News / Stories

Youth Movement - Extended Version

Keith Kizer | Published on 4/17/2025

Youth Movement via the Franklin County Technical School
in Turners Falls, Massachusetts

From Left to Right: Cyrus Cranston 10th grade, Mar Prosper, Madden Hubert 10th grade, Wyatt Dejnak 10 th grade,Mason Lehtomaki 12th grade, Wyatt Sisum 10th grade, David Chagnon, Landon Clark 10th grade, Nick Mitchell 12th grade, Caleb Johnston 12th grade, Ian Kohlstrom 10th grade, Gabby Duda 10th grade, Jacob MacFarlane 10th grade, Bruce Phelps 10th grade

Youth Movement
The following story was Keith Kizer’s Ignition Switch column in the May/June 2025 issue of The Antique Motorcycle magazine.

Youth Movement – Short Version

Where is the next generation that will keep the antique motorcycle hobby, and indeed this club, alive and well? AMCA member Todd Weed may have an answer. Meet the Franklin County Technical School’s Vintage Motorcycle Club.
FCTS, in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, is a four-year public high school established in 1976. Weed is a recently retired instructor there but still serves on the school’s advisory committee. This project started when Weed received a phone call from fellow enthusiast Mark Prosper, who was downsizing prior to moving to Florida and had four vintage motorcycles he wanted to donate to the school.
Weed and auto-tech teacher David Chagnon discussed what they should do with the bikes. In October of 2024, the school’s Vintage Motorcycle Club was born. “The program quickly grew to include other advisors from the school and greater community,” Weed says, though he had been thinking along similar lines for some time.
“In reality, the program began in my mind as I repeatedly heard pessimistic old men grouse about the fact that young people don’t have the interest or attention span to work on old equipment,” he says. “I knew that wasn’t true. I was sure the students just needed an opportunity and guidance.”
FCTS students spend a whole week learning the skills of their chosen trade, then a week in academic classes, rotating throughout the school year. They graduate with a full high school diploma and a trade certificate plus hours toward a professional license. Juniors and seniors have the option of participating in a co-op program in which they spend their shop time at a paying job in their trade area.
Word of the motorcycle project spread quickly. Safety instructor Ken Condon of Riding in the Zone was the first to step up. He is a regular supporter of FCTS and has met with students twice to conduct basic riding-skills sessions in the classroom. Weed says, “We felt that safety and proper skills should to be the first lesson emphasized to a group of freshly and soon-to-be licensed teenagers.”
Billy Blythe, curator for the New England Motorcycle Museum 70 miles north in Rockville, Connecticut, has opened the facility’s doors for guided student visits. That’s him in the inset photo, showing the FCTS crew a Henderson Four inside the museum, a refurbished 200-year-old textile mill that houses more than 200 vintage motorcycles.
It’s a shorter field trip to Nova Motorcycles, also located in Tuners Falls, to see a working bike shop firsthand. Co-owner Sayre Anthony and shop mechanic Baily Sisson have each committed four hours per week to work in person with FCTS students.
Longtime Massachusetts resident, former road race tuner, ace fabricator and technical editor Kevin Cameron of Cycle World fame has also agreed to help advise the students. He has spoken with the group on three occasions so far. “Kevin has the unique ability to explain the most complex concepts in the simplest of terms,” says Weed. “Whether the audience is a group of experts or high school students, time with Kevin is like time in church.”
Of the fledgling program, (Zack) says, “We started with four donated motorcycles, a couple of work lifts and no funding, but a boatload of enthusiasm.” Two restoration projects are already underway, a Honda Gold Wing and a Yamaha FJ1200, both being rebuilt to factory condition. The goal is to have one or both of the bikes judged at the Yankee National Meet in July.
The hope is that this new program with energize more tech schools to establish similar curriculums, all in the name of growing the next generation of vintage motorcycle owners and caretakers. This started with one AMCA member who was presented with an idea that sparked into a flame, and the future of our hobby got a little brighter just like that.

Left to right: Bailey Sisson, Gabriel Cesaitis 9th grade

Youth Movement – Long Version

The magazine version of this story only scratches the surface. As Paul Harvey used to say, “And Now, The Rest of the Story.”

The above story from our magazine tells most of the details, but it is missing the extended version and all the many photos taken by Todd Weed throughout the project. When the idea of covering this in the magazine came up, Kizer asked David Edwards about covering this story. The answer was yes so we had Todd write a story with quotes from students, faculty and supporters.

Since the long version were five separate stories of each of the participating companies or individuals, it’s kind of like reading the parables in the Bible from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John telling four different versions of the same experience. In this case, five accounts were difficult to turn into a single story, so Edwards asked Kizer if he would be willing to scrap his written column and focus on the Automotive Technology Program at Franklin County Technical School. This would act as the short version of the extended version, with the ability to use a lot of photos. The plan was set.

Below are combined stories based on Todd's involvement with all those involved in the process which were used in part for Kizer’s column. At the time, we operated under the logic that we could not use students' names without permission from the school administrators. After the May/June issue went to press, we now have their permissions, so the names and photos.

"The enhancement of the motorcycle project at Franklin County Technical School’s Automotive Technology program proved to be a valuable learning tool and incentive for our students. Incorporating motorcycle maintenance and repair provided a multifaceted addition to their technical education. Motorcycles present unique engineering challenges and require specialized knowledge that complements traditional automotive training. By engaging with the motorcycles, our students gained hands-on experience with different systems, including two-stroke and four-stroke engines, suspension setups, and electrical systems. This exposure not only broadened their mechanical skills but also fostered critical thinking and problem-solving, along with broadening their employability skills. Many thanks to Todd Week, Bailey Sisson, Sayre Anthony, and all who helped create this opportunity for our students." – Margaret Nugent, Director of Career and Technical Education, Franklin County Technical School.

Todd Weed's Story with Student's and Supporter's Quotes

Vrooom
Isn't it interesting how young humans somehow naturally have the instinct to make the “Vrooooom!” sound? Leave a toy truck, car, tractor, or motorcycle lying about in the vicinity of a child and inevitably it will be propelled in the hand of the youngster complete with sound effects. Vrooom across the carpet, vrooom around the La-Z-Boy, VROOOM after the cat.
What sounds did we make before the invention of the internal combustion engine? Clomp, clomp? Where did this instinct come from? Perhaps it simply lay dormant in our minds until the opportunity arose?
Regardless of the case, the Vroom Effect was evident as I wheeled into the school parking lot, and a group of high school students caught sight of the trailer filled with old motorcycles I was hauling.
These were “old bikes”, built in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Machinery that rolled off a Japanese assembly line a full quarter century before these young folks were born. But the instinctive attraction was there with levers being pulled, grips being turned, and legs thrown over seats. Within an hour, the trailer was unloaded, bikes rolled into the Automotive Technology Shop, fuel sourced, battery installed, oil level checked, and then Vrooom! Real life Vaarooom! A group of common interest was formed, a club.
The philosophical tell us it is the unknown we fear. We are, by nature, suspicious of things we don't have a firm grip on. Non-mechanics are reluctant to engage the mystery of whirling gears and oil in a machine. The curious dive in elbow deep. Engagement creates familiarity, which brings understanding, and understanding produces friendships—friendships with both machines and people.
Some of the 40 students in the Automotive Technology Program at Franklin County Technical School in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, are forming a Vintage Motorcycle Club. They have four donated motorcycles, a couple of work lifts, no funding, but a boatload of enthusiasm.
All of the Auto Tech students made a choice during an exploratory process in their freshman year to invest in this trade for their high school education.
"Recently, I got an old Suzuki, which I paid for by cutting, splitting, and stacking wood. All my dad and I had to do to get it running was fixing a wire behind the stator that had shorted out. The next morning, I couldn’t wait to ride it. I started it up and it ran like complete crap, but it made me so happy to hear the sound of that bike for the first time. There isn’t a bolt on that bike I haven’t touched." - Zach Desrosiers, Junior

Trailer load of motorcycles donated from Mark Prosper show up at FCTS just in time for the Junior Class to unload. Left to right: Dom Stafford, Steve Miss, Kristian Yagovane, Corey Herold, Zack Desrosiers, Christian Walker, Logan Caron, and Logan Fournier.

Inside the shop, students and instructors start to organize the mountain of motorcycles and parts.

Along with Mark Prosper's trailer of motorcycles, it came with a van load of additional boxes and boxes of parts.

"Motorcycle for sale. For years, your motorcycle has been a trusted companion, accumulating hundreds of miles on the road, as well as countless hours in the garage. As the time comes to part ways, remember that the memories you've made are priceless. What can you do instead of selling? Consider donating your motorcycle to a local technical school's automotive shop. This selfless act can bring unparalleled joy, exceeding the satisfaction of selling. By donating, you'll have the chance to meet the next generation of riders, share your experiences, and learn about their passions in a truly unforgettable experience. Under the instructor's guidance, students will work together to successfully restore a motorcycle that has been inactive for years. Take action today by contacting your local school and meeting the instructor and the students. Give your motorcycle a new home, where it will bring happiness, knowledge, and hands-on experience to a new generation. Donate!"
– Mark Prosper, the donor of the four project motorcycles.

Mark Prosper discussing the FJ1200 Yamaha with students. From left to right: Wyatt Sisum 10th grade, Cyrus Cranston 10th grade, Mark Prosper, Maddex Hubert 10th grade, Wyatt Dejnak 10th grade.

Instructor David Chagnon and Mark Prosper discussing a plan of action.

NEMM
The first opportunity to learn more about vintage motorcycles outside of the shop came by way of a visit to the New England Motorcycle Museum in Rockville, Connecticut, where the students were the invited guests of the Kaplan family. During the museum visit, students were amazed by the collection of restored and original condition motorcycles. “I can’t believe all of the dirt bikes, “Look there is a Yamaha FJ just like ours,“ ”What the heck is that thing?”, ”Do all of these run?”, “I have one of those!” were comments overheard from students as former racer and museum Curator, Billy Blythe, led the group on a tour of the museum's two floors of antique and vintage bikes.
Reciprocal enthusiasm was shared between the students and the crew of restoration technicians when the group got a peek inside the heart of the Museum's restoration shop. Every member of the restoration crew shared experiences of their education and apprenticeships that led them to what many consider a dream job.
Hearing from these adults about attending vocational schools, much like the students, working for dealerships and small shops, and pursuing their own curiosities helped lead them in their careers. “Dreams don't come true. But goals can. The difference is, you need a plan,” advised one of the restoration specialists.

“As a baby, my dad would put me on the gas tank and ride me around. I’ve been around motorcycles as long as I can remember. The opportunity for us to work on the motorcycles as girls feels great because it’s a male-based trade that we girls still have a chance to prove that we can work on things too.”- Rylie Mitchell. Junior

From left to right: Wyatt Dejnak 10th grade, Cyrus Cranston 10th grade, Wyatt Sisum 10th grade, Maddex Hubert 10th grade, Landon Clark 10th grade, Mason Lehtomaki 12th grade, Bruce Phelps 10th grade, Jack Gancarz 12th grade, Caleb Johnston 12th grade, Gabby Duda 10th grade, Ian Kohlstrom 10 th grade, Nick Mitchell 12th grade, Dom Guimond-Swan 12th grade

In this series of photos of Sophomores and Seniors at Ken Kaplan's New England Motorcycle Museum. On the museum floor, Curator, Billy Blyth tells some of the history of some of the motorcycles. The tour continued in the street level shop. From left to right: Wyatt Dejnak 10th grade, Caleb Johnston 12th grade, Maddex Hubert 10th grade, Landon Clark 10th grade, Wyatt Sisum 10th grade, Cyrus Cranston 10th grade, Bruce Phelps 10th grade

"Our museum is here to represent the past and to share that past with both yound and old motorcycle enthusiasts. We especially enjoy carring the message about our sport to the new generation of motorcycle enthusiast such as your students at the Franklin County Technical School. We were glad to have your gourp come and tour the museum and it was a pleasure to host you and the students and look forward to your next visit." – Billy Blyth, NEMM Curator

Kevin
It’s been advised that meeting your hero is not a good idea. Perhaps the risk of disappointment is too great? But meeting one of my heroes was just as I had hoped. And now, I’ve also had the opportunity to introduce him to a group of young people.
Kevin Cameron is a National treasure, engineer, fabricator, racer, restorer, author, speaker, philosopher, and, as it turns out, our neighbor here in Western Massachusetts. Kevin has the unique ability to explain the most complex concepts in the simplest of terms. Whether the audience is a group of experts or high school students just starting out, time with Kevin is like time in church.
“Of course, I would like to speak to them,” was Kevin’s response when I invited him to address our group. “Do you mind if I bring a few things with me?” He asked. “Bring whatever you would like,” I assured him. “Well then”, Kevin concluded, “I may need some help carrying stuff in.”
When Kevin arrived, it was like ants at a picnic, students carrying in bits of both airplane and motorcycle engines, all examples for the points he intended to make. Great cylinders from a Pratt & Whitney. A knife and fork connecting rod arrangement, not from a Harley but a radial engine. Flywheels, pistons, and pieces were unidentifiable until Kevin explained their functions.
Kevin asks the question, “If the hay is cut and rain is coming, but the bailer is broken, who do you call? An engineer? No, you call a farmer. Because of their experience of how things work and their sense of urgency to make them work.”
Kevin emphasizes that all of these things, all of this technology, were developed by curious people who built on what others before them had figured out and often followed their curiosity in a different direction. “Let your natural curiosity lead you to be your own expert,” Kevin encourages.

“While for some people riding motorcycles is the part that interests them, and don't get me wrong, I wanted to do that as well, I am more interested in working on them and figuring out how they work. That’s where my enjoyment comes from, it’s when I’m working and trying to figure things out. So, this project really interested me in the way that it needed work and needed to be restored. It got me instantly thinking of all the things we could do with these bikes, like turning them into show bikes or making them a staple of our shop, and that one day these bikes will be the thing that interests someone else in this shop, and I’ll know I was a part of it.” - Logan Caron, Junior

Kevin Cameron with the Junior class in the AT related room. L to R, Dom Stafford, Zack Desrosiers, Kristian Yagovane, Natalya Aubrey , Zander Dakin, David Chagnon, Logan Caron.

Kevin Cameron talking with Juniors Logan Caron and Rylie Mitchell.

Ken
"My interest in motorcycles started about six years ago when my stepdad brought a dirt bike around and taught me how to ride it. From there on out, I loved being on two wheels. A few months later, I ended up inheriting my uncle’s bike that had been sitting around for a few years but needed some work, and that’s where my real interest in motorcycles kicked in."
"I love the satisfaction of being able to get a bike running. As I went on riding more and more, it changed from just a side hobby that I enjoyed to genuinely revolving around my life; going for a ride wasn’t just something “fun” to do, but it turned into an escape from reality. You can hop on the bike, forget about everything, and enjoy yourself. Big or small, new or old. All bikes are awesome regardless." - Christian Walker, Junior

"How many of us started that very way? Some of us who are a little older, no doubt, started on a Briggs and Stratton-powered mini-bike ripping around the backyard or pasture. Slowly, we progressed through size and displacement, eventually operating full-size machines on public roads. The majority of us were probably self-taught. There is certainly something to be said for the virtues of solving a challenge with your own wit and motivation. But, at some point, it becomes apparent that learning how to ride correctly and safely is not only a good idea, but it also makes the experience even more rewarding, "
Enter Ken Condon. Ken is the founder and owner of Riding in the Zone. He is a nationally known author and instructor of motorcycle riding skills and safety. Ken graciously donated his time to come to school and speak with all four classes of Auto Tech students, including our Vintage Motorcycle Club members. Being winter in New England, our time was confined to the classroom. Ken’s examples for safe and correct riding practices laid the groundwork for what should be a lifetime of enjoyment for the students. Ken’s many videos from his motorcycle travel experience around the world, as well as track time, including a hot lap around COTA ( Circuits of the Americas in Texas) kept everyone focused.
Inviting Ken to speak helped fulfill the goal of emphasizing safety. As educators and leaders of young folks, we cannot miss any opportunity to help guide young riders in the correct and safe operation of anything they may ride or drive. The bottom line is that driving a car or riding a motorcycle presents certain added dangers. Telling them to “Be Safe!” isn’t nearly enough. Our obligation is to provide an opportunity to help young riders learn correct technique and set an example of responsible riding through our own safe riding practice.
Hopefully, Ken's expertise and enthusiasm are something we can exploit again this spring when the snow is off the parking lot.

Ken and Kevin with Sophomore Cyrus Cranston

Ken Condon holding his copy of Kevin Cameron's "Superbike: An Illustrated Early History"

Kevin Cameron and Ken Condon having a discussion with Sophomore Cyrus Cranston

Nova
Nova Motorcycles is the kind of place where even with your eyes closed, you would know where you were by the smell. Old cars, airplanes, and motorcycles have that distinctive smell of well-worn grease and experience—a smell that is familiar and makes many happy. The smell and environment that create it are the very things I wanted to share with the students.
We are fortunate to have Nova Motorcycles as a unique and nearby resource. Owners Sayre and Bailey greeted our entourage in the shop’s waiting room, which also serves as a small Motorcycle lounge and museum. Spread out on the table were various motorcycle parts staged for our discussion. Holding up a bank of Mikuni carburetors, Baily asked, “How many of you have worked on a carburetor?” In a fuel injection world, many young mechanics held up their hands.
The near dozen vintage bikes displayed on shelves served as fodder for the game of “Describe that engine configuration”. Together, the owners and students compared the Ducati Desmo twin to the Interceptors V4 and the Royal Star to the Ascot. Students chiming in on how these bikes compare to motorcycles in their own family's garage at home, or what an uncle or friend’s dad rides.
“I own a 1962, single-cylinder Sachs-powered Cyrus Venlo motorcycle. I’m certainly familiar with the Sachs engines,” Sayre commented, “But I’ve never heard of a Cyrus motorcycle?” He found the bike when searching for parts for one of his other nine motorcycles. “It was in Connecticut. When I found out there was a motorcycle with my name, I had to have it, so we went down and I bought it.” “The Cyrus now shares a garage with Cyrus’s other bikes, which range in age from 1971 to 2021, and the family’s 1948 Harley,” Cyrus continued.
Touring the shop area, students were treated to a menagerie of vintage machines receiving various levels of care, restoration, and modification. In-line four-cylinder Japanese, airhead BMWs, British twins and singles, and an early Vespa drivetrain clamped in a small rotisserie on the bench. The three mechanics discussed the goals and challenges of several bikes, including the ins and outs of running such a business with unique challenges. It didn’t take long before the students and experts established a common language, leading to spirited and educational conversation. Leaving the shop, Sayre and Baily invited the young enthusiasts to return anytime. What better to have than a place filled with machines and people like this?

Juniors meet with Nova Motorcycles co-owners, Sayre Anthony and Baily Sisson. From L to R:
Zack Desrosiers, Corey Herold, Dom Stafford, Zander Dakin, Logan Caron, Kristian Yagovane, Natalya Aubrey, Rylie Mitchell, Sayre Anthony, Bailey Sisson.

Sayre Anthony and Baily Sisson breaking down the basic components of an inline four. This was the Freshman Class field trip on December 17, 2024. L to R: Zack Fournier, Sayre Anthony, Bailey Sisson, Quinn Ferris, Mac Dufresne, Evan Wright, Arlo Spencer, Jadiel Pantoja-Alicea, Tobiah Streeter, Coleton Sabolevski, and Makayla Pierce.

Sayre Anthony in the shop, well, talking shop with the Junior Class. L to R: Rylie Mitchell, Natalya Aubrey, Zander Dakin, Kristian Yagovane, Corey Herold, Bailey Sisson, Sayre Anthony, Dom Stafford, and Logan Caron.

Bailey Sisson from another angle going over a customer's repair with the Juniors; L to R: Logan Caron, Dom Stafford, Bailey Sisson, Rylie Mitchell, Zack Desrosiers, Kristian Yagovane, Corey Herold, and Zander Dakin.

"Working on older machines with these kids is particularly helpful, because in the older designs you can really see the parts up close, and thus get a better feel for how things actually work. The components on modern machines are a little more opaque, a little harder to see what’s going on, and the understanding of how things work can be that much more distant. Understanding the simpler older systems in turn creates a good foundation for understanding the newer ones, for a more thorough knowledge base. In our shop we rely heavily on understanding systems fully when it comes to diagnosing symptoms, rather than looking up troubleshooting trees, and this kind of understanding translates well into skills across a lot of different disciplines." – Sayre Anthony, Nova Motorcycles.

Nova Motorcycle owners did not limit their time at their shop, they also committed extra days at FCTS working with students in the school's shop. This was Carb Day in March with Sayre Anthony and Baily Sisson students hands on experience is doing a carb rebuild.

The Future
With this background and a few other untapped resources, the newly minted Franklin County Technical School Vintage Motorcycle Club (FCTS/VMC) ventures forth. Led by the students and supported by adults, the club is on the verge of some very cool things. Intrigued by the horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, the juniors have claimed the Honda Gold Wing, while the sophomores are investing their time into the Yamaha FJ1200. One or both might be ready for judging at the July AMCA Yankee National Meet.
- Todd Weed

More Nova Motorcycle time at FCTS working with Sophomore students. Left photo of Cyrus Cranston. Right photo, L to R: Wyatt Dejnak, Cyrus Cranston, Myatt Sisum, Sayre Anthony, Maddex Hubert, and Bailey Sisson

Sophomores at work. Left photo, L to R: Wyatt Dejnak, Maddex Hubert, Cyrus Cranston, and Wyatt Sisum. Right photo, L to R: Ian Kohlstrom, Wyatt Dejnak, Nick Mitchell 12th grade, Wyatt Sisum, Maddex Hubert, Landon Clark, and Bruce Phelps.

Left Photo, From left to right: Cyrus Cranston, 10th grade; Maddex
Hubert, 10th grade.

Right Photo, From left to right: Cyrus Cranston 10th grade,
Landon Clark 10th grade, Wyatt Dejnak 10th grade,
Wyatt Sisum 10th grade

Summary

"When the motorcycles arrived for our program, the energy and excitement in the Automotive Shop were at an all time high. Would they run? Chatter on which bike they liked best. There is something special about a motorcycle that creates excitement. Maybe it's the freedom, maybe it's the speed, the sound, the wind in your hair, or the adventure that a motorcycle represents. This project has been so many things so far. Something new, different, challenging, and very personable for many of the students who ride motorcycles of all types currently. This project has also been influential for students that have not been introduced to the hobby, all while practicing the standards that we need to be successful in the Automotive Service Industry."
-- David Chagnon Jr., Automotive Technology Instructor

This is a program that we hope will find traction. We encourage members to show their local schools and plant seeds to mimic Todd’s program. This comes when schools finally embrace shop and tech departments or satellite schools due to the growing need for tradesmen and women. Yet, this is not the first time we have covered this topic in the club magazine.

Past AMCA President Richard Spagnolli pointed out that 2011 the youngest AMCA board member in history, Matt Olsen, wrote a story in his Young Rider’s column called “Old School Meets High School.” His story was about Tim Dixon, Kevin Baas and Warren Heir and their plan to get kids excited about working on motorcycles through a program with several Milwaukee high schools. Matt’s story can be found in the archive magazine section of this website.

We ask our members to open and copy these stories and put together a proposal for your local schools to consider. We will be happy to provide magazines and support to help get you started. It all starts with a conversation. The next generation of vintage and antique motorcycle mechanics and owners is out there. We just need to plan the seed.

Sources:

Franklin County Technical School

New England Motorcycle Museum

Nove Motorcycles

Riding in the Zone

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