On Sunday I spent the day at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, in Lexington, Ohio. Vintage Days, is America’s grandest celebration of motorcycling heritage, with national championship vintage racing, the world’s largest motorcycle swap meet, new bike demo rides, seminars, classic bike shows, and new product vendors. BSA motorcycles was the Marque of the Year and Hall of Famer Don Emde, was the Grand Marshal. This is the 18th year of the event and the 15 year at the world renown Mid-Ohio Race track.
A gorgeous blue sky was the back drop as the boys and I, made our way to the Mid-Ohio race track early Sunday morning. Entering gate 3, we were soon parked next to a Matchless, a Vincent, a Motto Guzzi, a Laverda, a BSA, an Aprilia, and a Triumph. Not bad company.
The trip to Mid-Ohio was especially exciting this year as my sons were making their initial journey to this Mecca of motorcycles. I was anxious for them to see the motorcycles many guys their age have never heard of, or perhaps only seen in books. I wanted them to rub shoulders with other men and women who are passionate about these old steeds, and thereby gain a healthy respect for both the new and the old.
We strolled the amazing grounds of Mid-Ohio, and viewed some wonderful old machines. We spent a couple of hours walking around the world’s largest motorcycle swap meet looking at parts, wires, gears, rusted frames, and whole bunch of other crap.
By mid afternoon, the sun was beating down, so we positioned ourselves on one of the shaded knolls which surrounds the track and watched some outstanding racing, and may have even dozed off a time or two!
Our experience was greatly enhanced by the many wonderful enthusiast we encountered, one of whom, gave me the quote of the day; “A wet and muddy day at the track, is better than the very best day at work.”
And then a very weary racer, who had just come off the track when I asked him how he did in his heat, his reply: “Not so well, I did pass a couple other bikes… (sheepishly) but they weren’t in my class!” Good for you my man!
I even met up with fellow blogger and BMW enthusiast, Jacqui Van Ham. We hope to do a project together in the very near future.
Attendance figures have not yet been published for the event, but estimates are somewhere near 50,000. I am not certain of the figures, but I am certain there were 3 guys in attendance who had a fabulous day together, and grew more passionate about motorcycles of all types, especially the vintage ones!
