Welcome friends to the July/August issue. I hope that where you are summer riding season is in full swing and that the reward of winter wrenching is being found in happily-running bikes all around.
First, I wanted to say thank you to the surprising outpouring of responses to the question I posed in the March/April issue regarding long-term motorcycle ownership. I’ve received more than a few dozen responses, and I hope to feature as many of them as possible in our Readers and Riders section in this and future issues.
I was amazed to hear all the stories of bikes that readers have had for decades, and a great many of you sent sharp photos to go along with the letters. It’s been quite a treat for me, so again, thank you.
Motorcycle shows and events are beginning to return. Our Texas correspondent Corey Levenson made his way to both the Texas Vintage Motorcycle Fandango in Fredericksburg, Texas, and a gathering of the Lone Star Chapter of the Vincent Owners Club in nearby Kerrville, Texas, the same weekend in April. Read all about it here.
Here in Kansas, the AHRMA Classic Motofest in the Heartland took place in its new bigger and better format over Memorial Day weekend at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka. In addition to road racing, this year the event expanded to include sidecar racing, motocross, cross country, trials and more. Saturday featured a vintage bike show in association with the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, along with a growing swap meet.
Another highlight of the event was vintage drag racing on Saturday night with Russell “Russ” Hendron, known as “the quickest man on an H-D,” serving as the AHRMA Drag Racing Grand Marshall. He also made exhibition passes aboard and raced “Black Betty,” the famous dual-engined 192 cubic-inch nitro methane Harley-Davidson Ironhead owned by Ray Sender of American Air Cooled Motors out of Louisville, Kansas. Russ won four consecutive AMRA/HDRA National Championships from 1987 through 1989, and is still active in nitro fuel drag racing today.
Next on the AHRMA calendar is another big one: the AHRMA Classic MotoFest of Monterey, which takes place July 16-18 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey County, California. The weekend will feature road racing, motocross, trials, and a Vintage Motorcycle Show by Hagerty on Saturday. 2021 is just the first year for this event, but AHRMA has confirmed this show for a three-year run. It’s sure to be a new regular highlight on racers and spectators summer to-do lists.
One way or another, 2021 is looking up. I hope you get out there and enjoy it.
Cheers,
Landon