Meet Patrick Hogan: 60s British Cafe Racer

1937 BSA 750 Twin

New Year's eve afternoon weather was finally warmer than freezing so I snuck out for a ride. I visited Rex Floyd at his shop and met a new friend, Patrick Hogan. Patrick was an original British cafe racer from the 60's who spent Friday nights racing with his mates from the Ace Cafe to the Busy Bee and back on a 1937 BSA 750 Twin. Here's how he tells it:

"My dad died when I was five so I grew up with mum who wasn't very wealthy. When I asked for my first motorcycle most kids were getting Triumph Tiger Cubs. I had one all lined up, used of course, but my mum waited too long so I got a used BSA Bantam 125 instead. I really wanted the Triumph!

"When I got a little older I found a beat up 1937 BSA 750 V-Twin for about 5 quid. I had to pull it down out of the fellow's rafters. It had girder forks, rigid rear end and a car tire on the back. It also used to have a side car.

I had trouble with one of the carbs so I only ran it on one cylinder making it a 350. One day my mate helped me fix it so it changed from a 350 to a 750 in an instant. What a difference!"

Wrenching Tuesday: Rex Floyd

Stopped by Rex Floyd's to see what he was up to. As always, he was waist deep in Triumphs, BSAs and Nortons. I was surprised to see a killer looking '64 Triumph Bobber project with what looked to be a 6" stretch and a 2" drop, Trident front end, bolt-on hardtail, powder-coated rims, 21" front wheel, 16" rear wheel and a rear fender off a 1929 Ford A-Model spare tire ring. Engine is a placeholder. Rex's tip of the day: "If you're gonna do a Triumph bobber, get a '70 or older. The bolt-on hardtail is easy and inexpensive to do on those and if you decide you want to go back to stock, the stock rear just bolts back on."

HMT honors Rex as the revered Master of the Motorcycle in our Floyd's Garage shirt.