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The Veteran and the Rookie
Vintage Motorcycle Days and the Barber Vintage Festival
By Paul Kowels
It would have been easy to title this article "Clash of the Titans" but the reality is that would have been incorrect. There is, and probably always will be, a peaceful coexistence between America's two largest antique motorcycle gatherings. Now, before we set off a fire storm of e-mails from the AMCA old guard who will insist that, Davenport, Wauseon or Oley (pick one) are larger, better attended, more diverse, we're here to tell you they are not. Perhaps in terms of total swap spaces sold those three Club events might edge out the Barber Vintage Festival, at least for the time being, but when totally activities are considered for a weekend of fun it's hard to beat VMD or Barber Festival.
The Veteran, Vintage Motorcycle Days
 One of Jay Springsteen's bikes was back in action at VMD. (Click image for full gallery)
A bike auction has become standard fair with both VMD and the Barber Festival and in 2007 Jerry Wood & Company swung the gavel in both Ohio and Alabama. At Vintage Motorcycle Days there were over 100 machines on the block with a beautifully restored 1969 BMW R69US finding a new home for $20,000. Close behind the fatherland's finest was one of Milwaukee's best, a 1971 H-D Boattail Super Glide at $17,000. It even had the fiberglass boat tail in place. A rare item today. In 1971 most Boattail owners considered this styling cue hideous and quickly removed it. Rare as hen's teeth these days.
VMD's Ride 'em don't Hide 'em Bike Show is a must. The only entry fee is sweat equity. You must participate in Saturday's 30 mile ride before your bike is eligible for judging. Over 20 riders took up the challenge. From a Norton "Atlas" to a Kawasaki "Z"1, they had the alphabet covered.
Of course vintage racing, hosted by AHRMA, is a given at Vintage Motorcycle Days. Action takes place on and off the asphalt. Flat tack action is held near Ashland, Ohio, just a few short miles away. Past editor of Cycle World, Allen Girdler, took to the track on his old XR750. He finished a respectable 11th place in his class. Vintage motocross always draws a crowd and this year was no exception. Veteran riders, Rick Johnson and Jimmy Weinert showed the young hot shoes they still had the right stuff. On the blacktop, AHRMA racers from around the country kept race fans entertained all weekend as they battled it out in classes to numerous to mention. If you couldn't find a rider, or brand, to cheer for during the weekend, you were probably in a coma.
For many the swap area is the real draw at VMD. With 35 acres of vendors selling their "trash and treasures" it was hard to go away empty-handed, even if you weren't looking for anything. VMD's vendors have always been weighted towards Japanese, British and European machines. Diversity is the name of the game at this event, something we are slowly beginning to see at AMCA meets. It's about time.
As the veteran in this comparison Vintage Motorcycle Days shows that it still has the legs to run this race. And after 15 years it's not about to give up the lead.
This year's VMD dates are: July 25 - 27, 2008. Triumph will be the featured marque this year. Visit, www.motorcyclemuseum.org for more information on this summer's event.
The Rookie, Barber Vintage Festival
 Dian and Brian Slark on patrol and having fun at Barber Fest. (Click image for full gallery)
Barber Motorsports Park is all about numbers. Nineteen full-time staff members, a 2.38 mile, world-class track, 740 acres of land, 60 historic race cars and a collection of 1,145 bikes, with over 700 on the floor at any one time.
We attended the inaugural event in 2005 and came away impressed. We missed the 2006 meet but made a mental note not to let that happen in 2007.
Traveling in a rented minivan with five other AMCA members, Tom Broich, Bob Steck, Joe Anania, Stan Mewhorter and Steve Hall cut our costs considerably. None of the five had seen the facility before and were blown away by the depth and breath of this museum. Arriving at noon on Friday, their original plan was to spend a few hours in the museum then hit the swap meet. They discovered one slight flaw in this plan. The museum closed at 9:00 p.m. while the swap area closed at 5:00. At 8:55 p.m. they found themselves be politely ushered out of the museum. Nine hours and they still hadn't seen it all. They agreed the swap meet would have to wait until Saturday.
What was obvious upon entering the swap area this year was the addition of paved roads. It seems like a small thing but with a possibility of rain, like they had one day in 2006, can make the difference between slogging through the mud or just a slight inconvenience. Luckily, mother nature smiled on us all three days this year. Although we didn't spend much time (or money) in the swap area it looked this year was a sell out. Not to worry, with the acreage they have to work with, this Fall event has plenty of room to grow. We noticed a huge construction project in full swing near the track. Museum Technical Advisor, Brian Slark, mentioned it was an expansion of the expo area. Brian also said additional shower facilities are planned near the swap meet area and will be on-line for this Fall's Barber Festival.
The AMCA's Confederate Chapter was on hand again this year with an impressive display of machines. Set in the Expo area they were kept busy with an antique bike parade on Friday evening, their popular People's Choice bike show Saturday and the weekend's headliner, the Race of the Century. This unique "race" is limited to motorcycles that are at least 100 years old. The inaugural race in 2005 was a battle between two old rivals, Harley and Indian. With only two entries, Bruce Linsday on his '05 Harley and Calvin Burnett piloting his '05 Indian the crowd could pick their favorite relatively easily. This year, however, with nine bikes entered from six different manufacturers you almost needed a score card. Curtiss, Indian, Peugeot, Crouch, FN and Harley-Davidson were on the grid. Calvin Burnett's FN was a "no show" when a total rear wheel spoke failure sidelined him. Not missing a beat, he mounted his 1905 Indian and fired it up, only to have the drive chain break. Not his lucky day.
When the dust settled on this year's race it was Bruce Linsday's backup machine, a 1907 Curtiss, ridden by Joe Gardella, taking the checker flag. Confederate Chapter member Somer Hooker sighed, "This late model stuff is ruining the race." The top five finishers were Curtiss, FN, Crouch, Curtiss and Harley.
One of the weekend's biggest attractions was the AHRMA vintage racing. Although they didn't have a class featuring 100 year-old machines the action was fast, furious, and, nostalgic. Which poses the question. If Calvin Klein sold a men's cologne with the intoxicating scent of Castol R would you buy it?
As if the museum, races and swap meet weren't enough activities, they added an aerial demonstration by Greg Koontz, a bike seminar by New Englander, John Healy, titled, "All Things British Bike," and Denis Manning, guest of honor at Friday night's reception, Denis is the owner of the world's fastest two-wheeled machine, "Seven." Saturday evening Jerry Wood & Company held a vintage bike auction, which was well attended, in the basement level of the museum.
At Friday night's reception Mr. Barber asked, "What can I do for you?" Our reply, pointing to all the fabulous machines on display, was, "You've done so much already!"
It's been mentioned many times before but if you have never visited Barber Motorsports Park or attended the Festival, you would be well advised to consider it. The Barber Motorsports park is truly a "Mecca for Motorheads." For details on their 2008 festival visit their web site: www.barbermuseum.org
Malcolm!
 Dave Aldana, one of the stars of screen and dirt track, participated in Malcolm's special day. (Click image for full gallery)
Books could, and have, been written about Malcolm. In addition to appearing in On Any Sunday, he was a world star representing America in the International Six Day Trials. At the ribbon-cutting ceremonies were Bruce Brown, director of On Any Sunday, with Mert Lawwill and Dave Aldana who battled it out on the screen and track. A five minute video presenting just a few of Malcolm's accomplishments ran before he thrilled the assembled fans with highlights from a lifetime on two-wheels. Our take on Malcolm Smith, "This is a very kind, funny and humble man." What a treat that afternoon was.
In case you are unaware, Malcolm recently opened a very impressive motorcycle dealership, Malcolm Smith Motorsports, in Riverside, California. When someone in the crowd asked how many days a week he spends in the shop, Malcolm, with that ear to ear grin, said, "I hired a manager. Now I'm going to go play."
©
2008 AMCA
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