The concept of motorcycling is plenty enticing in its most stripped-down, basic form. But these dudes found ways to take it further, going in the direction of rugged, hunks of metal with the intent of being unstoppable. We tip our helmets to ’em. Imagine a convoy of these contraptions headed toward you.
Old black and white photos of vintage enduro racing make us think about what races were like with less sponsors, less regulations and rules. There’s a purity about it: no logo-saturated arenas, branded bales or race track billboards, just a big sky and a gritty, challenging road.
You’ll shake your head in disbelief. You’ll wrack your brain as to how this kind of collection came to be. At Wheels Through Time, just accept it, you’re going to be overwhelmed by the level of incredibly cool vintage American motorcycles housed in this “museum that runs.” This photo-feature helps provide just a glimpse of what awaits you…
By 1917, Erwin Baker had been racing motorcycles and setting records for 13 years. He was an Indian rider from Indianapolis with a valuable reputation. After a quick coast-to-coast ride, he became nationally known by the speedy and marketing-appropriate nickname, “Cannonball.” Long before racing vehicles were covered in corporate sponsorship, Baker earned the support of some of the biggest names in automotive manufacturing. The story of his record-breaking ride at the Cincinnati Speedway board track in 1917 is the kind of stuff his legend is built upon. It’s also a great example of why the Cannonball moniker added a powerfully positive association to motorcycle products of the early 1900s. Read on…
There are many, many reasons we attend AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The bikes, the swap meet, the racing and the overall atmosphere created by motorcycle enthusiasts is an experience we don’t wanna miss. We were fortunate to have worked with the good folks at the American Motorcyclist Association to help convey the vibe of VMD (see the video at the end of the post). After going through our pics, here’s an alphabetical and photographic rundown of why we love attending this event.
Thousands of motorcyclists and vintage motorcycles fill acres and acres of land at this annual gathering; it’s like being in a moto time warp. You’ll see bikes riding by, or being raced, that you’d never see outside the three jam-packed days of fun at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.
