oshi Kosaka has owned and operated Garage Company, a motorcycle retail store in the Marina Del Ray district of Los Angeles for about twenty years. It’s a unique place, part bookstore, part memorabilia collection and part vintage restoration shop. Yoshi has worked mainly on British, Japanese and other metric motorcycles, but a few years back he started customizing American V-twins to boot, even having some appear in motorcycle magazines.
     One of Yoshi’s clients happens to be connected with a wing of the Ferrari Owner’s Club known as Corse Cliente. At the end of each racing season, its members step up to purchase any of the Ferrari racecars the factory is willing to part with. Through the years, the club has flowed significant cash back into the company to help fund the ongoing Ferrari racing programs.
     Significant for 2006 was the announcement that the sport’s greatest driver ever, Michael Schumacher, was retiring at the end of the season. After the actual Formula One season ended in Brazil, there was still one special event left for the Ferrari aficionados. It is known as Finali Mondial Ferrari, an annual gathering featuring previously purchased ex-Ferrari team machinery held at the famed Monza racecourse near Milan. Additionally, this year Schumacher was going to be honored.
     A contingent from Los Angeles was attending this year’s event and the call went out to Kosaka. They wanted to present Schumacher with a special gift of a Harley-Davidson. But not a stocker, they wanted something special. The only hitch was the bike had to be transformed into a gift fitting for Michael…in Ferrari Red, of course, and he had just three weeks to complete it. What could he do? Turned out, Yoshi had a 1981 Harley Shovelhead available, a Drag Specialties Fatbook catalog and some ideas. Game on!
He got to work and and the FLH was transformed into the cool looking Ferrari Red “Bobber” seen here. The engine, frame, wheels and forks remained Harley-Davidson original, but thanks to the FatBook, Yoshi was able to find parts and accessories such as the oil tank, headlight, floorboards and other accessories to give it the look he wanted.
     The timetable was tight, but the bike was completed in 20 days and shipped to Italy via Federal Express in time for the event. Part of Yoshi’s deal was getting to attend the event and personally hand the machine over to Schumacher at a special reception. What follows here is a pictorial of the machine and presentation ceremony.

For more info about Yoshi Kosaka and Garage Company, go online to: www.garagecompany.com

Yoshi Kosaka sits with his latest creation, the Ferrari Red Harley-Davidson Shovelhead made for one very special Ferrari driver.

An emblem with Yoshi’s Garage Company logo was special made for the project.

It’s like the 1950s all over again. A selection from the Drag Specialties FatBook.

Schumacher has a much roomier “office” on this machine than his F1 Ferraris.

Following a formal dinner and reception at the Monza race course with the Ferrari Corse Cliente, Michael gets his first look at his surprise gift parked in the track garage.

Yoshi (on Michael’s left) explains the details of the machine, including the throttle, which they all assumed Michael would quickly learn how to use!

Naturally a test ride had to follow. The gentleman with Michael is his friend Jean Todt, who for many years was chief of Ferrari’s F1 race program and recently announced as Ferrari’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Following a career that included 91 Formula One race victories and 7 World Championship titles, it’s thumbs up from Michael Schumacher about his new ride.