Get Ready for 2011
Winter may be on its way, but it’s not too soon to start planning for the 2011 season of AMCA National Meets and Road Runs.
The AMCA's Nationals, organized by affiliated Chapters in the United States and overseas, represent some of the premier antique-motorcycle activities held anywhere in the world. From major events attracting thousands of visitors to friendly gatherings of a few hundred enthusiasts, they all offer the chance to share an appreciation of classic machines and the people who ride them.
The heart of most National Meets is the vendor field, in which AMCA members can offer for sale parts and even entire motorcycles over 35 years old. In addition, every AMCA National Meet features the Club’s National Judging Program, in which motorcycles are displayed to be judged by experts. For AMCA members, bike judging offers recognition for restoring, or preserving, an important piece of motorcycling history. But for spectators, the judging field turns into an antique-bike show rivaling the country’s best museum exhibits.
AMCA National Road Runs offer the chance to ride with others on the machines, and roads, of yesterday. These multi-day events follow routes laid out by local riders, who know the back roads of their own area best.
The 2011 National Meet schedule kicks off February 25 & 26 with the Omaha Chapter Meet in Fremont, Nebraska. Yes, it’ll still be cold on the Plains, but don’t worry―the whole meet is inside the 20,000-square-foot Christensen Field building, so you can laugh at the weather and smile at the great old bikes on display.
After that comes the Sunshine Chapter Meet March 4-6 in Eustis, Florida. Not only is this a great meet in its own right, but it’s also the perfect kickoff to Bike Week in Daytona Beach, just 50 miles up the road.
The Perkiomen Chapter Meet, scheduled for April 29-30 in Oley, Pennsylvania, features some of the best bikes in the Northeast. And its location right in the middle of an entire township that is on the National Register of Historic Places makes this event like a visit to the past.
The Blue Ridge, Catawba Valley and Dixie Chapters are back with their second Southern National Meet May 13-15 in Denton, North Carolina. And it, too, has a special setting, on the grounds of the preserved village at the Denton Farmpark. If you missed the inaugural Southern National last year, this is the year to see this great new AMCA meet.
For AMCA members on the other side of the Atlantic (and those with some frequent-flier miles to use), the big event of the year is the European Chapter Meet, set for May 27-28. For the second year in a row, the meet will be based in Den Haag, The Netherlands, which is conveniently located for international travelers.
In June, you’ll get a taste of the spectacle that is the Rhinebeck Coalition Meet, with its amazing Timeline of History, bringing together up to 400 motorcycles from every era. Organized by the Big Sandbar, Colonial, Empire, Hudson Valley, Seaboard and Yankee Chapters, it's set for June 10-12 in Rhinebeck, New York.
The Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul is the setting for the Viking Chapter Meet, also scheduled for June 10-12. But the fairgrounds are just the starting point, since this meet always includes a couple of fun old-bike rides.
June is also the time for the AMCA’s west-coast meet, the Fort Sutter Chapter National on the 17th and 18th in Dixon, California. This year will mark the 11th anniversary of this California classic.
The last of the big multi-Chapter meets of the year is the Wauseon National, July 15-17 in Wauseon, Ohio. The Lake Erie, Maumee Valley, Ohio Valley and River Valley Chapters combine their efforts to create this event that features dirt-track racing, field games and plenty of vendors.
When it comes to the vending area, the all-time champion is the Chief Blackhawk Chapter Meet, which will be held September 1-4 in Davenport, Iowa. Each year, the acreage occupied by old bikes and parts at the Missippi Valley Fairgrounds grows even larger. Bring your walking shoes.
The year comes to a close September 30- October 1 with the Chesapeake Chapter Meet in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. This laid-back event coincides with the start of fall-color season, making it a perfect time to see the scenic back roads of southern Pennsylvania.
In addition to those 11 National Meets, the 2011 AMCA calendar also includes a bumper-crop of five National Road Runs. Those kick off with a February 28-March 2 ride hosted by the Everglades Chapter in Palatka, Florida. For members trying to escape winter, it’s the perfect opportunity, flowing right into the Sunshine Chapter Meet and Daytona Bike Week.
After that, the Omaha Chapter will host a road run June 16-18 in Mullen, Nebraska; followed by the Bluegrass Chapter Road Run July 20-22 in Richmond, Kentucky; the Chief Blackhawk Chapter Road Run September 5-7 (right after the Davenport Meet) in Galena, Illinois; and the Yerba Buena Chapter Road Run, September 26-28 in California’s Napa Valley.
Below, you'll find the complete schedule of AMCA National Meets and Road Runs, along with full contact information for the event of your choice.
2011 AMCA Nationals
February 25-26
Omaha Chapter
Fremont, NE
(402) 660-5151
www.omahachapteramca.org
February 27-March 2
Everglades Chapter Road Run
Palatka, FL
(239) 851-7492
evergladeschapter.tripod.com
March 4-6
Sunshine Chapter
Eustis, FL
(386) 322-7984
www.sunshinechapteramca.org
April 29-May 1
Perkiomen Chapter
Oley, PA
(610) 948-4553
oleyfleamarket@comcast.net
May 13-15
Southern National
Denton, NC
(417) 838-4777
www.amcasouthernnationalmeet.com
May 27-28
European Chapter
Den Haag, The Netherlands
www.amca-europe.eu
June 10-12
Rhinebeck Coalition
Rhinebeck, NY
(518) 622-8519
www.rhinebecknationalmeet.com
June 10-12
Viking Chapter
St. Paul, MN
(952) 941-4997
www.vikingmc.org
June 15-18
Omaha Chapter Road Run
Mullen, NE
(402) 660-5151
www.omahachapteramca.org
June 17-18
Fort Sutter Chapter
Dixon, CA
(209) 748-5126
www.amcafortsutter.org
July 15-17
Wauseon National
Wauseon, OH
(419) 929-0291
www.wauseonnationalmeet.org
July 19-22
Bluegrass Chapter Road Run
Richmond, KY
(859) 432-0018
brian_groff@msn.com
Chief Blackhawk Chapter National
Davenport, IA
(563) 323-8643
www.chiefblackhawk.org
September 5-8
Chief Blackhawk Chapter Road Run
Galena, IL
(563) 323-8643
www.chiefblackhawk.org
September 25-28
Yerba Buena Chapter Road Run
Napa Valley, CA
(415) 469-8359
loride17@aol.com
September 30-October 1
Chesapeake Chapter National Meet
Jefferson, PA
(410) 692-9291
scott.english@us.army.mil
See all news stories>>