2010 Daytona Bike Week

By Vicki Smith
Published on June 2, 2010
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A 1929 H-D JDH didn’t reach reserve at the Bator auction.
A 1929 H-D JDH didn’t reach reserve at the Bator auction.
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A Yamaha TZ700A (with a Honda CB550 engine) didn’t reach reserve at the auction.
A Yamaha TZ700A (with a Honda CB550 engine) didn’t reach reserve at the auction.
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This Ducati 750 Sport sold for $22,000.
This Ducati 750 Sport sold for $22,000.
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Jay Springsteen (#9) prepares to start one of the many AHRMA races.
Jay Springsteen (#9) prepares to start one of the many AHRMA races.
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The Eustis AMCA meet attracts well-kept classics like this Indian.
The Eustis AMCA meet attracts well-kept classics like this Indian.
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MotoGP racer Nicky Hayden at the Daytona 200 to support his older brother Tommy.
MotoGP racer Nicky Hayden at the Daytona 200 to support his older brother Tommy.
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A huge pile of new-old-stock Italian motorcycle seats.
A huge pile of new-old-stock Italian motorcycle seats.
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A selection of H-D memorabilia at the Bator auction.
A selection of H-D memorabilia at the Bator auction.
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The Eustis AMCA meet attracts well-kept classics like this Vincent.
The Eustis AMCA meet attracts well-kept classics like this Vincent.

Daytona Bike Week has a split personality. There’s the loud one most people know about: non-stop noise, lots of traffic, chopper shows and an endless sea of beer. And then there’s the other bike week; a nine-day classic motorcycle show featuring vintage motorcycles, historic motorcycles and racing motorcycles.

It is quality time spent in quaint little downtowns and at great garage parties filled with gear heads and guys who dream of owning a motorcycle museum (or maybe do own one). At this bike week, the food is better, there’s a lot less noise, a lot more sleep if you want it and an awful lot of people come home with more bikes than they came down with. To find it you need to start early, and a little bit west, at the AMCA motocross meet in Eustis, Fla. It’s three days of swap meets, bike shows and cook outs. The next stop is Deland for AHRMA registration, and then a couple of days of AHRMA vintage racing at the Daytona Speedway. There’s also a new flat track on the speedway grounds and it’s a bull ring, short and fast, perfect for “anything can happen” racing. Then there’s the Deland Bator Auction. This one is on everybody’s schedule. Bikes and vendors start loading in on Thursday and the sale ends on Saturday. If you do decide to venture east to Daytona, the technology gets decidedly more cutting edge. There is AMA Superbike racing at the speedway, the Euro bike shop downtown to check out the new models and the vintage bike collection on display, even a Ducati beach party to watch the Daytona 200 and catch a glimpse of VIPs like Nicky Hayden.

If you do the week right, you’ll never sit in traffic once, and you’ll never ask yourself, “Why do Harleys have to be so LOUD?” You’ll go to some great parties, meet some new friends and it’s likely your biggest problem will be counting the great conversations you had during the week, or maybe figuring out how to get the treasures you bought home. MC

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