The 16th edition of the Harvest Classic European and Vintage Motorcycle Rally took place under cool gray skies in the tiny Texas Hill Country town of Luckenbach, Oct. 19-20. The word is out about this great event and folks are coming from all over the U.S. to join the party. It’s grown from a small regional gathering to a nationally recognized event, but it still feels more like a big ol’ Texas family reunion than a fancy motorcycle show.
As with previous rallies, attractions included a trials competition, a raffle and auction, live music, Globe of Death performances, a 100cc Fun Run on Friday and a BBQ dinner on Saturday. A post-BBQ double-feature in the dance hall featured two films: a short titled Black Lightning: The Rollie Free Story followed by ROAD, a tribute to the Dunlop family of Northern Irish road racers.
The rally’s centerpiece is Saturday’s bike show with multiple classes represented. There’s no formal judging – all votes are cast by attendees. The Rally’s founder, Russell Duke, described this year’s turnout: “We had a killer bike show with a wide variety of bikes ranging from a 1936 Series A Vincent Comet to a 1992 oval-piston Honda NR750 to a 1929 Henderson KJ sidehack rig that has been in the same family since new.” Attendees got a sweet T-shirt featuring this year’s poster bike: a burly special based on a Series C Vincent Black Shadow upgraded to Black Lightning specs owned by rally volunteer Clif Haggard. “The Harvest Classic has always been a celebration of all shapes and sizes of motorcycles and the fantastic passion that surrounds them,” Clif says. “We always have a great time with our rally family, listening to great music, watching/riding rare, historic and sometimes oddball motorcycles, and camping in Luckenbach. Rain or shine, this is our very favorite weekend of the year.”
Todd Wallis is a native Texan who lives in Denver and rides with The Lucky Bastards, a club with members strewn across the U.S. He hauled five bikes to Luckenbach where he met up with other members: “The Harvest Classic is as down home as it gets. A good friend from California looked around in awe and commented that it’s a lot different than the Quail Gathering. What makes our community so rewarding is the goodwill and fellowship found in the common bond of old motorcycles.”
Since 2003, the Harvest Classic has donated over $650,000 to the Candlelighters childhood cancer program of “Any Baby Can” and the team hopes to raise the all-time donation to over $725,000 this year. The rally is a great opportunity for classic bike lovers to get together, enjoy old bikes and raise money for an amazing cause. The 2019 Harvest Classic will be held on Oct. 18-19. Come and join us! MC