HISTORY
San Jose BMW (and Vespa) as it looks today |
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In the 1990's |
2000 |
Founders of SJ BMW - Ron Lang & Dean Lear - 1975 |
San Jose's Post Office moves out & SJBMW moves in, looking from the Sales Floor toward the Shop 1975 |
The day San Jose BMW was born - 1975, Original owners Ron Lang & Dean Lear , get their new building on San Carlos Street in San Jose. The building was one of San Jose's main Post Offices since the 1940s. In later years, the Real Estate office next door was also taken over to expand the dealership.
Ron Lang, gives a 'Maintenance Tips' seminar at a California BMW Rally in the 70's |
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Our Showroom in the 70's - check out the new R90S! |
The original parts department in 1976 |
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Our showroom in the 70's, when Windjammer fairing's were one of the only protective aero devices available and were found on many early BMWs |
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Original SJBMW owners (LtoR) Ron Lang & Dean Lear - (current owner) Chris Hodgson & rider Harry Klinzmann |
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Making BMWs go faster was one of the 1st services provided to our customers
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Our first Race Bike at Sears Point in the 70's. Current owner Chris Hodgson is on the far right
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#87 starts San Jose BMW's long time relationship with Sears Point Raceway |
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Chris was the Service Manager of SJ BMW in the 70's
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It didn't take long for Chris to get the Daytona bug! A race track that he would return too for many years
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Chris is push-starting our R100S at Daytona in 1977 |
Daytona 1977 (l to r) Helmet Kern/Mgr US Importer, President of BMW Motored AG, Dr. Peter Adams/US Importer of BMW Motorcycles & Chris Hodgson SJBMW
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This is where SJBMW Racing began |
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(below) San Jose BMW's First Trip to Daytona - 1978 - Ron Lang (left) and Chris Hodgson |
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C. C. PRODUCTS is Born |
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Chris left San Jose BMW in the 80's, to start his own BMW performance products & development company called C C PRODUCTS. His company subsequently became one of the leading authorities on BMW performance parts and racebike tuning |
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(above left) Chris' 1st motorcycle - Bultaco Cafe Bike - (above right) Founders of C C Products - Chris & Kathleen (note) Look closely on the bike in front of Chris - there's his son Willie (future Land Speed Record Holder) taking his first motorcycle ride. |
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Chris set up shop in Campbell, California |
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CC Products sold their custom performance parts at Rally's and other motorcycle events |
Chris gets very excited when he talks about making more horsepower |
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Chris wheelie's his CC Products R100S into the Laguna Seca corkscrew during a track day
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Scott and Chris discuss some performance options for a customer's bike
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Scott and Chris work the booth
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Chris and his crew traveled around the country in their truck, selling parts and providing dyno tuning at Rally's, Shows and other motorcycle events |
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Chris developed and manufactured many of his products and tested them himself in Off Road, Trials and Road Racing |
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Running a K100 on the CC Products Mobile Dyno |
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Chris & Kathleen with their merry band of CC Products men & women at a rally. Willie is lower left.
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Chris talks with a customer about the performance of his bike
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In 1990, Chris used capital from his successful business to purchase San Jose BMW - the company he used to work for. | 'Iron Butt' Fran Crane & her SJBMW sponsored K75 |
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Chris had a painting of BMW's new Oil Head placed on the showroom wall in 1993 |
Just a few of the Race Bikes Chris & SJ BMW have built over the years |
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With the on slot of multi-cylinder Japanese motorcycles This SJBMW R100S was the LAST BMW to win an AMA SuperBike race. |
It's only fitting that Chris and San Jose BMW would give BMW Motorrad their 1st Victory at Daytona in 30 years with the new R1200S. |