AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

My old-bike friends had long referred to the ‘big mid-Ohio swap meet’, and I’d watched a few YouTube videos from past years, but nothing quite prepared me for the vastness and chaos of the AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days held July 26-28 in Lexington, Ohio. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the American Motorcyclist Association, and proceeds from this year’s event support the AMA Hall of Fame. Vintage Motorcycle Days is mostly a swap meet, and has been taking place since 1962. This year drew a record number of vintage motorcycle and parts vendors – 825 of whom were officially registered.  Thousands of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, many of them riding around with ‘for sale’ signs attached to their motorbikes, also attended the three-day extravaganza.

The AMA claims mid-Ohio is the largest such event in North America. In addition to the crowds seeking all things related to vintage motorcycles, many other attendees were there for the vintage races – road, flat track, hare scrambles, trials, and motocross – or to try demo rides on new Yamahas (the official sponsor), Royal Enfields and Triumphs. The AMA also held raffles and a silent auction for a number of classic motorcycles; the grand prize was a 1975 BMW R90S…which sadly, I did not win. Owners of special bikes could enter their motorcycles in a show competition. And, in case anyone ran out of distractions, the American MotorDrome Wall of Death plus numerous stunt shows offered additional excitement.

The acreage attached to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where the main events were held, was used for camping by both vendors and spectators.  For ease of covering ground on this vast landscape, the organizers allow the use of motorcycles, golf carts, ATVs, scooters, bicycles and most anything else with wheels. Since Ohio requires a helmet only for riders under 18 years of age, almost no one was wearing one.  Most riders were dressed in shorts and t-shirts to beat the heat during the sunny, warm weekend. This, too, contributed to the lively, if chaotic, atmosphere as motorcyclists shopped astride their bikes.

The vintage swap meet featured primarily Japanese enduro, off-road, and street bikes, and parts from the 1970s to the 1990s.  Many of the motorcycles were in less than pristine condition, making this an opportunity for buyers with shallow pockets to pick up a rideable machine, or something to get running again on a budget, or to fully restore. We met up with a friend, John Mishanec, who’s had a booth at the swap meet for the past 14 years. He explains, “I think there’s a lot of people like me who have a bunch of bikes and want to get rid of some stuff. In my case, many motorcycles have passed through my hands over the years and it’s a serious hobby. I buy stuff, I sell stuff, I keep stuff. The stuff I sell, this is a good place to sell it.”  Mishanec points out that the crowd is a bit younger and more diverse than at some other similar events. “There’s lots of average people. Average like me. I like that.” Vendors camp at the edge of the field and buy, sell and trade among each other before, during, and after the show. Mishanec, in fact, sold numerous old Honda parts only to return home with a van full of old BMW parts for another project.

It wasn’t all dusty Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis, and Yamahas, however. I spotted a few Italian motorbikes, including a rare Gilera T 50, a little-too-rough-for-me late 1960s Ducati Scrambler, a Moto Morini 3 ½, and a few vintage Vespas.  There was the occasional early 1970s Triumph Tiger, a couple of BMW GS Paris-Dakars from the 1980s in various conditions, and the BSA and Nortons that are now popular for custom builds. A 1938 Velocette immediately made me think of Paul d’Orléans! You could also pick up vintage magazines, and there were sellers with newer items from T-shirts and stickers to helmets and signs. We expected more vintage motorcycle ephemera, gear or collectibles, such as older signs or decorative pieces but we also didn’t manage to cover the entire vendor section without a set of wheels to help us move more quickly. There was some distance between the swap meet and the area where the AMA booth and concessions were located.

Hot tip for anyone going next year: bring your own food and water; there are no concessions in the vendor field and the food options are limited.  Sunscreen and a hat are also highly recommended! Of course, we were lucky enough to have sun.  Mishanec says it can get muddy quickly after a summer thunderstorm.  Also, if you have time, check out the surrounding roads on a vintage motorcycle. There are lovely views and lots of curves in central Ohio!  And the necessary trip to the AMA Hall of Fame Museum is only about an hour’s drive away.