1909 Wagner to be auction by MidAmerica Auctions at Pebble Beach Aug. 13-15, 2010.

Here’s something you don’t –and won’t – see every day; a 1909 Wagner. Built by the Wagner Motorcycle Co. in Saint Paul, Minn., it’s a 442cc belt-drive single and likely one of only a handful in existence. The bike, an unrestored original that’s been in the same family since the teens, will be auctioned this year by MidAmerica Auctions August 13-15 during the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

This is the second year for motorcycles at Pebble Beach, and the second year for MidAmerica to hold a motorcycle auction at the prestigious event, a previously car-centric celebration of vintage machinery. Last year’s MidAmerica auction (go here to see our story on the 2009 event) featured 84 motorcycles, of which 44, or 54 percent, sold. So far, MidAmerica has 81 bikes consigned, almost even with last year’s offering. Although last year’s performance was considered acceptable for a first-time auction, it was hardly a home run, so it’ll be interesting to see what the action’s like this year. Overall, the auction scene has been pretty lively this year. Although average bikes are somewhat cheap, good bikes are still getting top dollar, belying the seemingly depressed economy.

The Wagner is a particularly rare machine as Minnesota-based Wagner supposedly built few motorcycles during its 1901-1914 production. Motorcycle historian Jerry Hatfield’s Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles, 1898-1981, says an estimated 8,500 single-cylinder machines rolled out of the factory. Although Wagner motorcycles were fairly typical of the time with inlet-over-exhaust engines featuring splash lubrication and, mostly, belt drive (there were some chain-drive models), they did produce a few real oddities, such as single- and twin-engined tandems.

The Wagner on offer is claimed original, purchased in the teens by the grandfather of the current owner; the grandfather is said to have used it riding around the family vineyards in California’s Rancho Cucamonga area. It’s been stored inside since the 1950s, and nothing’s been done to it since, which means it may still be wearing it’s original dirt! We’ll keep you posted on auction results following the Pebble Beach event, which happens August 13,-15. – Richard Backus

This year's raffle bike was built by Vicious Cycle in Portland, Ore. Make it yours!

We all missed it last year, but thanks to major support from the folks at the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Assoc. (AHRMA), Vicious Cycle in Portland and Bonneville event organizer Tom Kullen, the Honda CB160 Bonneville Vintage GP Raffle Bike is back for 2010, and it could be yours on September 5 if you have the winning ticket!

Blame it on a bum economy, but it just wasn’t possible to pull together a raffle bike for last year’s Bonneville Vintage GP. Held in 2007 and again in 2008, the raffle has always featured a Honda and it’s always been a CB160, the lovely little twins that have become immensely popular in West Coast vintage racing, and that have been a regular at the Bonneville Vintage GP, which every year features the Battle of the CB160s LeMans Start. A fantastic exhibition race featuring upwards of 30 CB160s, the race has riders run across the track LeMans-style to their waiting machines, where they grab their machines from a waiting helper, bump start them and then roar of down the track as quickly as they can.

Four-time world champ Doug Polen played along last year – and won – and he’ll be back again this year, too, racing in Saturday’s CB160 race. It seems like the lion’s share of the really competitive CB160s come from Joe Pethoud at Vicious Cycle, and if you win this year’s bike that’s what you’ll be getting, a custom, Vicious-built CB160, completely rebuilt and ready for the track. Tickets are only $5 each, or your can get 5 for $20 – definitely the way to go. And your money supports a good cause, helping defray the cost of staging the popular Bonneville Vintage GP, a hugely popular but also hugely expensive endeavor. Nobody gets rich on vintage racing events like this. At best, they break even and get paid for their time. But everyone has fun, and that’s why we, they and everyone else involved keep doing it year after year. So pony up and bike that ticket, and support great vintage racing!

Get your raffle tickets ($5 each or 5 for $20) by sending a check made out to AHRMA/Bonneville Vintage GP and sending it to:

Dave Lambreth
AHRMA
309 Buffalo Run
Goodlettsville, TN 37072

Questions about the raffle bike? Just contact Dave Lambreth at AHRMA:

Phone: 615.420.6435
Fax 615.420.6438
dwlamberth@comcast.net

The drawing for the winner will be held after Saturday’s CB160 race, and you don’t have to be present to win. Then again, we don’t know why you wouldn’t be, because if you’re not there you’ll miss two days of great racing including AHRMA racing, sidecar racing and of course the annual Motorcycle Classics Bonneville Vintage GP Motorcycle Show. Last year’s show drew a record 68 entries, ranging from classic Ducatis and Nortons to Velocettes and Triumphs. We’ll have the Motorcycle Classics/Dairyland Cycle Insurance Triumph Bonneville on hand – a bike you could win by signing up here – and BSA is the featured bike for this year’s show. So shine up that Rocket III or Hornet and bring it to Utah for the 5^th Annual Bonneville Vintage GP. See you there! – Richard Backus