Historic 1937 Indian Arrow Wins “Best of Show” at The Quail Motofest 2025

Carmel, Calif. (May 17, 2025) - The Quail MotoFest returned for its 15th year on the beautiful grounds of The Quail Golf Club, where an eclectic lineup of machines and legends of the sport took center stage. Over 1,000 attendees gathered to celebrate motorcycling’s past, present and future. This year’s coveted “Best of Show” award went to Clyde Crouch and his 1937 Indian Arrow, which stood out among the dozens of class winners and runner-ups. Attendees enjoyed a festival-like atmosphere that included a beer garden, array of food trucks, live music, children’s play area and bespoke accessories from local lifestyle brands.
 
In addition to 10 returning traditional classes, MotoFest featured three spotlight classes —Tribute to Yoshimura, Italian Innovation by Bimota and Celebrating 45 Years of the BMW GS. The Yoshimura tribute included the famed Honda CB72 built by Hideo “Pop” Yoshimura that took victory in the 1964 Suzuka 18-Hour Endurance Race, a win that changed the trajectory of the motorsports brand. Alongside the Honda CB72 stood the Yoshimura-built 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship Suzuki GSX-R1000 that was shipped to the show from Japan, showcasing the brand’s six-decade evolution and dedication to excellence at the highest level of the sport. Fujio and Yusaku Yoshimura, father-son duo of “Pop” Yoshimura, were in attendance, helping to bridge the past with the present through family legacy and innovation.
 
Also featured was the one-of-a-kind Yamaha R7, a collaborative masterpiece built by the Yoshimura team and painted by motorsports artist and this year’s Legend of the Sport, Troy Lee. The R7’s asymmetric livery drew crowds throughout the day, as it creates a dual-identity look that was designed to be showcased during cornering on turns like “The Corkscrew” at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
 
“Being named Legend of the Sport this year is a real honor and getting to showcase the R7 as part of that was something special,” said Troy Lee, 2025 The Quail MotoFest Legend of the Sport Honoree. “They told me to go wild, so I asked myself—how can I reinvent myself, what can I do differently? I love Laguna Seca, especially how riders flip from one side to the other through the Corkscrew. I wanted the bike to be one color when it leans one way, and a different color when it flips the other. So we designed the suit and the helmet to match and just said, ‘I hope they go for this.”
 
Additional highlights from the 2025 The Quail MotoFest included a Fireside Chat with Troy Lee, who reflected on his decades of influence on motorsports. He was joined by AMA Hall of Famers Wayne Rainey and Steve Baker, Baker being the first American to clinch a road racing world championship title in 1977.
 
Among the crowd favorites was a rare showing of 19 Bimota motorcycles, each a testament to Italian design, precision and technical expertise. Meanwhile, BMW enthusiasts were treated to a curated group from the GS line of motorcycles, highlighting 45 years of the brand’s adventure bike heritage.
 
“The newly revamped Quail MotoFest was an incredible success. It’s about more than the bikes—it’s about the people, the stories and passion of the motorcycling community,” said Gordon McCall, Director of Motorsports for The Peninsula Signature Events. “The love for two wheels is as strong as ever, and we’re proud to have honored industry-leading brands, such as Bimota, Yoshimura and BMW, while creating an event that is such a highlight for the community.”
 
In addition to the bike displays, the event featured local food trucks, lifestyle vendors, and live music in a family-friendly atmosphere, reinforcing its place as one of the most anticipated motorcycle gatherings of the year.
 
“Best in Class” recognitions were granted to one motorcycle in each class, with the following winners announced:
 
Antique 1st Place Presented By Bonhams
1913 Sears Dreadnaught
Steve Huntzinger
 
Antique 2nd Place Presented By Bonhams
1913 Indian Single Speed Twin
Russel Harmon
 
American 1st Place 
1937 Indian Arrow
Clyde Crouch
 
American 2nd Place 
1936 Indian Chief
Michal Wojtowicz
 
British 1st Place
1955 Vincent Shadow Series
Peter Kishner
 
British 2nd Place
1969 BSA Victor Special
Robert Simeral
 
Italian 1st Place
1946 Vespa V98
Josh Rogers
 
Italian 2nd Place
1973 MV Agusta 350 B Sport Elettronica
Museo Moto Italia LLC – John Goldman
 
Japanese 1st Place
1969 Honda CB750
 
Japanese 2nd Place
1972 Kawasaki H2 750
John Fulton
 
Other European 1st Place
1950 BMW R51/2
Scott Williams
 
Other European 2nd Place
1973 Husqvarna 250cc WR/RT
John Hernandez
 
Competition On-Road 
1969 Bultaco TSS 350
Steven Poggi
 
Competition Off-Road 
1970 Husqvarna 400 Cross
David Pierce
 
Choppers Award
1970 Chopper Long Bike
Richard Jones

Custom/Modified 1st Place
1953 Triumph Thunderbird
Bryan Thompson
 
Custom/Modified 2nd Place
1969 Triumph Daytona 500
Dustin Kott
 
Arlen Ness Memorial Award
2025 Aero Precision Metal Works The Medusa
2025 Aero Precision Metal Works
 
Why We Ride Award
2024 Lightfighter LFR V3
Brian Wisemann
 
HVA
1913 Indian Single Speed Twin
Russel Harmon
 
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Heritage Award
1978 Yamaha YZR 759
Steve Baker
 
Italian Innovation by Bimota
1987 Bimota YB4R
Robert Steinbugler
 
Tribute to Yoshimura
1964 Honda CB72
John Barrett
 
Celebrating 45 Years of BMW GS
1981 BMW R80 G/S
Robert Talbott
 
Spirit Of The Quail Award
1983 Yamaha Xv920 Midnight
Michael Szymanski
 
Best of Show Award
1937 Indian Arrow
Clyde Crouch