COVER STORY
CT
It’s not easy to define the café racer lifestyle. Think leather,
but not the Harley-Davidson leather of Sturgis. Think winding hills
in the Italian countryside that level into straightaways where you
bury the needle with blistering speed. Think Steve McQueen or
James Dean (maybe). Think of that unexpected mix of intensity
and laid back attitude that seems so unlikely in one person or
subculture. It’s hot and cool all at the same time.
B
ut it’s more than that. Or more accurately, less than that. Café
“CT Scuderia blends the meticulous mechanics of Swiss con-
racer motorcycles, either stock or custom, strip away every- struction and movements with the inspiration imbued by the classic
thing unnecessary. They ratchet down the bike to its essence café racer lifestyle,” says Enrico. All but one of the watch series the
with nothing left but speed. Strip away all the extras, streamline the firm produces are in the “bullhead” configuration, with the pushers at
build and you’ve got a café racer motorcycle, and, what is essentially the top. “The unique feature of our original case design with the crown
the café racer lifestyle (maybe). Why all the “maybes”? As stated, it’s and pushers positioned at 12 o’clock, characterize the watch as a
not easy to define. stopwatch,” he explains.
Now, try and figure out how to embody all those loosely defined
If the enthusiasm Steve “Carpy” Carpenter has for the brand is
criteria in a watch. That is exactly what Enrico Margaritelli has been any indication, then Enrico has done his job quite well in capturing the
doing with his Italian-designed CT Scuderia Swiss- Made. They are at essence of the café racer. Carpenter is the “Carpy” in Carpy’s Cafe
once simple and yet offer complications of functionality a racer would Racers and he builds custom racers and parts. If anyone embodies the
want. There is a definite flair to them, but no saddle bags. lifestyle, it would have to be Carpenter. And, again, it’s an unexpected
30 | AboutTime Magazine