AMA Issues Thanks to All for Successful 2013 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Event

American Motorcyclist Association thanks members, partners, fans for supporting 2013 BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- July 26, 2013 -- AMA members and motorcyclists from across the country celebrated the people, machines and sport of motorcycling at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna, over the July 19-21 weekend. The annual gathering of tens of thousands of motorcycling enthusiasts took place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Attendees participated in vintage racing, took in numerous bike shows, met their motorcycling heroes, purchased vintage parts and motorcycles in the massive swap meet, spent time with old friends, and met new ones.

The AMA and the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, extend their appreciation to AMA members, racers, enthusiasts, collectors, restorers, fans, clubs, companies and others who supported the three-day celebration of motorcycling's history and heroes.

"AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is not just the perfect blend of old and new, it's also a wonderful example of the spirit of cooperation that drives the like-minded folks who love motorcycles and the people who ride them," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "I want to personally thank everybody who helped make the event a success in 2013, especially our Grand Marshal Dick Burleson, the boards of directors for both the AMA and the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, AMA staff, and the army of AMA members and volunteers who pitched in to support this fundraising event for the Hall of Fame."

The title sponsor for the 2013 event was BikeBandit.com, the country's leading online source for motorcycle parts, gear and accessories. As part of that sponsorship, BikeBandit.com held a special drawing for a gift card every 10 minutes throughout the weekend. In addition, winners of AMA Vintage No. 1 plates received BikeBandit.com gift cards.

"You would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated group of motorcycle enthusiasts than the devoted riders who attend BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna," said BikeBandit.com Online Acquisition Manager Jake Smith. "These guys and gals love to ride, love to work on motorcycles and appreciate bikes from all eras. The fix-it-yourself philosophy of BikeBandit.com and the online tools, ease of ordering and knowledge base that we provide is built with these motorcyclists in mind. We are thrilled to support this event and all the riders who enjoy one of the best weekends in motorcycling."

The classic Husqvarna brand was also front and center at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, with themed activities during numerous parts of the program. In addition to event grand marshal and Hall of Fame member Dick Burleson, fellow Hall of Famers Scot Harden, Gunnar Lindstrom, John Penton, Malcolm Smith and legends Fred Andrews, Terry Cunningham, Andrew DeLong, Jamie Lanza, Mike Melton and more were on hand to greet fans and talk about the history of Husqvarna. Several representatives from Husqvarna were also supported the event, including Scott Cox and Jean Turner.

"The love of the Husqvarna brand was on full display this past weekend at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna, from enthusiasts who grew up with Huskys to pros who rode them to AMA national champions," said Andy Jefferson, Husqvarna's head of U.S. racing. "The exciting future of Husqvarna will be built on the accomplishments and passion of these legends and fans. It was our pleasure to honor them at this amazing event."

The AMA organizes the annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days as a fundraiser for the Hall of Fame. It includes North America's largest motorcycle swap meet, national championship vintage racing in numerous disciplines, classic bike shows, notable awards, and presentations by some of motorcycling's leading experts and personalities.

The AMA Vintage Grand Championships, which run in conjunction with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, add not just to the atmosphere of the event, but also draw hundreds of participants from around the country.

AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey said that competitor registration continued to be strong in 2013, thanks in large part to the AMA-chartered clubs and promoters who are the AMA's organizational partners for the event.

"Once again, WERA Motorcycle Road Racing ensured the road-racing program ran like clockwork," Massey said. "Participants repeatedly commented on the professionalism of the operations -- on not just the road course, but for all disciplines."

Additional groups and individuals who contributed to the vintage racing program were the Roadracing World Action Fund for soft barrier deployment, the Ashland Fairgrounds that hosted the dirt-track event, Drew Wolf, the Dayton Motorcycle Club, Don May and Ohio Trials Inc., Mandi Mastin and her family, Bart Newman and Jeff Beerbower of Log Road MX Park in Coldwater, Mich., national anthem singer Dawn Merical and husband Mark, as well as Jim Pooler.

"We also can't overlook the superb announcing performance of long-time AMA and Hall of Fame supporter Tom White, who kept the fans and racers updated through two days of vintage and post-vintage racing on the motocross track," Massey said.

Dingman also extended his appreciation to the groups and individuals who supported the efforts of the numerous Hall of Fame activities at the event.

"The Hall of Fame and All Years Bike Show participants brought some wonderful motorcycles for all to enjoy," Dingman said. "We also greatly appreciate Mike Seate and Café Racer magazine, this year's Classic Club the Louisville Vintage Motorworks, and the show-stopping Wall of Death stunt show for contributing to the infield activities."

Dingman thanked other clubs in attendance as well, including the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, the Kawasaki ZL Owners Club, the Christian Motorcyclists Association and ABATE of Ohio.

"We are also very grateful to our AMA Life Members who joined us for the weekend and the AMA Life Member Appreciation Breakfast," Dingman added. "The lifetime of support from these dedicated members makes everything possible."

Dingman also thanked the voice of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, announcer Griff Allen; demo ride providers Kawasaki, KTM North America and KYMCO; Ryan Young Products for providing a trials stunt show; the companies that filled up vendor row; Federal Companies Motorcycle Shipping; all the seminar speakers; the riders who participated in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Lap for History rides around the Mid-Ohio road race course; riders in the Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Challenge; bike show judges, which included AMHF Board Member Don Rosene and Ellis Holman and Scotty VanLeuwen of the VJMC; and everyone who purchased a raffle ticket for the Hall of Fame raffle bike.

"We also want to thank all the swap meet vendors who turned out to make the 2013 BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet one of the biggest ever," Dingman said.

Several artists contributed their talents to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this year, creating art in real time in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tent. The demonstration was an extension of the new 2 Wheels + Motor: A Fine Art Exhibition at the Hall of Fame. Those artists included Matthew Anderle, Katherine Crowley, Ken Goodson, Andrew Lumberg, Mike Siculan, Siege, Ric Stewart, Alicia Jean Vanderelli, Susan Ward.

"The biggest thanks, of course, goes out to all of the AMA members, motorcyclists and fans who enjoyed the festivities while supporting the Hall of Fame," Dingman said. "The Hall of Fame is the premier organization in the country that preserves the legacies of the men and women who built our two-wheeled heritage, and everyone who lends a hand in making AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days a success is helping further that mission."

Located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame celebrates, elucidates and preserves the rich tradition of motorcycling in America. Its exhibits honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have shaped the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling.

For more information about the Hall of Fame, call (614) 856-2222.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

 

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling.

 

For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

 

Media contact: James Holter
Phone: (614) 856-1900, ext. 1280
E-mail: jholter@ama-cycle.org

Note: Gallery pictures from the weekend can be viewed here:

 

http://gallery.americanmotorcyclist.com/AMA-Racing