The competition was spirited as shown in this later model heat while (left) Harley Davidson Motorcycle legends Jay Springsteen, left, and Willie G. Davidson lead the ceremonial lap to open the day’s racing.AGELESS BIKERS AT MID OHIO--
It was a venue for vintage guys to enjoy vintage motorcycles at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Lexington last weekend. And, the marquee event was the 50th anniversary of the iconic Harley-Davidson Sportsters which were introduced in 1957.
On hand to serve as grand marshals were Harley legends Willie G. Davidson, grandson of one of the company’s founders and Jay Springsteen regarded as one of the best AMA Grand National flat-track racers of all time.
I knew it was going to be a laid-back day when we arrived at the back gate with $35 tickets in hand—and no one was tending the entrance.
We wandered through the crowds of both people and motorcycles. I lost count of the bikes we saw but I think it was about a dozen short of a bazillion.
Behind the pit area we sampled the antique ambiance with acres and even more acres of a flea market of old motorcycle parts and accessories. A clever enthusiast could easily have bought the parts and assembled, from scratch, that 1947 Moto Guzzi he always dreamed of.
I knew we were in a classy crowd when they played The National Anthem and, as far as I could see, absolutely everyone was standing still and showing some form of respect for our flag.
God Bless America.
Willie G. as he is popularly known and Springsteen led the ceremonial first lap on a card of 14 mostly 8 lap races. Applause chased them around the track.
How about this sample of entries: a 61 Norton Manx, a 68 Seeley, or a 36 Scout or, for Heavens sake, a 34 Indian. Of course that was in addition to countless bikes from later generations; The Harleys and Hondas and Suzukis and Ducatis. And, who ever heard of a Hodaka or an Ossa or a Montessa. They were there too.
While there was a strong sense of gentility in the event, the racing was spirited. Most of it anyway. Often I couldn’t see a rider’s face but I knew he was smiling, even if he was just put-putting his way around the course while savoring this classy time for him and his bike on this national stage.
And Springsteen wowed the crowd in his ageless competitive fashion with an impressive heat victory late in the day. The crowd cheered and waved as he enjoyed his victory lap. He waved back--as classy competitors do--then popped a wheelie to punctuate our mutual celebration.
Off and on all day I thought of my Pop and a family picture of him on his first cycle in the late 20s. And I remember, ever so well, the Harley brochures laying around our house in the late 50s showing that shiny Sportster, a K model I believe, that life ultimately would deny him.
Dad; wherever you are, I hope this weekend you were chasing the boys around some Heavenly track--on your souped-up K model Harley, of course.
It was a venue for vintage guys to enjoy vintage motorcycles at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Lexington last weekend. And, the marquee event was the 50th anniversary of the iconic Harley-Davidson Sportsters which were introduced in 1957.
On hand to serve as grand marshals were Harley legends Willie G. Davidson, grandson of one of the company’s founders and Jay Springsteen regarded as one of the best AMA Grand National flat-track racers of all time.
I knew it was going to be a laid-back day when we arrived at the back gate with $35 tickets in hand—and no one was tending the entrance.
We wandered through the crowds of both people and motorcycles. I lost count of the bikes we saw but I think it was about a dozen short of a bazillion.
Behind the pit area we sampled the antique ambiance with acres and even more acres of a flea market of old motorcycle parts and accessories. A clever enthusiast could easily have bought the parts and assembled, from scratch, that 1947 Moto Guzzi he always dreamed of.
I knew we were in a classy crowd when they played The National Anthem and, as far as I could see, absolutely everyone was standing still and showing some form of respect for our flag.
God Bless America.
Willie G. as he is popularly known and Springsteen led the ceremonial first lap on a card of 14 mostly 8 lap races. Applause chased them around the track.
How about this sample of entries: a 61 Norton Manx, a 68 Seeley, or a 36 Scout or, for Heavens sake, a 34 Indian. Of course that was in addition to countless bikes from later generations; The Harleys and Hondas and Suzukis and Ducatis. And, who ever heard of a Hodaka or an Ossa or a Montessa. They were there too.
While there was a strong sense of gentility in the event, the racing was spirited. Most of it anyway. Often I couldn’t see a rider’s face but I knew he was smiling, even if he was just put-putting his way around the course while savoring this classy time for him and his bike on this national stage.
And Springsteen wowed the crowd in his ageless competitive fashion with an impressive heat victory late in the day. The crowd cheered and waved as he enjoyed his victory lap. He waved back--as classy competitors do--then popped a wheelie to punctuate our mutual celebration.
Off and on all day I thought of my Pop and a family picture of him on his first cycle in the late 20s. And I remember, ever so well, the Harley brochures laying around our house in the late 50s showing that shiny Sportster, a K model I believe, that life ultimately would deny him.
Dad; wherever you are, I hope this weekend you were chasing the boys around some Heavenly track--on your souped-up K model Harley, of course.
1 comment:
Without internet for few days. Catching up on the blog this a.m. Enjoyed the bikes an stuff. Sniff sniff on the Lilly. Had a heart string tugged a bit about your pops rides in the heavens too....every 28 days I get a bit emotional. 8-)
BW.
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