2008 Newsletter of the Viking Chapter Antique Motorcycle Club of

President Paul Davidson 952-941-4997
Davidsonp9@msn.com
Vice President Tom Broich 651-645-3571
Treasurer Linda Schunk 952-831-5065
tekki3@earthlink.net
Secretary Craig Kotval 651-452-7394
aquila1975@comcast.net
Newsletter Paul Meisel 952-472-2097
Editor
work 952-746-2361
paul@meiselwoodhobby.com
Apprentice
Ivar Natins612-866-6069
Newsletter Editor idn@comcast.net
JUNE
Newsletter of the Viking Chapter
Antique Motorcycle Club of America Inc.
Published Quarterly
March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, December 1st
vikingamca@yahoo.com
H
John Ulrich
Roger Rimnac
651-686-6974
motorog1@yahoo.com
Johnulrich_55123@yahoo.com E-Talker
612-825-2550
The Summer Schedule
Please note that due to space, the Summer
schedule has been continued on page 7.
June 4, 2008
(Wed.)
B.O.D. Meeting 7:00pm
Ron Spargo’s
8399 Batavia Rd.
Victoria, MN. 55386
Ph# (952) 443-2020
June 11, 2008 No General Meeting Scheduled.
(Wed.)
June 12, 2008
Set-up Day for Natl. Meet.
(Thurs.)
Can use volunteers to help
us set up for the weekend
meet.
June13-15, 2007
National Meet
(Fri.-Sun..)
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
1265 Snelling Ave. St.Paul, MN.
June 16, 2008
Ride to Work Day
(Wed.)
June 26, 2008 Garage Get-Together 5 :30pm
(Thurs.)
Paul Davidson
9330 Overlook Trail
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Ph# (952) 941-4997
July 9, 2008
B.O.D. Meeting 7:00pm
(Wed.)
Ivar and Dena Natins
7314 Chicago Ave.S.
Richfield, MN 55423
Ph# (612) 866-6069
July 11,2008 C.A.C. Cycle Weekly Ride 6:30pm
(Fri.)
3728 Nicollet Ave. Mpls.MN.
Contact:John (612) 827-4602
July 15, 2008
General Meeting 7:00pm
(Tues.)
Veterans’ Home
5101 Minnehaha Ave.S.
Minneapolis,MN. 55417
Summer schedule continued on Page 7
ello again fellow Viking Chapter
members,
As I write I am in the progress of pulling the
bikes out from the corners of the garage,
installing batteries and firing up all of the old
iron to get ready for another great riding season.
I am sure that all of you will agree that this winter
was much too long but by the time you read
this I hope that you have been able to get plenty
of miles in the saddle.
Club Historian Tom Jones 763-533-9163
Directors
Kerry Rasmussen
Ron Spargo
651-492-0735
ronspargo@mindspring.com
kerrysuesfarm@msn.com
952-443-2020
Web Master
Sean O’Neil
612-870-0766
moneil2@comcast.net
http:www.vikingmc.org
DA
VIDSON’S HARD TTALES
ALES
DAVIDSON’S
Graphics and Greg.Claflin 612-529-5812
Layout
gsclaflin13@msn.com
Deputy Judge
Jerry Richards
651-482-0096
trudijr@visi.com
2008
Some of you may even have ridden some of
those miles on your first bike. Those of us that were not as wise or lucky enough to keep our
first bike can only reminisce as our National Meet theme; “My First Bike” brings back fond
memories of those beginner riding days. With the availability of so many Japanese bikes
350cc and under in the ‘60s the sport was revolutionized by making it affordable and appealing
to younger and new riders.
Who can forget the phrase “You Meet the
Nicest People on a Honda”? Even if you
were not a Honda guy back then, as I wasn’t,
you have to admit that it had a very positive
impact to motorcycling. I am sure that we will
be seeing many of these bikes on display at
our National Meet.
My first two wheeler was a ‘69 Rupp Roadster
mini bike. I rode it to death that first summer.
It had a unique two speed chain drive system
which consisted of dual chains from the drive clutch to a jack shaft which upon reaching high
RPM a second clutch on the jack shaft would engage producing a higher gear ratio. I could
actually pop wheelies when it shifted. I was a little lighter back then believe it or not. I rode it
so hard drag racing that the second speed gear teeth on the drive clutch wore off. A small
price to pay for loads of fun.
This newsletter is a commemorative edition which will be given out to meet attendees so I
welcome those attending our National Meet. I hope you enjoy the display of antique bikes and
memorabilia. I am sure that it brings back memories of the “Good Old Days”. Be sure to make
note of the times for our raffle drawings for a chance to win some wonderful prizes. Join us for
the ride to Porky’s Drive In on Friday night and our annual antique motorcycle ride Saturday
afternoon. We welcome feedback on your experience at the meet and any suggestions of
improvements for future meets. Look me up if you can, I would certainly love to talk bikes.
I would like to encourage all members to participate in this years Presidents Ride July 19 &
20.. We plan to ride to Elmer’s Car & Toy Museum in Fountain City, Wis. then camp along the
river. We will ride some scenic back roads through the river valley on the Minn. side then
return on the Wis. side on Sunday. You still are welcome to join the ride if you do not wish to
camp.I am sure that there were many of you
working projects over the winter months so
do not forget to share your story and photos
on our web site or the newsletter. It is great
to see the fine work our members are capable
of doing.I hope to see you at many of our
Garage-Get-Togethers and various rides this
summer and I am looking forward to seeing
all of you at the National Meet in June.
Happy riding!
Paul.
SCOOTERVILLE
MINNESOTA
O
by Craig Kotval
n April 16th, 2008, the Viking Chapter
held its monthly club meeting at
Scooterville Minnesota, located at 904 19th
Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN. We had a
great turnout with over 30 members showing
up to enjoy the tour of the new, more spacious
show room.
Bob Hedstrom, the Owner/General
Manager, stayed open so we could hold our
meeting there and gave us a tour of his shop.
Scooterville has been in existence since May
of 2002 and just last October moved from
their old location to this location, which used
to be the old Easy Riders Motorcycle shop
near The Joint.
What do AMCA Vikings do?
by Sean O’Neil
I
’d like to take a moment to talk about some
of the fun things that our club does.
General Meetings: The center of our allvolunteer organization is the monthly General
Meeting. This is when we talk through and
vote on important topics concerning the club.
If you’re new to the club, these are a great
way to get acquainted. These meetings are
hosted by bike shops and other biker friendly
locations around town. RIDE YOUR BIKE!
This is a great time to show off your latest
project.
Board of Directors Meetings: We also hold
B.O.D. meetings once a month to plan club
events. Everyone is welcome to attend and
participate. Some B.O.D. meetings are held
at member’s homes, so for those meetings,
call ahead and let them know you’re coming.
Garage Get-togethers: Kick back and relax,
these informal gatherings are hosted at a
member’s garage, business, or aircraft
hangar. There is plenty of BS, hanging
around, and talking/working on/staring at old
bikes. Host one, and we’ll come to your place.
Rides: Enjoying an antique bike is not only
about the restoration, it
We had a great turn out for the general meeting at
includes the excitement of
Scooterville.
road-side repairs miles from
home! No Sweat!, if you’re
riding with this club, there will
be plenty of “experts” to give
“advice” (some even have a
pickup trucks or trailers). We
have rides in spring, midsummer and fall. Host a ride,
and share your favorite route
with the club.
They carry 6 different brands of scooters;
Bajaj, Genuine, Kymco, Piaggio, TGB, and
Vespa, ranging from 50cc to 500cc, priced
from $1,600 to $9,000. Scooterville also
carries a full line of retro helmets, clothing
and scooter related accessories. The store
also has 4 mechanics that try to do oil
changes and minor repairs while you wait and
for more complicated repairs they have a 12 week turn around.
Bob let us know that there are at least 6 active
scooter clubs in the Minneapolis/St. Paul
area; the Regulars, TNR’s (Tuesday Night
Ride), Hex Angels, and the All Mod
Cons. If you would like more
information on these clubs, please
call the store (612-331-7266).
National Meet: We host a
three-day national meet at the
Minnesota State Fairgrounds in June. It’s the
“Lalapalooza” of our annual calendar. A time
to meet with distant friends, display your bike,
find that special whatzit in the swap meet, go
on impromptu and organized rides, compete
in the field games, camp out, and enjoy being
surrounded by hundreds of antique
machines.
Mid America Auctions: We help out twice
a year to push bikes at our sponsor’s auction.
They need experienced folks to lovingly (and
correctly) handle all sorts of motorcycles.
Besides, it’s a chance to wrap your mitts
around some real beauties without being
arrested.
Donnie Smith Show and the International
Cycle World Show: We display 12 to 15
bikes at these shows each year. These two
shows are a great opportunity to get involved
with the club. Show off your favorite scoot to
the local public, and get free admission
tickets to boot
Summer Barbecue: We host a HUGE
barbecue at Fireman’s Park in Chaska every
August. It’s not only a classic potluck meal
(club provides barbecued meats and cornon-the-cob) but it’s also a great destination
to ride to.
Ride to Sturgis: Many club members have
been riding together to Sturgis for
decades.What better way to exercise your
classic then by riding it to one of the oldest
motorcycle rallys in the country. If you ride
with this crowd, you’ll learn the tried-and-true
secrets about getting there, what to do once
you’re there, and getting back home. This
trip is filled with tradition, good food, sore
butts, and summer nights under the stars.
Lastly, you’ll always find some “Vikings”
enjoying coffee on Saturday morning at
Diamond’s Coffee Shop (1618 Central Ave.
NE Mpls.). Plenty of us attend “First
Thursdays” every month at Dulono’s Pizza
(607 W. Lake St. So. Mpls.). Don’t forget to
check www.vikingmc.org for upcoming
events, post your thoughts, and volunteer to
host a meeting or a ride.
See you this summer!
Sean O’Neal
NOTES FROM THE
JUDGING SCENE
by Jerry Richards
J
udging antique motorcycles is an
important part of a national meet. The
machines to be judged, in many cases, have
taken years to assemble, and deserve to be
honored. Machines that receive high marks
on the national scale are viewed to be more
valuable.
All machines must be at least 35 years old,
have the correct frame and engine, and
provide proof the engine runs.
There are seven classes:
Class I
All manufactured through 1919
Class II
1920 through 1929
Class III
1930 through 1939
Class IV
1940 through 1949
Class V
1950 through 1959
Class VI
1960 through 1969
Class VII 1970 through 1973, cut off year
Competition Class
years of age
Any year machine 35
National Awards and Points Required:
Senior Level - 95 Points
Junior Level First - 90 Points
Junior Level Second - 85 Points
Winner Circle Preservation Award
(maintains 85 points and be a
previous Senior winner)
A machine will start out with 100 points and an
AMCA National Meet Judging form that lists
25 categories of evaluation. Deductions are
made for each category that fails to meet the
judges standards. The maximum deduction for
any category except paint is 4 points (maximum
deduction for paint is 6 points).
Note: Since incorrect paint is a six point
deduction, achieving a Senior Level with an
incorrectly painted machine is impossible.
Garage Get-together at Ky
Michaelson’s
by Paul Meisel
I
t’s always fun to go to Ky’s house. For any
members who haven’t been there, I will give
just a few highlights. First of all, Ky and Jodie
couldn’t be any more accommodating or
hospitable to their guests. Ky is an excellent
cook and treated us to his home made chili,
not to mention the full compliment of
peripherals to complete the lunch. Ky’s
house is a museum chock-full of in
fascinating space and rocketry memorabilia
not to mention about every type of rocket
powered vehicle imaginable.
Ky’s grandfather started both the
Michaelson and the Minneapolis
motorcycle manufacturing company over
100 years ago.
Other cool things were Ky’s new Michaelson
motorcycle, #005. Ky fired it up for us and
then rode it up and down Penn Avenue. Not
to be out done, Jodie ran the rocket powered
bicycle down Penn avenue which was a
definite crowd pleaser! Lucky thing Ky
knows most of the cops in Bloomington!
Jody on her “Rocket-powered” bicycle.
The highest level a machine can achieve the
first time it is judged is a Junior Level First. It
can achieve a higher award at another national
meet in the same year.
The Judging Process. The Chapter Deputy
Judge recruits field judges to form teams. The
teams are assembled based on the field of
expertise of its members (or the experience in
a given field a member would like to acquire).
It is not necessary to be an “expert”.
To Become a Judge. Complete an application
form for AMCA apprentice judging at a national
meet. Each time you assist in judging, your
form will be signed by the chapter deputy judge
or a national judge. Obtain three signatures
from national meets and mail the form to the
AMCA Chief Judge. He will issue you an AMCA
Judging Identification Card that will qualify you
as a field judge at any national meet you attend.
Jerry Richards,
Viking Chapter Deputy Judge
We had a fantasic turn out at Ky and
Jodie’s.
Ky’s newly built Michaelson #005 motorcycle.
Thanks Ky and Jodie for hosting a
great garage get-together.
On a recent trip to Davenport, Ky bought an
original 1910 motor. His latest project is a
salt flats streamliner which looks to be
getting pretty close to completion. Everyone
enjoyed examining the machine up close and
trying out the center hub steering. The quality
of Ky’s workmanship always intrigues me.
He hooked the motor to a BSA transmission,
and build a modern salt flats racing chassis.
It will include an aluminum surround. I asked
CLUB POINTS FOR 2008
by Stan Mewhorter
Ride your motorcycle to Viking club
meetings and road runs and you could win
a trophy for first or second place to be given
away at the annual holiday party.
This year Paul St.John won first place
and Dave Flory won second place for
2007.
FOR 2008 (each time you ride)
Four points for 35 years or older motorcycle
0000-1973
Three points for ——————-- 1974-1987
Two points for ——————— 1988-2008
The 1910
Michaelson
motor in a
Salt Flats
streamliner.
Ky if he would be the driver and he said he
would, but he also wants his friend, Captain
Jack McClure, who is eighty years old and
weighs about 135 pounds to ride. His friend
is an experienced salt flats racer. Leave it to
Ky!
Don’t forget the our Chapter’s National
meet runs between June 13-15. We
need plenty of volunteers to help out
in all areas. Be sure to return that mailer
sent to you by Linda Schunk. Here’s a
chance to really help our Club shine
before the public.
Just a Reminder:
C.A.C. Cycle and
Vintage Indian Riders
are sponsoring a
weekly ride. For more
info read below.
12th Annual Richards Sturgis
Get-Together
Monday, August 4, 2008
May 10 Meeting and Ride
at Crow River Harley
Davidson
by Trudi Richards
by Stan Mewhorter
T
he Meeting and Lunch went fine, and Paul
Meisel handed out ice cream from his ice
cream bike. There were some nice antique
motorcycles from our members and other
people.
J
ohn Jensen of C.A.C. Cycle will be
sponsoring a vintage motorcycle
ride the 2nd Friday of the month - July
11 and August 8, and September 12,
2008. John will host a limited BBQ
before each ride and supply the food
and beverage on a first come, first
serve basis.
Please note that although vintage
bikes are encouraged, all bikes are
welcome. It will be a great way for
members to get together and ride and
show off your old bikes.
The rides are all dependent on weather
conditions so in case of questionable
weather it is best to call John to verify
that the ride will take place. John’s
phone number is 612-827-4602. C.A.C.
Cycle is located at 3728 Nicollet Ave
South in Minneapolis.
Sponsored by C.A.C. Cycle and
Vintage Indian Riders.
May 9 C.A.C. Cycle
(Second Friday Ride)
by Stan Mewhorter
T
hank’s to John Jensen for
sponsoring a monthly ride. Six of us
Viking members showed up for the food
(brats, hot-dogs, and all the trimmings)
and the ride.
I put about 70 miles on the ride, counting
from my house and never left the cities.
John led us around Lake Harriet then
Minnehaha Pkwy. to Fort Snelling then
followed the river road over to St. Paul
by the High Bridge.
It was a fun slow ride, so you can bring
your old iron and won’t get run over by a
truck and hardly no stop signs.
The riders were as follows:
John Jensen
Iver Natins
Stan Mewhorter
Craig Kotval
Paul Davidson
forgot name
19?? Indian
1946 Indian
1966 Triumph
1967 Triumph
1973 Honda
19?? Shovelhead
Dick Erickson brought his nice Harley 45
Servi-car to show. It rained and the ride was
canceled, but it was a nice long ride just to
get to Crow River Harley for most of us.
Jerry turns out another great batch of Chili.
W
e’ll be having our 12th annual Richards
Sturgis Get-Together again this year at the
cabin. This is a big turnout for the Viking members
and other AMCA members who are here for the
Sturgis Rally. We normally have around 75
people attend
so we get quite
a crowd. If you
are interested in
attending, we
have included
the date and
directions.
The Members that rode to the meet.
Ron Spargo
1939 BSA M-20
Iver Natins
1946 Indian
Dan Conlan
1946 Indian
Stan Mewhorter
1971 Triumph TR6R
Paul Davidson
1973 Honda 750
Joel Hamel
1974 BMW
Paul Meisel 1996 Kawasaki with icecream
Craig Kotval
1999 Honda
Dena Natins
2001 Harley
The date for the
The Richards’ cabin.
Richards
Annual Sturgis Get-Together is Monday,
August 4, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Chili feed
and beverages provided. The address is: Jerry
and Trudi Richards, 21432 U. S. Highway 85
South, Lead, South Dakota. Telephone 605-5849082. The cabin is located 9/10 mile from
Cheyenne Crossing Restaurant in
Spearfish Canyon.
T
The Donny Smith Show
by Sean O’Neil
3rd
he Club put on yet another great display
at the Donnie Smith show in March. Just
like last year, our display was down on the
main floor in the center of all the action. Many
visitors commented on the extensive variety
of bikes in this year’s lineup representing
British, American and Japanese marques from
’39 all the way to ’73. A few old favorites made
return appearances while we had a lot of bikes
being displayed for the first time. Our display
fit well with the increasingly diverse makeup
of the Donnie Smith show where a lot more
space is being devoted to vintage rides and
customized imports. Viking Club member
Kevin Baas spent a busy weekend at the
show. Not only did he bring his ’58 Duo
Glide to our display, but his Kennedy High
School Chopper Class took home seven
awards including winning the technical
award in the Donnie Smith Chopper Class
Challenge against four other high schools.
1. Riding to work is fun. 2. Riding to work
reduces traffic and parking congestion.
3. Riding uses less fuel than an
automobile.4. Riding to work leaves one alert
and energized. 5. Riding to work results in
less pollution than commuting in a larger
vehicle.6. It is less destructive to road
surfaces and bridges. 7. It gets you to work
(and back home) faster.8. And lastly, it
promotes motorcycling.
The MidAmerica Auction booth had a couple
extremely rare bikes including a Indian Military
841 and a 1930 Rudge. The swap meet was
also well stocked this year with lots of late
model Harley and after market parts. Many
thanks to all who volunteered at the booth and
brought bikes. You all know what a blast it is
to show off your ride to an appreciative
audience and to hang out and talk bikes at
the booth. We’ll do it again next year!
Don’t forget
Wednesday in
July is the
Annual Ride
To Work Day,
the
but really any day
is a good day to ride
to work because:
The following members displyed bikes
at the Donny Smith Show:
Paul Joswick
1967 FLH
Tom Whittles
1946 Harley 45
Marc Neilson 1973 Yamaha 650 Vertical
Twin Bobber
Gene Hostetler1967305 Honda Scrambler
Paul Meisel
1944 Indian 741
Ron Spargo
1939 BSA
Paul St. John
1942 Harley WLA
Kevin Baas
1958 Harley Duo Glide
Byron Nesheim 1949 Indian Arrow, 1957
Hummer
1970 Triumph T100C
Stan Mewhorter
Kerry Rassmusen
1947 Indian Bobber
Tom Nordmeyer 1950 Ariel Square Four
Tom Broich
1964 Yamaha YG-1
Ron Christenson1973 Triumph Bonneville
displaying bikes at shows or just writing an article
or two for this newsletter, they go along ways to
make our club the sucess that it is. If you haven’t
volunteered in the past, give it a try. You’ll have a lot
of fun and meet some great people in the
process.
We had a good turn-out
bikes from various
years at Donnie Smith.
Special thanks to Sean and the rest of the
membership who help out in volunteering
through-out the year to represent our Club
and putting it before the public eye. Whether
it be taking membership applications at our
booth during shows and greeting the public
to let them know what we’re all about,
Century Rider Award
I
By Paul Meisel
’m
sure
you
have
all
heard
fellow
club
members
say
that old bikes should be ridden, not hidden. Sure, antique motorcycles are rare. Sure,
some are irreplaceable. But that doesn’t change the fact that they should still be ridden
and enjoyed by their owners. In an effort to encourage members to ride, Tom Jones,
our club historian, came up with the idea for the Century Award.
What is the Century Award? If your age in years added to the age
of your bike equals 100 or more, and you ride at least 500 miles
within 3 days on a club approved ride, you qualify as a Century
Rider.
The first year of this award was 2004. That year five Viking
members started out on the club ride to Sturgis. They included
Harvey Berquist on a 1950 BSA, Keith Braun on a 1941 Indian,
Joel Hamel on a 1944 Harley, Keith Peters on a 1951 Indian and
Tom Jones on a 1941 Indian. John Wright rode out several
days later on a 1947
Indian, making a
total
of
six
m e m b e r s
earning the
prestigious
C e n t u r y
Award.
In
2005,
Steve Doeden
(’48 Indian), Ralph
Smith (’41 Harley),
Harvey Berquist (’69
BMW), and Tom Jones (’64 BMW), all qualified.
In 2006, Harvey Berquist (’50 BSA), and Tom Jones (’67
BSA) again topped the Century mark.
In 2007, six club members earned the Century Award: Rick
Schunk (’48 Vincent), Ivar Natins (’46 Indian), Kerry
Rasmussen (’47 Indian), Keith Peters (’51 Indian), Paul
Meisel (’68 Harley), and Tom Jones (’65 Triumph).
All riders who earn this award received the prestigious
Century Rider patch. Although there has been a slight
delay in getting these patches made, the artwork is now
finally complete as you can see here. The actual patches
will be available shortly and mailed to all
Century Riders.
Sean O’Neil and family enjoying a good time.
So what are your plans for earning your own
Century Award? We hope this article will get
you thinking about it and encourage you to start
planning. You might consider riding with the club
to Sturgis this August.You will find that the ride
to Sturgis is an incredible experience.
You will be riding with fellow club members who
all watch out for one another, helping with
roadside repairs when necessary, sharing
stories, and generally having a great time.
In 2007, during the club’s annual Willie Jenson
Fish Fry at the KOA campground in Deadwood,
South Dakota, riders who earned their Century
Rider award on that trip where invited to share
a bottle of specially labeled wine.
This year, any rider qualifying (or requalifying) for the Century Award will be
eligible for their own bottle of “Century
Award” wine. Wouldn’t you love to have
this souvenir? Maybe with the
signatures of all other Century Riders
on the label!
The Viking Chapter Board of
Directors
By Paul Meisel
H
ave you ever wondered who plans all the
Viking Chapter club activities? Well all
members have input, of course. But who actually
sits down and decides what activities the club
will become involved in and where the meetings
will be held? Who actually follows through on
all the details required to run such a successful
club? This responsibility falls squarely on the
shoulders of your Board of Directors.
Who are these people? In the March issue we
included a head shot (front and back if you
The Viking Chapter Board, officiers and Newsletter staff.
everyone
to
know that all
members
are
welcome
to attend any
board meeting.
If you would like
to learn more
about the club or
Board members enjoyed
dinner.
have ideas you
would like to
share
please
consider attending. It’s well worth your time attending a
Board Meeting to see how desisions affecting your Club
Chapter are made .The dates and locations of all board
meetings are listed in your Re-Cycle newsletter as
well as on our club web site
recall!) of each of our directors so that every
member would know who they were. In the
next issue, Ivar Natins will do a more in-depth
interview with two board members and plans
to continue interviewing two additional
members in each upcoming issue.
We want you to know who your board
members are, and what these dedicated
.people do for you.
The board typically meets once every
month.Sometimes we meet at a restaurant or
a coffee shop Sometimes we meet at one of
the board members homes.
Jerry and Trudi Richards’ hosted the May
board meeting, something they have done for
many years. They are gracious hosts and
welcome us to their home and even treat us
to a delicious dinner! Thank you Jerry and
Trudi!
Jerry
Richards
working his
culinary
magic during
the B.O.D
meeting he
and Trudi
hosted in May.
At this meeting, club president Paul Davidson
covered topics ranging from the aluminum
shelving Ron Spargo and Stan Mewhorter
installed in our club trailer to the plans for our
national meet in June and our September
swap meet. Several topics were brought up.
Decisions were made and voted upon.
Attending a Viking Chapter board meeting
is a rewarding activity and we want
The Antique Motorcycle Club of America Gallery in
the AACA Museum at Hershey, PA
from: Press Release dated 5/5/08, Hershey, PA.
The Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA) is pleased to announce its new
partnership with the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum. To celebrate
this alliance, we are proud to reveal the sneak preview opening of “MOTORCYCLES
1884 - 1973” starting on Sunday, June 8, 2008.
The antique motorcycle exhibits will be located within the Antique Auto Museum at
Hershey. Initially 30-40 rare motorcycles will be on exhibit. The majority of the bikes
and artifacts will be displayed in the new AMCA Gallery. However, don’t miss the chance
to see period correct motorcycles intermingled with over 100 historic automobiles in the
time line exhibit that spans eight decades.
Other museum highlights include:
The largest collection of historic buses under one roof in the country
Recreated turn of the century machine shop and 1940’s gas station
The Lakeland bus from the movie Forrest Gump
1950’s Drive In theater scene (new for 2008)
Cars from the 1930’s -1950’s used in the movie The Good Shepherd
Changing special exhibits... for summer 2008 -The Rise and Fall of the Tail
Fin in American Automotive Design
Interactive photo area with cars you can sit in and motorcycles that you can
pose on.
The AACA Museum facility will be the new international headquarters for the AMCA and
will also serve as an exciting location for special antique motorcycle events and social
gatherings.
The Antique Motorcycle Club of America is actively seeking loaned or donated
motorcycles for future exhibitions in the AMCA Gallery within the Antique Auto Museum
at Hershey. Please contact AMCA Acting Business Development Manager Geoff Ringlé,
email geoffamca@aol.com or AMCA President
Rocky Halter, email
RHa4280280@aol.com.
The Antique Auto Museum at Hershey, a member of the Smithsonian Institute Affiliations
Program, displays beautifully restored automobiles in unique scenes and settings. This
Museum is one of the nation’s newest and largest automotive museums. Visitors are
transported through eight decades in time from New York to San Francisco, making
each visit a visual adventure for all ages. Special exhibits and events change throughout
the year giving return visitors something new. The Museum is located just off Route 39,
one mile west of Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Regular admission $9,
seniors age 61 and older $8, juniors age 4-12 $7, children age 3 and under are FREE.
The Museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For further information, please call
717-566-7100 or visit www.aacamuseum.org
DVD R
evie
w:
Re
view
Antique Motorcycle Ride to
Sturgis
T
Reviewed by Deb Riggs
here are many members of our chapter
who own antique motorcycles. Some are
crazy enough to ride them all the way to Sturgis,
a 1300 mile round trip. This documentary
records the ride eight of our chapter members
took in August 2007.
Mid-America Motorcycle
Auction
By Trudi Richards
V
iking Chapter members volunteered to
move bikes at Mid-America’s 20th
Minnesota Motorcycle Auction on April 12,
2008, at the Aldrich Arena in St. Paul.
Members handling these valuable machines
were: Mike Blackburn, Tom Broich, Paul
The documentary begins with an interview from
each rider. Each explains how they prepare
their old bikes for such a long ride and what
motivates each rider to go.
The film captures the ride as it begins (as it
does each year) with an early breakfast at the
Hilltop Restaurant in Excelsior, Minnesota.
The riders leave the restaurant promptly at
8am. In 2007, they left in a light rain. However,
within a few
miles,
the
clouds opened
up and every
rider
was
soaked. One
example
of
how, on this
ride, you never
know what is
ahead
and
everything
must be taken
in stride.
With this many
old bikes, breakdowns are bound to occur and
the video records how this trip was no
exception. Each problem must be diagnosed
and repaired, usually on the side of the
highway. Everyone pitches in to offer
knowledge, tools, (maybe a bungee cord to
temporarly repair a broken kick start spring?)
and for sure, moral support until the problem
has been resolved and the bike is again
roadworthy (or at least running well enough to
continue.)
As we see in the video, upon arriving in the
Black Hills, riders repeat- as closely as
possible- the same activities rally attendees
have been doing for decades. Viewers witness
the reliving of an historical ride- a ride back in
time. From this, you can learn the history of
the Sturgis rally as told by those who were there
from the early days.
It you have ever thought about joining your
fellow club members on the Sturgis ride,
or, if you ever just wondered what the ride
might be like, this DVD will satisfy your
curiosity and may even entice you to be a
part of the experience this year or next. To
order see page 8. To attend the ride or for
campsite information, contact: Paul
Davidson (952) 941-4997 or Gene Hostetler
(952) 472-5063
No wait a minute, I get to move it
up to the auction area.
Davidson, John Eiden, Dave Flory, Jim
Geisler, Steve Hall, Gene Hostetler, Paul
Joswick, Craig Kotval, Stan Mewhorter,
Ivan Natins, John Pfleiderer, Kerry
Rasmussen, Jerry Richards, Roger
Rimnac, Rick Schunk, Bob Steck, Rollie
Stoehr and Tom Whittles.
The ladies staffing the membership table.
Bits and Pieces
T
by Paul Meisel
om Reese is looking for anyone with
an early Excelsior Henderson who
would bring it to their 25th Annual
Northland 1 & 2 Cylinder Tour (mostly
brass era cars). They will meet in Belle
Plain and one of their activities will be
to tour the former Excelsior Henderson
plant. Tom would like it if the owner on
an old Excelsior Henderson would ride
it in their old car ride. You can reach Tom
@ (952) 472-4435
The Pantowners 33rd annual Car and
swap meet is coming up on Sunday
August 17th this summer in St.Cloud,
MN. It will be held at the Benton County
Fairgrounds and will run 7am to 3pm
come rain or shine. Indoor displays will
include: Pioneer class trucks and cars
as well as motorcycles. Admission is
$5.00 and kids under 12 free when
accompanied by an adult admission.
For more information contact: Tom @
1-320-252-8795 or check out
www.pantowners.org.
Gypsie Vintage Cycle of Sturgis, SD.
is holding a vintage swap meet in
conjunction with Black Hills Chapter
Natl. Road Run September 6-7, 2008
This is the week after Davenport. The
site is 3 miles south of Sturgis, 40,000
sq. ft. indoors and 5 acres outside. for
more information call: (605) 347-6488
or go to www.TheBigGypsie.com
August 8, 2008
C.A.C. Cycle Weekly Ride
(Fri.)
3728 Nicollet Ave. Mpls.MN.
Contact:John (612) 827-4602
August 13, 2008
B.O.D. Meeting 7:00pm
(Wed.)
Festival Foods
401 W. 98th St.
Bloomington,MN. 55420
August 20, 2008
No General Meeting
(Wed.)
August 23, 2008 Bikes in Need 10:00am
(Sat.)
MN. State Fairgrounds
The Viking membership table at the auction
St.Paul, MN
was staffed by Dena Natins, Linda Schunk, August 24,2007
General Meeting and
Cheryl Whittles and Trudi Johnson(Sun.)
Bar-B-Que 12:00pm
Firemen’s Park in Chaska
Richards.
Hwy.41 and Hwy. 212
Chaska,
MN.
Total membership applications
August 28-30, 2008 Old Bike Ride to
received were four AMCA National
(Thur.-Sat.)
Davenport Meet
and three Viking Chapter.
Meet at Amoco -6:30-7:00am sharp
Downtown Prescott,WI.
Summer Schedule Continued
(contact Tom Jones)
Sept. 10, 2008 B.O.D meeting 7:00pm
from page 1.
(Wed.)
To be announced.
July 19-20, 2008
President’s Ride
Sept. 12, 2008
C.A.C. Cycle Weekly Ride
(Sat.-Sun.)
Elmer’s Toy and Car Museum
(Fri.)
3728 Nicollet Ave. Mpls.MN.
Fountain City,WI.
Contact:John (612) 827-4602
For Details, contact: Paul Davidson
Ph# (952) 941-4997
Note: All members are welcome to attend
August 2-7, 2008 Club Ride to Sturgis, S.D.
the BOD meetings, but be sure to let the
(Sat.-Fri.) Meet at the Hilltop Restaurant
host know in advance how many
6-7am (Leaving 8am sharp!)
will be attending.
Hwy 7, Excelsior, MN.
WANT ADS
For Sale: Movie “Old Bike Ride to Sturgis”.
The adventures of eight AMCA members riding
antique bikes from Minneapolis to Sturgis. A
professionally produced DVD documentary of
Viking Chapter members who made the trip last
August. Regular price $29.95 - AMCA members
with number only $19.95. MN residents add
$1.55 tax. Pick up at club meetings or will mail
to your home for $3.95 S & H. Paul Meisel, PO
Box
258.
Mound,
MN
55364
paul@meiselwoodhobby.com 952-746-2361
(days)
For Sale: 14' enclosed US Cargo Brand,
cargo trailer set up for motorcycles. Includes
rear video camera and monitor. $4,500 or
offer. Paul Meisel 952 746 2361
For Sale: 2000 Bushtec Roadster Motorcycle
Trailer. Like new. includes cooler, carpeted
interior, garment bag, chrome tongue, rear
bumper, spare tire. $2700 Ivar (612) 866-6069
For Sale: 2002 KTM SX125 Dirt Bike
Good Condition , front forks resealed,
sidewinder sprockets and chain, breakaway
levers, and new fenders. Great Running Bike!!!
$2200 Ivar (612) 866-6060
For Sale: 2005 Yamaha Warrior Stock Exhaust
SystemLike new. Will sell cheap. Ivar (612) 8666069
Viking Chapter AMCA, Inc.
Antique Motorcycle Club of America, Inc
5065 Nine Mile Creek Circle
Bloomington, MN 55437