Antique Motorcycle Club of America’s Nationals
Linda Manernini and I headed up on Saturday to spend the evening with friends and enter her 1955 Harley-Davidson in the bike show that finalizes the meet on Sunday. This was my tenth year attending what we just bleat out as “Eustis”. I was bitten by the antique motorcycle bug in 1980 when I met my first ’55 Pepper Red Panhead. Linda’s bike was also shown this year in a lovely pepper red, reminiscent of the fifties.
The Sunshine Chapter of the American Antique Motorcycle Club of America presented another dazzling weekend of the most strange and fascinating motorcycles in the world. This was their 41st Annual national meet and the first national of the 2006 season. Returning for the 11th year to the Lake County Fairgrounds, it opened the doors to members and motorcycle enthusiasts alike. The sunshine came on like gangbusters Friday morning and never let up until the packs headed to the mobs of March in Daytona Beach for Bike Week.
There’s a swap meet at the heart of its existence. The antique club members are the vendors. Motorcycles and rare parts are available, if they are older than 1971. Sadly, there is no camping anymore, and while the rules say no pets, it’s always cool to meet the dogs at the different vendor slots. If you want to get in on the good used stuff, you should arrive on Friday, early.
I met a lot of new friends this year and bought a few trinkets from the old timers who set up booths and boxes year after year, hoping to go home with travel expenses and gasoline paid for. I don’t think these older gents are in it for the money. It’s always been for the love of the sport.
We arrived around noon on Saturday along with the curious who drift in from the lure of Bike Week. We don’t partake in the Road Ride, coordinated by the irascible John Bowman, since it leaves the grounds rather early Saturday morning and goes for many miles throughout the Marion and Lake county roads. There are field games and plenty to see at this meet. I spent hours looping through the grounds, camera ready, handshakes and business cards handy. Linda is content to sip a cold one and watch the wheels go by.
We left for our hotel room at dusk, with Timmy and Barb Roberts on their restored 1942 UL. Timmy will go on to win the Antique Class at the Ride-In H-D show at the Expo by the beach, but that’s looking into the week’s future, we’re still being slick about the past!
It’s the Sunday show that I wanted to write to you about since it had been years since I stayed to watch the exquisite machines pair up and march off with a simple wooden trophy with a name on it.
The classes in the show are set up by years. Class One was titled “Through or up to 1919”. This is where the time machines get really strange. The 1918 Reading Standard, owned by David Leithner of Auburn, Michigan, garnered most of the attention. Splendid in its original condition, this motorized bicycle-like machine took the trophy it sought and looked good in our group shots. David was a good sport and the bike, like all of these motorcycles, runs like a top!
Class Two is 1920 through 1929. We liked the maroon 1931 Henderson KJ best and there were other very unusual restorations. Class Three; 1930 through 1939 showed a 1936 Zundapp, a nicely restored Germany army bike. The judges came over and swarmed the 1936 EL Knucklehead, dressed in the unusual colors of warm gray and soft brown. First year Knuckleheads are scrutinized with little mercy for the ever-changing minds at the factory in the thirties. Steve Slocombe’s 1935 Military VL was considered as one of the most special beasts on display. This bike had actually seen combat in the world wars and survived to show up this weekend.
Class Three has 1940 through 1949 and impressed us much with the restorations of Ray Miller’s 1941 Police Harley-Davidson, superb in silver with its fire extinguisher and Red Cross bandage box. Hal Krohn, from Grant Florida, had his beautiful 1949 Indian Scout in the running and son Kevin flew in from southern California to support his dad at the show.
Class Four was 1950 through 1959 and the competition for most unusual motorcycle had to be between the 1950 Model 3 Mustang Wagon and the Indian Utilitarian Trike. I loved the bright Hi-Fi Yellow 1954 Panhead, and yes, Linda’s 1955 “Hummer”. The scooter family laced our entire weekend with size envy and great joy that the littlest bikes get big recognition at this rally.
Finally, Class Five had the most diverse populace, covering 1960 through 1971. Here are Harleys, Triumphs, BMW, and Ed Vailabcourt’s 1963 NSU Max, another strange smooth lined animal gracing our afternoon. Tim Gall’s 1963 Mustang, George Quinn’s 1960 sky blue Cushman Eagle, Michael Thomson’s 1963 HD Sprint and Clive Taylor’s 1967 T100 Triumph amaze the mind and lather the senses. The Electra Glides in Blue came on strong since Shovelheads are now allowed in and some of these came with their original owners.
The newest class added to the AMCA program is called Period Modified. Mike Shaffer, from Leesburg Florida showed us his 1950 Panhead, modified with a modern Springer and lots of love. Two stately late model Indians also graced this class but they looked very stock, despite minimal exhaust modifications and the ridden hard veneer.
Once a bike has won its Junior and Senior Status with the meet judges, (points are coveted, not so much the trophy) the bikes that attend the meet are shown in what’s called the Winner’s Circle. Once there, you no longer need to show it for points. Here we found Timmy’s 1942 UL along side Garrett Bekker’s 1956 TRW 500cc Triumph, a Canadian Military issue that now lives in Wantage, New Jersey. It took six years to build and doesn’t go fast, but it is history right in front of our eyes and we liked it!
The AMCA is grateful to efforts and dedication provided by its members to make this experience the clandestine sensation that it is. So cherish each moment. Remember where we came from and ride with the wind!
