Author Topic: Skyway Factory Tour 22/09/16 (Read 5179 times)

stevesredvxr · « **on:** September 27, 2016, 11:20 PM »

Hi guys,
Just thought I'd post some photos of the trip I took last week to the Skyway Factory.

Me and the wife managed to tag a flight to San Francisco from our holiday in New York and we met up with and stayed with Maurice Meyer. Very kind of him to offer his home for a few days and he gave us a tour of SF and all its delights before taking the 4hr drive up to Redding on Thursday. My friend Grant Stone from the Skyway Appreciation group flew out and joined us too and we got to Caterpillar Road around 1pm where we were immediately escorted back out the building and had our lunch bought by Rein Stolz. 😄
After lunch we headed back to the factory where Rein gave us the full tour.
Ken Coster wasn't able to be there as he was at Interbike in Vegas so Rein took the lead and also Parrey Cremeans came in to talk to us too.

Grant took one of his Tuffs and they kindly re-rivited it for him so he was pretty pleased with that.

We ended up staying while 9pm, all the while we were rooting about and finding things even Rein had forgotten they had. It was like time had stood still as most of the stuff was just laying about as though it's never been moved since the 80's.

Highlight of the day was seeing a Prototype Beat almost identical to Dave Vanderspeks that Rein keeps hidden away from the factory. Not a lot of people know this even existed.

Anyway, really enjoyed it. Even the Mrs came and she enjoyed it too which was a shock.
Well worth a trip if you're ever over there. I have hundreds of photos but I'll just put a few up for now.
Hope you like
Steve

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2016, 11:25 PM »

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2016, 11:28 PM »

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2016, 11:30 PM »

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2016, 11:32 PM »

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2016, 11:36 PM »

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2016, 11:37 PM »

oldschoolace · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2016, 12:04 AM »

made up for you Steve. Been waiting for this thread for ages

Top pics, too much to take in! God knows how you coped

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2016, 12:10 AM »

Cheers Clint.......had this booked since about March and was a long time coming. 😏

oldschoolace · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2016, 12:13 AM »

You got a 2016 beat in your case then?

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2016, 12:16 AM »

I wish........still not ready. 😕😕

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2016, 01:03 AM »

Amazing Steve, just amazing. Am so pleased for you. It looked like a fantastic day

factory pilot · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2016, 08:03 AM »

Steve that really is living the dream mate... I'm sure there are many jealous people out there ( myself included ) !
Just bloody brilliant

That Vander f and f is toooo sick!!!!

I'm sure many like me spent hours looking at those curb dogs photos trying to work out what was going on with that frameset!!!

How about convincing them to do a limited run of 100 copies .... Now that would be one repop definitely worth buying ... Very very cool!!

New York didn't look too shabby either Steve

WINI · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2016, 08:32 AM »

Bloody ace Steve, been looking forward to seeing these.

Proper kid in a sweetshop stuff, made up for you

pickle · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2016, 08:34 AM »

That's simply amazing Steve!! very jealous but so happy for you experiencing such a great tour of the place.

Huge thanks for taking the time to upload all the pictures as well, great to see all that great stuff!

donnydresser · « **Reply #15 on:** September 28, 2016, 09:32 AM »

brilliant thread mate and fantastic pictures

NORTY40 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 28, 2016, 12:59 PM »

Wow ! What a trip

Thanks for sharing Steve

oldschoolace · « **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2016, 01:02 PM »

Think we need a rad coach trip

poolysheriff · « **Reply #18 on:** September 28, 2016, 05:03 PM »

It must have been like visiting Willy Wonka for you that Steve

rooski · « **Reply #19 on:** September 28, 2016, 06:17 PM »

Great pics Steve, looks like a cool place!

Wonder if they're still using any equipment from bitd?

I think they will be, industrial equipment can last a loooong time.

Jaymz · « **Reply #20 on:** September 28, 2016, 06:32 PM »

Awesome Steve, I was way up north in Maine while you were in the sun down south

stevesredvxr · « **Reply #21 on:** September 28, 2016, 06:44 PM »

Yep was a cool place and yeah I felt like a kid again!!

Yep they are still using some old machinery.....the tuff wheel mold machine is still the same and they had at least two of the original rivet machines.

As I said, well worth a trip.

Me and the Mrs were in New York first Jaymz which also co-incided with the bomb attacks unfortunately but it was a good mile or two from us.

Steve

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 28, 2016, 07:23 PM »

Totally Amazing Steve, what a great day and great memories from it.

Thanks for sharing with us.

BMX1973 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 28, 2016, 08:32 PM »

Best thread award

Thanks for sharing

bigfatolly · « **Reply #24 on:** September 28, 2016, 08:43 PM »

Cool pics,looks like you had a blast.

The Vanderspek frame looks mental,I remember seeing it in Action Bike.

Did you make them a cheeky offer for it ?