On Saturday, July 30, hundreds of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts will converge on America’s Car Museum’s Haub Family Field for the Vintage Motorcycle Festival: The MEET at ACM. The event will feature vintage motorcycles and scooters from all over the west coast, the Pacific Northwest and even Canada! Of the hundreds of beautiful examples of history on 2 wheels, here are 4 notable bikes you won’t want to miss on the field.
1941 Indian Chief
Not quite in the same conundrum category as chickens and eggs, the question of which came first between Indian and Harley-Davidson is no less interesting. The belief that both got their start in 1901 is true only to a point. True, William S. Harley did draw up plans for a small engine to be mounted to a bicycle in that year, however actual production units did not hit the streets until 1903. Indian, on the other hand, had a motorcycle for sale in 1901. The two companies duked it out well into the 1940s and 50s when Harley finally won the longevity war. If you want to know more about this fascinating rivalry, check out Allan Girdler’s book, The Harley-Davidson and Indian Wars.
1948 Harley Davidson Servi-Car
This interesting little trike helped Harley-Davidson survive lean times following the Clutch Plague. Built from 1932 to 1974, the Servi-Car was originally targeted at the automotive service industry. Initially designed to be towed behind a car being delivered to a customer, the mechanic would then unhook it, hop on and ride it back to the service garage. Also popular for use as a small business utility and mobile vendor vehicle, the Servi-Car is probably best known for its police duty, generally for traffic and parking law enforcement.
1950 Moto Guzzi
Established in 1921, Moto Guzzi holds the record as Europe’s oldest motorcycle manufacturer in terms of continuous production. Moto Guzzis earned their reputation both on the racing circuit and test track with many pioneering technical innovations. And let’s face it they have the coolest name! I may have to get one just so I can say it with an affected Italian accent.
1977 Kawasaki kZ1000
In addition to being a heck of a ride, the Kawasaki kZ1000 is something of a film & TV star and several examples will be on the field during the VMF. CHIP TV series patrolmen Ponch and Jon cruised the roads of California on kZ1000s. One source has it that fourteen of the bikes used in the filming of Mad Max were modified kZ1000s. And of course, if you ever find yourself needing to outrun the blast wave from a low-yield nuclear explosion, this is your bike. Just ask motorcycle mega-nut Keanu Reeves. He did just that astride a kZ1000 in the movie Chain Reaction.
Don’t miss the Vintage Motorcycle Festival: The MEET at ACM
More than 2,500 classic motorcycle enthusiasts will gather on America’s Car Museum’s Haub Family Field for this unique event featuring hundreds of vintage motorcycles and scooters ranging from 1910 to 1990, including rare Triumphs, Ducatis, BMWs and more. Virtually every brand in the history of motorcycling will be represented from owners across the U.S. and Canada.
A used bike corral, food trucks, free seminars, and vendor booths, plus restoration and touring services make this any motorcycle enthusiast’s dream come true. Tickets also include admission to ACM.
Online ticket sales end at 5pm on Friday, July 29.
Tickets and day-of bike registrations will be available at the gate.