Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/709503
US, UK, Sweden, East and West Germany, the former Czechoslovakia, Spain, Mexico and Japan. And they run the gamut of types, from tame, run-to-the-grocery-store street bikes to bare- bones, no-brakes, single-gear dir t-track machines to maximum horsepower road racing crotch rockets to a former Hell's Angels Harley. "It's eclectic," Talbott says, "but that's what I love." In this room, the gleaming motorcy- cles are literally stacked to the ceiling, arranged on custom-built racks in addition to others neatly arranged around the floor. A basement contains an array of dir t bikes, arranged in chronological order. Here also are a few gems: dir t track bikes owned, used and donated by several local former racers. In some cases, these men also included the hel- mets, leathers, race posters, tools and spare par ts. Talbott has left these machines untouched, in the condition they were in the last time they came off the track. The back of the building houses what Talbott calls the "barn-find room." This is where the preser- vation part of Talbott's equation is most evident. These bikes are not restored—and they look it. "I will not restore a piece if it has a cool story," he says. "Once it's restored, you lose the story." What's remarkable is that even though these barn-finds look uber rough, most of them actually run. "Bobby is amazing," Talbott says. "I'll bring in a basket case and he'll do a few tricks and get it running." "I'm not in this for money," adds Talbott. Moto Talbott is organized under 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. The Talbott family has a long history of giv- ing back. The Talbott Family Foundation was founded in 1994 and donates to education, children's causes, Dorothy's Kitchen and the Monterey County Food Bank, among many others. "There are givers and there are tak- ers," Talbott says. "I have more fun giving." Moto Talbott, at 4 East Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley should be open- ing soon, but regardless, Talbott plans to open up for limited use during Car Week, August 15-21. "This is going to be a great addition to the Monterey Peninsula," Talbott promises. For more information on Moto Talbott Collection, visit www.mototalbott.com. 186 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 6 The "Barn Find Room" holds unrestored rarities such as this 1969 Hodaka road race bike ridden by John Steen at Daytona. The items in this room are kept in the rustic condition in which they were found. Talbott's collection also contains some more whimsical items like this Buddy L toy 1928 International Harvester "Red Baby."