Issue 131 : October - November 2003
The ACE
Take a Breva
Roland Brown
Bristol Show
Gremlins
Buell's on Test
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The ACE
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The ACE
In the beginningThe Ace Cafe was built in 1938 as a roadside cafe to cater for traffic, particularly hauliers, using the new North Circular Road. With its proximity to Britains then new and fast arterial road network and being open 24 hours, the Ace Cafe soon attracted motorcyclists. In world war two, the building was badly damaged during an air raid on the adjacent railway marshalling yards. The Ace Cafe was reopened in temporary accommodation and subsequently rebuilt in 1949. The post-war increase in road traffic and advent of the 'teenage' phenomena saw the Ace booming, and with it, the arrival of the 'Ton-Up-Boys.' The British motorcycle industry was at its peak, and along came Rock'n'Roll. Not played on radio stations, initially the only place it could be heard was at fairgrounds or on jukeboxes at transport cafes. It became the place to meet, have a meal or cup of tea, arrange runs (often to other cafes or the coast) or simply to mend your bike. People came to listen to the jukebox, many subsequently starting bands or clubs. Some gaining success and considerable reputation.
Despite the impression these images might give, most of the ACE patrons today reflect the full cross section of riders. The patronage of clubs with their special but not exclusive, club nights gives the ACE a rolling theme identity that may be unique in this country. Media interest has developed a profile that it probably never enjoyed in its heyday. What am I talking about - this is the ACE Club's heyday, take a look. Remember the MAG London night is the third Wednesday of the month. Mutch ACE CAFE REUNION - The Return
To mark the 25th anniversary of the cafe's closure, Mark, with friends, formed the organising team for the reunion and arranged for motorcycle runs to converge at the former Ace Cafe site on Sunday 4th September 1994. The idea was well received by motorcycling organisations and clubs. Media support was sought and the event turned into a major free motorcycle and Rock 'n' Roll event. It was estimated that over 12,000 people gathered at the old cafe site. The event spread from the Ace site, along the North Circular Road, to the Abbey Public House. This was one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in the country that year and received unparalleled media coverage. A film was made, entitled 'An Ace Day', the official Ace Cafe Reunion video, with its Rock 'n' Roll soundtrack has received worldwide critical acclaim. Monthly Meets - Bikes1st Monday
3rd Monday
4th Monday
2nd Tuesday
2nd Wednesday
3rd Wednesday
1st Thursday
2nd Thursday
3rd Thursday
Last Thursday
Every Friday
Last Friday
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Streetbiker takes a quick look at the ACE Cafe. Sighted conveniently on London's North Circular road the cafe is the sole survivor of the 50s biker/transport cafes that gave birth to the term 'cafe racer'. Closed as a cafe in 1969 the building that housed the cafe later played host to a tyre company from whom the indefatigable Mark Wilsmore (featured on front cover) pried the property to relaunch the famous venue which is booming like never before.
The cafe plays up its mods and rockers heritage pretty strongly with nostalgic newspaper cuttings, classic biker/rocker clothing, artifacts and books. They've even got the editor's 'Looking For America' on sale.
The Ace Cafe Reunion is the brainchild of Mark Wilsmore. In 1993 he shared his ideas for an annual event to mark the closure of the original Ace Cafe in 1969. A book and film were produced, documenting the history of the Ace Cafe and endeavouring to ensure that the original Ace Cafe reopened.