Heading into southwestern Pennsylvania’s Amish country during the 2017 Getaway. Photos by Karl Jarvis.
The 2nd Annual Motorcycle Classics Ride ’Em, Don’t Hide ’Em Getaway is in the books, and what a great weekend it was as 56 riders joined us for a weekend romp through the Laurel Highlands in southwestern Pennsylvania, Aug. 4-6, 2017. Although it was looking like it might rain throughout the weekend, Mother Nature kept her cool, literally, providing two days of perfect vintage motorcycle weather with cool, moisture-rich air perfect for our old carbureted engines. The bikes ran great, the roads were spectacular and after two days of plying the area’s back roads the response from just about everyone there was, “So when does this happen next year?”
That was also the response after last year’s inaugural Getaway, like this year headquartered at Seven Springs Resort in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania. The area is a natural for motorcycling, with miles and miles of stunning little blacktop roads winding in and out of the surrounding hills, then spilling out into the valleys and farmland that also define the area. It’s perfect territory for vintage bikes, where speed isn’t really the goal. OK, maybe sometimes it is, but really, what most of us want to do is get our beloved old bikes out for some exercise and stretch their legs, ideally in the company of like-minded enthusiasts, something we did in spades in both last year’s and this year’s Getaway.
There were lots of cool bikes last year, but this year the range of machines on hand was even more amazing, including no fewer than three Ducati 750s, a Triumph Hurricane, three Norton Commandos, a gaggle of Triumphs, a Laverda Jota, a custom Honda CBX, some vintage BMWs and all manner of fabulous Japanese and European machinery. It was, in a word, awesome. And yes, we will do it again next year. Look for a full report in the November/December 2017 issue of Motorcycle Classics! — Richard Backus
Joe Block with his 80,000-mile Ducati 750, one of three Ducati 750s on the ride.
