Triumph and Laverda converge at Vintage Motorcycle Days

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Piero Laverda on the one and only Laverda V6 endurance racer. Look for it at VMD!

If it’s July, it must be time for the Woodstock of classic bike shows, the American Motorcyclist Association’s (AMA) annual Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, July 25-27.

Hard as it is for some Triumph fans to believe, it was 40 years ago that the first Bonnevilles began rolling off the assembly line in England. Since then, Triumph has seen its ups and downs, yet save for a handful of specialty makers, Triumph is the sole survivor from a country that once boasted over 100 different motorcycle manufacturers that led the industry in technical and design innovation.

That makes the AMA’s decision to honor Triumph as the VMD Marque of the Year more than fitting, and thanks to VMD’s continuing — and deserved — reputation as Mecca for classic bikes fans, attendees can expect more classic Triumphs in one place at one time than they’re likely to experience again any time soon. Triumph will display some of its new bikes, naturally, and we’re especially looking forward to the planned highlight of pre-1980 Triumph café racers. In a nod to Triumph’s success with retro-themed bikes like the current Bonneville, Scrambler and Thruxton, café racer customs based on those bikes will also be welcome.

Better yet, owners of classic Triumphs who need a hand assessing condition, value and trends in restoration can bring their bikes to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s Vintage Triumph Road Show at the Motorhead Café on the track grounds. Randy Baxter, owner of Baxter Cycle and an acknowledged Triumph expert will help owners assess their machines and memorabilia. Baxter and the Hall of Fame Museum are particularly interested in getting owners of original, unrestored machines to attend. Don’t forget that proceeds from VMD go to support the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum and its efforts to preserve motorcycle history and culture.