phantom oiler site had this photo up (note the Ghost T) with a plea to anyone who may know who the rider was....

The site and photo are no longer up but at the time I asked the Ghost folks and (of course) they knew exactly who it was, we e-mail the name, never saw or heard anything else. Just another random tidbit.

BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

 

[JackC]

Thanks for the info. Those shirts were great! I remember going to the first motocross race at Unadilla Valley in upstate NY around 68 or 69 and there were a couple riders from there. Can't remember what bikes they were on, but back then it was all european, Bultacos, Maicos, Huskys, even a BSA or AJS thumper here and there.

Those old shops are alot of fun is you can paw around. There is one a few miles from me that kind of closed up, he has a NEW, unregistered Ducati SS, not sure of the model but it is blue and silver sitting there it is set up like a shrine. There are sheds full of brit bikes that I couldn't get into and literally littering the ground all around the shop are BMW's, old jap bikes, Motoguzzis, and at least 5 Ducati singles. There has got to be at least 100 there. I guess they were covered 20 years ago, but now out in the elements. Wish I could have gotten into the sheds......

His son was killed 100 yards from the shop pushing his bike home, and the father pretty much closed up and still grieves. The name of the shop is Circle S service in Belden NY. They have a newer shop up the road that sells Enfield Bullets and Koycera. I think they also do lawn and garden stuff. Its the old shop you want. NOS Ducati parts (70's up) etc.

 

[Geeto67]

quote:
Yup, they are still around. Gone through several manifestations and now they are 'Ghost' again and reside in the very same spot on Main St. Port Washington. I'm friends with some of the family, the owner (without dropping names) does sell things on ebay under the name 'Competition Motorcycles' (as I recall). At one point the grandfather and uncle split ways 'Ghost' being one and 'Comp.' the other. The details are sorted and not for me to disclose here in detail, lets save it for a chat trackside this season.

The shop is there and I can honestly say the stash of bikes and parts he has is probably beyond all our wildest dreams. He might not even know where all the stuff he has stashed is.

Speaking of mecca, the Ghost T-shirt is still one of my favorite shop t-shirts ever. I think my father bought his first bike there.

To top it all off, about ten years ago I did end up with a lot of great machine tools from that shop.... which I later had to pass-on for lack of space. A damn shame.


BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

Competition motorcycles comes from their previous partnership with competition auto glass (who did the windows on my GTO). No family relation involved but they spilt a couple of years ago.

They once pulled a nasty trick on my father selling a bike out from under him while he had a deposit (he left for an hour to go get the rest of the money cash). To get them back I made the deal for my first bike, cr125, on their lot and they didn't see a dime from the sale. Since then we have been friends but I don't think I could ever buy anything from them for fear I would end up with a machette in my back. Consequently they know I have a love of nortons, have several and they are the only bikes they won't show me. They did let me have a little fun with the new HD destroyer, which was cool.

Their "stash" isn't what it used to be. They used to have tons of old beautiful brit, italian, jap, and american bikes. Now 90% of their inventory is brand new harleys. They go right to the NY rep and buy them factory direct and seem to do ok cutting the dealers under the price but they really don't service stuff anymore. The only real vintage bikes they still have a few old harley projects, The old man's MV agusta signed by ago, a norton P11, the old man's collection of vespa's and lambrettas, and what ever small collection of stuff the son is hording at his house. They used to have tons of old bikes though, and everything for sale.

There are no other brick and mortar bike shops in Port Washington (which happens to be where I partially grew up) so there is a good chance it is them.

Edit: they used to be the Norton dealer and when I had my commando I used to replace all the broken electrical bits with NOS lucas stuff off their shelves. They knew the whole time there was better stuff out there but sold me the lucas stuff because at the time it wasn't worth anything and because I didn't know better. Somewhere out there is someone with a 72 yellow norton commando with NOS lucas wiring head to toe on it.

Edited by - Geeto67 on Feb 10 2007 09:30:10 AM

 

[ROSKO]

I think Geeto's story is a perfect analogy for dealing with them. I'll have to disagree about the stash, I hear the family complain about all the garage and basement space the old man ties up...

You know it's good stuff, he was the proud recipient of all the Berliners 'special' stock. I bet you could walk in there, wave a wad of cash, ask for a Greeves Silerstone and be led off the lot to some secret spot where one had been stashed new. Or at least I like to beleive that.

BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

 

[LiLBull]

this thread just drips with nostalgia and pirates gold stashed about ...someone needs to light a lantern and go look for the rest of us...we are on our seats REALLY scincerely sounds like a very interesting saga and if some one can find out where to get a tee shirt.....its all very interesting !!!

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

 

[Geeto67]

quote:
this thread just drips with nostalgia and pirates gold stashed about ...someone needs to light a lantern and go look for the rest of us...we are on our seats REALLY scincerely sounds like a very interesting saga and if some one can find out where to get a tee shirt.....its all very interesting !!!

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

I think I still have a T-shirt somewhere. They still have them if you are willing to walk in.

A buddy of mine from high school used to rent his garage to the old man. I got a peak in there one day and it was all restored prewar harleys and indians (WWII not WWI). That was 10 years ago and he doesn't rent there anymore. They had some trouble with the law a few years back and I think that is what prompted a lot of the really rare gems to be sold.

I may have painted them a little unfairly but their business practices for years were kind of sketchy. If you grew up in Nassau county between the 50's and the 80's and you rode a bike, you most likely bought it from ghost (or hempstead harley). I had friends who bought bikes from them and the old man would let them pay them off on layway (local kids only), and I knew of plenty of people whose bikes were sold out from under them, and a couple of people whose bikes were sold before they even talked to ghost about trade in value. They were characters.

 

[magnetoczar]

From what I know of them, "Pirates" is the descriptive word that best fits. Not that they weren't lovable pirates at times, nor creative and involved pirates, and certainly interesting pirates with a nice pile o' stash; but in the end a rose by any other name.......

Dgy

quote:
this thread just drips with nostalgia and pirates gold stashed about ...someone needs to light a lantern and go look for the rest of us...we are on our seats REALLY scincerely sounds like a very interesting saga and if some one can find out where to get a tee shirt.....its all very interesting !!!

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

 

[jbranson]

So a pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel attached to his groin. The bartender says...hey..pirate..what's with the steering wheel attached to your groin.
The pirate says "Arrg...It's driving me nuts"

JohnnyB

 

[LiLBull]

a little hottie walks into a bar ,ever one turns to look but she pays no attention and walks right over to the Gorilla sitting by him self in the corner ...she leans over provocatively and says "hey you dont see many Gorillas in here !
The Gorilla replys....AH WELL What would you expect ..with these drink prices....

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

 

[oldschoolorange]

A blonde walks into a bar and orders 12 vodka tonics, and passes out. 10 guys at the bar decide that she is fair game and take her out bakc and have their way with her. Next day same blonde walks in and orders 12 vodka tonics, drinks them all and passes out, another group of guys takes her out back and has their way with her. Next day the same bponde walks in the bar and asks for 12 screwdrivers. The Bartender looks at her and says "I thought you liked vodka tonics" The blonde replies " I do but they make my pussy hurt"

Hey someone pas me the wrench........ Ahh screw it where is the torch

 

[magnetoczar]

We've all heard about people having guts or balls. But Do you really know
the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, the definition
for each is listed below...

GUTS - is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being met by
your wife with a broom, and having the guts to ask: "Are you still cleaning,
or are you flying somewhere?"

BALLS - is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling of
perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the butt and
having the balls to say: "You're next"!!

I hope this clears up any confusion on the definitions. Medically speaking,
there is no difference in the outcome, since both ultimately results in death.

 

[ROSKO]

HOLY SKULLS TAKEOVER BATMAN!



BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

 

[texmawby]

is rod here?

if so, i'm going to fucking albania.

tex