AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days A Rousing Success

AMA members and motorcyclists from across the country celebrated the people, machines and sport of motorcycling at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna, over the July 19-21 weekend.

The annual gathering of tens of thousands of motorcycling enthusiasts participated in vintage racing, took in numerous bike shows, met their motorcycling heroes, purchased vintage parts and motorcycles in the massive swap meet, spent time with old friends, and met new ones, all at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

The AMA and the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, extend their appreciation to AMA members, racers, enthusiasts, collectors, restorers, fans, clubs, companies and others who supported the three-day celebration of motorcycling’s history and heroes.

“AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is not just the perfect blend of old and new, it’s also a wonderful example of the spirit of cooperation that drives the like-minded folks who love motorcycles and the people who ride them,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman.

The classic Husqvarna brand was also front and center at Vintage Days, with themed activities during numerous parts of the program. In addition to event grand marshal and Hall of Fame member Dick Burleson, fellow Hall of Famers Scot Harden, Gunnar Lindstrom, John Penton, Malcolm Smith and legends Fred Andrews, Terry Cunningham, Andrew DeLong, Jamie Lanza, Mike Melton and more were on hand to greet fans and talk about the history of Husqvarna.

“The love of the Husqvarna brand was on full display this past weekend … from enthusiasts who grew up with Huskys to pros who rode them to AMA national champions,” said Andy Jefferson, Husqvarna’s head of U.S. racing. “The exciting future of Husqvarna will be built on the accomplishments and passion of these legends and fans. It was our pleasure to honor them at this amazing event.”

The AMA organizes the annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days as a fundraiser for the Hall of Fame. It includes North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, national championship vintage racing in numerous disciplines, classic bike shows, notable awards, and presentations by some of motorcycling’s leading experts and personalities.

The AMA Vintage Grand Championships, which ran in conjunction with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, didn’t just to the atmosphere of the event, but also drew hundreds of participants from around the country.

Additional groups and individuals who contributed to the vintage racing program were the Roadracing World Action Fund for soft barrier deployment, the Ashland Fairgrounds that hosted the dirt-track event, Drew Wolf, the Dayton Motorcycle Club, Don May and Ohio Trials Inc., Mandi Mastin and her family, Bart Newman and Jeff Beerbower of Log Road MX Park in Coldwater, Mich., national anthem singer Dawn Merical and husband Mark, as well as Jim Pooler.

“We also greatly appreciate Mike Seate and Café Racer magazine, this year’s Classic Club the Louisville Vintage Motorworks, and the show-stopping Wall of Death stunt show for contributing to the infield activities,” Dingman said. Dingman thanked other clubs in attendance as well, including the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, the Kawasaki ZL Owners Club, the Christian Motorcyclists Association and ABATE of Ohio.

Dingman also thanked the voice of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, announcer Griff Allen; demo ride providers Kawasaki, KTM North America and KYMCO; Ryan Young Products for providing a trials stunt show; the companies that filled up vendor row; Federal Companies Motorcycle Shipping; all the seminar speakers; the riders who participated in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Lap for History rides around the Mid-Ohio road race course; riders in the Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge; bike show judges, which included AMHF Board Member Don Rosene and Ellis Holman and Scotty VanLeuwen of the VJMC; and everyone who purchased a raffle ticket for the Hall of Fame raffle bike.

Several artists contributed their talents to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this year, creating art in real time in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tent. The demonstration was an extension of the new 2 Wheels + Motor: A Fine Art Exhibition at the Hall of Fame. Those artists included Matthew Anderle, Katherine Crowley, Ken Goodson, Andrew Lumberg, Mike Siculan, Siege, Ric Stewart, Alicia Jean Vanderelli, Susan Ward.

“The biggest thanks, of course, goes out to all of the AMA members, motorcyclists and fans who enjoyed the festivities while supporting the Hall of Fame,” Dingman said. “The Hall of Fame is the premier organization in the country that preserves the legacies of the men and women who built our two-wheeled heritage, and everyone who lends a hand in making AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days a success is helping further that mission.”

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, celebrates, elucidates and preserves the rich tradition of motorcycling in America. Its exhibits honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have shaped the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling.

For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

By Jon Langston