With the conclusion of 2011 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days featuring Kawasaki, Marque of the Year, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) extends its thanks to the fans, attendees, racers, vendors, seminar speakers and sponsors who made this year’s event successful.
The AMA organizes the annual fundraiser to benefit the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The event brings together racers, enthusiasts, collectors, restorers, fans and other organizations in a 3-day celebration of motorcycling’s heritage. Highlights include North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, national championship vintage racing in numerous disciplines and a historical retrospective of a classic brand.
This year that brand was Kawasaki, which was on hand with company representatives, a product display, demo rides of new models, as well as Motorcycle Hall of Fame off-road champion Jeff Fredette, who greeted fans and competed in vintage off-road competition.
Jack Penton, AMA director of operations who is also a Motorcycle Hall of Famer, said this year’s event owed its success to everyone involved.
Jack Penton says: “In addition to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, our partner in this event, I particularly want to thank Kawasaki for its extraordinary efforts to showcase its storied motorcycling history at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days with its displays, demo rides, seminars and autograph signings.
AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley thanked a number of individuals who supported the racing program.
Those groups and individuals included the Dayton Motorcycle Club, Ohio Trials Inc., Mandi Mastin and her family, Jim Pooler, Kim Adams, Don Miller of MetroRacing.com, Alex Morros with the Legends of Motocross display, and Bart Newman and Jeff Beerbower of Log Road MX Park in Coldwater, Mich.
Penton also thanked the Aermacchi/Harley-Davidson Club, organized by John Basore. The club contributed to the success of the event by displaying rare and historically significant machines as this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Classic Club.
Others deserving thanks, Penton said, include announcer Griff Allen, Café Racer magazine for its expansive display and bike show; the numerous clubs that participated in the club corral, Kane “Insane” Friesen for his extreme motorcycle stunt show; Kawasaki, KTM North America and KYMCO for bringing their demo fleets; all the seminar speakers who enlightened and entertained; the bike show participants who brought out their stunning examples of motorcycle history and technology; the racers who took part in vintage and post-vintage motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track competition; and a small army of volunteers who braved the record heat to support the event.
Jack Penton says: “Of course, we must thank all the vendors who turned out to make the 2011 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet one of the best ever. The swap meet is a premier attraction of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days for many of our attendees, and the event simply wouldn’t be the same without our vendors.
Located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, the Hall of Fame celebrates, elucidates and preserves the rich tradition of motorcycling in America. Its exhibits honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling.
For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Hall of Fame’s website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.