LEXINGTON — It’s the largest celebration of motorcycling heritage in the United States, so it only stands to reason that its swap meet is the same.
The BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, held annually at Mid-Ohio Sports Car
Course, returns this weekend. With its return is the motorcycle swap meet that takes up 20 acres of real estate and attracts thousands each summer.
“For many attendees the swap meet is the top draw at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days,” AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey said in a release. “It’s downright huge.”
More than 800 vendors will have spaces on the southeast side of the property.
“The key is you never know where in those 20 acres you’ll find the bike or part you want,” Massey said.
Tanks, wheels, seats, engine parts, fairings and accessories can all be found at the swap meet, including motorcycles, scooters, mopeds and minibikes. Books, manuals, helmets, leathers and memorabilia are also staples of the event.
Besides the swap meet, the VMD will showcase all sorts of forms of motorcycle racing with hare scrambles Friday, flat trick (at the Ashland County Fairgrounds) Saturday, trials Sunday, plus road racing and motocross all weekend.
The VMD will hold demo rides for new bikes and fans can see vendor displays, club corrals and the AMA Hall of Fame display tent.
Husqvarna is this year’s featured marque as eight-time off-road champ Dick Burleson will be the Grand Marshal.
“Husqvarna riders and racers not only helped establish high-level motocross and off-road competition in the United States, they also demonstrated the fun and excitement that embody motorcycling,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said when the 110-year-old brand was announced as the featured marque.
AMA Hall of Famer Craig Vetter returns with his fuel economy challenge on Friday. Participants will drive to the AMA headquarters and museum in Pickerington for a two-hour tour then head back to Mid-Ohio to see who can get the best gas mileage.
Last year’s winner was Fred Hayes who averaged 143.6 mpg on his custom bio-diesel bike for a cost of 1.93 seconds per mile.
Seminars are a big part of the VMD and Vetter will hold court on motorcycle designs from the 1960s and ’70s as well as using less energy in riding, while Hayes will discuss the history of diesel motorcycles.
John Healy and Don Hutchinson will go over Triumph motorcycles, and Tom Lowdermilk will talk about his 12 favorite rides in North America, while Eric Trow will discuss motorcycle safety. Other speakers include former Wisconsin state senator Dave Zien, Paul Pelland and AMA official Joe Bromley.
The AMA Government Relations Department will hold a town hall on things like insurance discrimination, the safety of E15 fuel and public land access for recreational riding.
Fans should visit AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com for updated schedules and events.