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  • Architect
    replied
    So what is the cut off? What is Antique? I personally do not think of a car or bike from the 60's the same way as a JD, but that is a 60 year old machine.

    Telling stories about the mid eighties and guys riding bikes from the 40's, well that would be a 40-45 year old bike. My "modern" Shovelhead is 55 years old!?!?!?

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  • gharper
    replied
    48 Flatty (Greg?): I agree with your message completely. I've asked 2 different board members over the years about the Rocky Mtn Chapter hosting a road run with bike age limits other than 35 years old. Both times I was told emphatically NO! The explanation given was that in doing so, we would exclude many members from participating because they don't have bikes that old. That wouldn't be fair to them. In addition, it would hit the younger generation most of all, because they rarely have OLD bikes. I hope that someone on the current board is reading this and could chime in. We're big enough now that we could have different themes in the road runs and still have great attendance. Perhaps the AMCA should consider different classes, based on age, such as the European model of Vintage, Veteran and Classic with road runs specifically targeted to these years. Obviously shorter, smaller rides for the oldest group and up in size and mileage from there.

    So, back to the plan of organizing small, personal group rides with a theme. I've thought of a few ideas:

    The Hindenburg Ride: Only bikes manufactured before the Hindenburg blew up! Sounds ominous, but could be fun!
    The Total Loss run: Only machines with a total loss oiling system, and that doesn't include a shovelhead that leaks a quart every 200 miles!
    AMCA Heritage Ride: Only 1953 and older machines allowed, as was the case when it all started back in 1984.
    The Knucklehead Ride: Only 36-47 HD OHV machines allowed. Pretty simple theme, but no shortage of bikes there.
    Pre War Ride: Anything made before WWII
    The Schwinn Ride: Anything made by Schwinn, so 1912-31, Excelsior or Henderson
    The 3 legged Support Group: For sidecar rigs only. This changes everything, as sidecar rigs tend to go slower and longer days aren't as much fun. It would also be a great way to include wives, partners and kids.

    One last thing, about the 65 age thing.... I looked in the AMCA policies and procedures for road runs and it specifically says that any member over 65 can ride whatever they want on a road run. Well, look around at any AMCA meet and you'll quickly discover that covers the vast majority of the members that participate! So, who are we trying to help here? I get it, maybe there are a few guys over 65 that can't manage an old bike any longer but want to participate. By having this age limit so low, the club is actually discouraging the riding of older bikes and encouraging riding modern bikes. I've seen plenty of able bodied guys on modern bikes on a national road run! Sounds contradictory to the Club's mission! I'm not sure how that morphed from our 1985 rule that over 85 you can ride a newer bike. I recall being on a lot of rides with guys who were well into their 80's and even 90's, such as Howard Wagner, Harry Dawson, Bud Redmond, Smitty, Rich Schultz and more.

    Guess this all comes back around to Eric's original post of how the AMCA isn't about ANTIQUE motorcycles any more.......

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  • Omarttentmaker
    replied
    The last road run I attended was maybe 15 years ago in West Virginia. Tried to attend the banquet, but the establishment where it was beng held was up a long narrow road with little parking near the building. The way attendees parked along the road and in front of the place made it almost impossible to find a spot to park. Later that eveing at the host hotel, moonshine was being passed around the parking lot. It was then i thought maybe it wasn't such a good idea to ride in a group with these people in the morning. Left the next morning and haven't attended a road run since.

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  • RichO
    replied
    Gene, I remember the early runs with mostly a bunch of World War II vets behind the bars on clincher tires, sans front brakes, and banded ones in the rear. But they timed out. you didn't even see many shirted Chiefs or Knuckles back then. A powerplus, VL, J model, 15 Indians and harleys cause they had 3 speeds.a rare Super X or Lanes Cyclone. Back country roads but those now are crowded with fast city folks to run over you.I have still found runs that have less than 100 riders,The guys I've ridden with usually go of script to meet our needs.

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  • 48Flatty
    replied
    In my not so humble opinion, the AMCA road runs were and still are the best part of belonging to the AMCA. That said, they sure are not what they once were and they are not as much fun. Probably the biggest complaint I have, is that they have been made into such big productions, with way to many entrants. Road runs that I started going to in the 90s typically had less than 100 riders that all stayed in one venue and had one banquet meal. Those events were more "intimate." When did it come about when we had to be fed "three squares." My next biggest complaint, is the age of the motorcycles, and because of that factor, the choice of roads. With 70s and newer shovelheads and evos, along with gold wings, "sport bikes", etc., the routes chosen are typically roads that accommodate faster and more traffic. Many of the more recent road runs I have been on do not include as many of the slow, winding, relaxing "fun" roads, or even roads that I feel I can keep up with traffic on a 40s era bike. I agree with Gene that it's not so much fun to get passed all day long on straight roads by "modern" bikes and end up riding by yourself.
    To me complaints should not be voiced without some solutions presented. Therefore, I suggest that, at least, some road runs be limited to smaller number of entrants at smaller venues. Also, I suggest that some road runs be limited to specific years, such as pre-1950 or pre-1960. A former AMCA board member told me not to long ago, "Your chapter can run a road run any way you want. Just present it to the national." I don't know if that is entirely true, but it's worth a shot.
    I am planning on 3 road runs this year and I trust will have good times. The seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and riding old bikes on roads I have not previously traveled still brings me joy. However, I miss the smaller, less structured road runs where all riders were actually riding "old" bikes.

    Leave a comment:


  • duffeycycles
    replied
    I really like the pic of Smitty with his modified Sport Scout. When Blackhawk's had road runs he would ask the next stop & he would be there when they caught up to him! He helped me with my brother's little base racer. Sure miss that guy.

    Leave a comment:


  • gharper
    replied
    Peter,

    GREAT pictures!!! That's what road runs should be, filled with OLD bikes. Not a shovelhead or evo in sight! There is just something about motoring down the road on a 80 or 90 year old motorcycle with a bunch of other like minded fools, all trying to keep them running but having a great time doing it!

    Leave a comment:


  • jcrawford
    replied
    As I have a fond recollection of meeting and riding along with them years ago when the two men in a photo above came to one of our B.C. Road Runs (riding though at a safe distance...you'll see why...)
    I wish to add that the old gentleman character leaning against the back of the white Dodge pickup in the above photo is W,R. 'Bill' Felton who lived in Big Timber, Montana and his grandson is in the back. Bill rode a trusty '28 101 Scout and that may be a Jr. Scout in the pickup bed beside it. I am a little frustrated that I can't remember his grandson's name, mainly because he offered me a premium cigar to enjoy with some sippin' bourbon one evening. Both were great guys and were most welcomed, with one precaution. This was the motivation for the "safe distance" approach....Bill openly admitted that he had less than good eyesight, and that it would not be keeping him off his beloved 101 Scout! A real trooper in the Ben Chesney mold.

    Leave a comment:


  • exeric
    replied
    Little background, that stunning 38 4 was an ex Muncie Indiana state police bike that made its grand entrance at Buzz Kanter’s Klassix Museum Indian Day show in about 1997 time frame, it was featured in an issue of his magazine, deep blue, highly original to include NOS diamond tread Firestones.

    That '38 Four previously belonged to, and was brought to Florida in the early '70s by Bernie Morgan. He was a high roller, with a great collection of early, and very desirable motorcycles. He was an AMCA member for a short time and sponsored an AMCA National meet at his Sarasota, Florida ranch. I heard he was a type A personality that didn't like it when things didn't go his way (unlike any of us
    Last edited by exeric; 01-05-2025, 04:13 PM.

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  • PRG
    replied
    Howdy sir

    Indeed it is, He showed up for Steamboat Springs in 2000 with that Four filled with tropical Florida 60wt that turned into molasses at that cold elevation, Took 4 of us to push him off. Being an elegant gent of leisure he had to stop daily en route bout 0900 for a Bloody Mary and to read the Wall St. Journal. At the annual Indian breakfast ride at Bike Week, he was the leader seen here with Doc Batsleer as we depart Down the Hatch in Ponce Inlet. He always led the way on something exotic, Ace, 36 Knuckle, etc…but now in his late 80’s took to riding something a little easier to start and maneuver like this Chief.

    Yes I remember Billy’s crash, not even seasoned dirt biking experience was going to save someone from that one. Little background, that stunning 38 4 was an ex Muncie Indiana state police bike that made its grand entrance at Buzz Kanter’s Klassix Museum Indian Day show in about 1997 time frame, it was featured in an issue of his magazine, deep blue, highly original to include NOS diamond tread Firestones. I noted they were hard as a rock then. Along comes that Road Run, Billy now into antiques in a very big way having bought it. You still have those tires on it or got some new Coker’s? Nope, it’ll be alright. Next day, boom, he goes down on rain slicked Blue Ridge Pkwy.


    .
    Last edited by PRG; 01-05-2025, 09:38 AM.

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  • ammorest
    replied
    Forgot to mention these were Blue Ridge Chapter National Road Rides in '95 and '98.
    Dave

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  • ammorest
    replied
    Although I've only been on two National Road Rides they were great! Good riding and good people. Peter, you remember the one when my friend Billy ran off the road on his '38 Indian 4. I was riding ahead of him on my '37 Harley UL. By the time I got turned around and back to him our members were already pulled over to help. Rose was holding him down so he wouldn't move. Others picked his bike up and called 911. I think it was Robin and Elmer who went to get a trailer to take his bike back to the motel Billy recovered with only bruises and a mild concussion. Sadly, Billy passed away a couple years ago. I miss him.
    Peter is that Larry Wood with his back to the camera by the red Indian 4? I think I recognize the hair and the jacket.
    Dave

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  • PRG
    replied
    Howdy Rich,

    The jaunty chap leaning against that pickup was a retired seedsman living in AZ, I’m going to say nearly 90 years old, his grandson acting as his personal sag wagon which he did not need. He navigated effortlessly thru the Ozark mountains over 3 days aboard a crusty mag powered Scout with absolutely no lights,electricals on it except the mag ground wire wrapped around the handle bars, the exposed core flapping in the wind till needed to be touched to any metal surface.

    Leave a comment:


  • RichO
    replied
    John and Peter those photos sure bring back memories. I met John on the 1987 DJ run and this past October was my 39th National road run and last. Loved everyone of them People and places. Our chapter held our first in 1989. That's when the AMCA was the AMCA and not the shadow of it's former self it is now. Just my three cents.

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  • PRG
    replied



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