AMCA Newsletter June 2014

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ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF AMERICA (AMCA)

THE AMCA SOUTH FLORIDA EVERGLADES CHAPTER LINES

Chapter News

President Roy Wasson 305-366-5053 Secretary Penny Anderson Vice President Wes Scott Treasurer Clare Frost Editor: Bob Anderson 321-258-7935 1002 Glenham Drive NE Palm Bay, Florida 32905 RAnder0345@aol.com Web Site: http://evergladeschapter.tripod.com

Let Us Get To Know You: By Roy

Wasson, Chapter President (The Original Nightrider) The Everglades Chapter is honored to welcome a number of new members who have joined over the last few months. Now we need to get to know each other by meeting in person at rides and meetings, and by exchanging information in this newsletter. If you are a longtime member, the new folks would like to learn something about you. Likewise, those of us who have been around for awhile want to get to know those of you who have recently joined. This newsletter is the perfect place to

share stories and news with our other members. What is your favorite motorcycle (or what was it, if like me you let your favorite get away)? Describe your most fun ride (or most miserable ride, as I try to do in my other story in this issue) on two wheels; where you went; what you saw; how your bike ran; and so on. Tell us about some parts or entire motorcycles you have for sale, or want to buy (I am looking for a rear wheel rim and spokes for a ‘42 Matchless G3L), and our members will keep that information in mind when they are talking with other motorcycle enthusiasts. When was the

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first time you snuck out without telling your parents that you were getting on your cousin’s Cushman scooter for a ride down the alley at 25 mph that seemed like the speed of light? All of us have some interesting stuff to exchange with our other members. Send your stories to our editor Bob Anderson (who has a million tales of his own to share) and let us get to know each other better. I am looking forward to reading about you. Editor’s Note:

I completely agree,.with President Roy and encourage all members to submit AMCA related stories for the Newsletter. Any suitable subject is O. K. My favorite motorcycle complete with PICs, a technical article, a restoration article, human interest stories, humorous antecdotes, are all great article subjects. So get busy and write up your favorite story, insert some PICs around the words (don’t forget to have a caption for each PIC), the send it to the Newsletter Editor, (that’s me), and I’ll insert it into the next edition.

Wes Scott Ride on 26 April: By Clare

Frost It was a “marvelous night for a moon ride” to paraphrase Van Morrison! The weather was perfect when about 20 bikes showed up at Wes Scott’s shop in Ft. Lauderdale to partake in a beach ride to dinner at the Bad Boys of England pub in Dania Beach. One gentleman on a new Harley had heard about our ride and joined in with the “more mature”. (Wes is talking him into buying a vintage bike as we speak!) The trip that took them down to Ft. Lauderdale beach then, turning south, followed Taylor road that backs up to the new airport runway. Since we hardly see curves around these parts, it was nice to have a few sweeping turns that then lead to

U.S 1 and onto the pub. Here is a list of who came:

Howard Alexander 1969 TR6C Kurm Landon HD Fat Boy Roy & Carol Wasson 2003 ElectraGlide Classic David Stone 1975 850 Norton James Turner 1975 GT759 Suzuki Malcolm Clarke 1974 Bonney & 1974 Suzuki 750 Ziegler Isle CBR 1000 Honda Allan Aunapu 919 Honda Wyatt & Andrea Haygood 1978 Honda 750 Eric Kahn 1972 Norton Commando Ronald Erin 1960 250 BSA Wes & Jacquiline Scott 1971 BSA Rocket III Fred Harper 2004 BMW Clive Taylor 1962 Matchless G80CS Derek Taylor 1956 Norton Dominator 99 Sandy Allan Richard Nixon 1974 Norton Commando Fred Perry 2006 Bonneville Curt Delancy 1958 BSA Gary & Susie Matijevich

President Roy

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A Gorgeous Night For A Bike Ride

The Motley Crew

Clive, Jacquiline and Wes

Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show: By Clare Frost

WE NEED BIGGER AISLES!!!! The crowd overflowed into everywhere! The chamber people estimated over 10,000 people through the day came to view our great collection of 289 bikes on display. That is the number of just the registered ones. We say there are two shows, one in the park and one in the parking lot. One guy told us it took him an hour to get out of the parking lot, so many interesting two wheeled vehicles to drool over. But the real stuff is on the field!

The Field

What a great collection. Café Racers was the theme and with 44 entries, there was a lot to take in. This class brings in the younger bikers with some great imagination. A 1966 Ducati Monza and a 1980 Ducati Darmah won the two first places. The English and Japanese classes were tied in the amount of bikes registered and we see new and younger faces each year, as the Asian bikes take over. Some of the unusual and rare bikes there were: 1974 Laverda SF750, 1929 Dresch, 1913 FN (won 3 awards!), 1951 Zundapp, 1922 Gillet, 1959 Gilera,1952 Imme R100, 1955 Royal Enfield Woodsman, 1970 Fuji

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Motors Go Devil, 1953 Argyle Scooter Cub, and our great friend Jack Wells brought two Brough Superiors which won the “Lawrence of Arabia” award. In the American class we had 9 Indians and 3 Hendersons.

This show was our eighth time in the city of Dania Beach with the last five show in the park. It all started when a local artist asked us to bring a few bikes to her art show and we got about 20 bikes to attend. Each year the amount of entries doubled till there wasn’t enough room on the side street where the festival was held. The city offered the park and now we have plenty of room to expand each year. The swap meet doubles in size each year and we definitely will need more bathrooms. (This writer got caught in a long line and boy was she mad!) The real beauty of having this event is that it shows a small town like Dania Beach that motorcycle folks aren’t all Hell’s Angels. I heard about a bike event that the venue made them hire 20 off duty police as they thought there would be trouble. The next year after seeing that indeed vintage bikers are great law abiding people, they were told no police were needed.

As we travel to other vintage bike meets throughout the country, we are seeing more and more of our show shirts on people. It also helps that January is a month that a lot of northerners want to come south and many people are arranging their vacations for the week of the Dania Beach show, which next year will be Saturday, January 31, 2015.

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Our theme next year will be Sportsters. Get in those garages and start shining those bikes now!

Clive gives out the Trophies

Denton Southern National Meet: By

Clare Frost It was a hard decision, but we went to North Carolina for the Denton meet this year. You see, it always coincides with “Riding into History” in St. Augustine which is one the prettiest bike shows you will ever see. We will be there next year for sure. Not to say we didn’t have a great time in the Carolinas! What nice nice people and a great venue. It is held at the Denton FarmPark which houses hundreds of pieces of old farm equipment in original old farm buildings complete with an old train. There is lots of room and shade for vendors to spread out, which this year, there were over 100. We didn’t sell much but we bought a perfect 1981 Honda passport from Earl. And the weather!!! We had to put the heat on each night in the camper.

Clare’s New 1981 Honda Passport

There were two road runs and we went on the longer one on Saturday. About 25 bikes rode through beautiful curvy roads with a stop at an old gold mining town. The Motor Maids met up with us to bring us back into the park where each bike rider was interviewed about their bike and then proceeded to parade around the park. Saturday, the bike field meet was held and it always surprises me that these guys on those big old Harleys can maneuver through the games and come out on top. Clive and Metalflake were SO close to winning a few games, but it was not to be! Something new was the “Concourse D’Ordinaire” for the more common bikes. The rules said to enter, it had to be a bike and it had to run. Now, it took a bottle of champagne (I put a sign on it that said it went to the judges if my bike won), but I got “prettiest bike” with my Rudge bicycle. I had to argue that, yes, it wasn’t a motorcycle but it was a bike and it ran!! Sunday was AMCA bike judging with about 22 bikes and we loved the venue so much, we stayed an extra night in the camper and bundled up before the drive back home to sunny hot Florida.

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Triumph Wins The Daytona 200 ! ! ! !: By Clive Taylor Thanks to Ralph, we got box office seats to watch the race. We have not stayed to see the race for 10 years because we were too busy leaving early to get home. Boy what a great time! Being British bike folks, it was a thrill to see Danny Eslick from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma win the 73rd Daytona 200 on a Triumph Daytona 675R. British Rule!!!!!!! The last time a Triumph won was in 1967 with Gary Nixon on board and the last time a British Bike won was 1971 with Dick Mann on a 1971 BSA Rocket.

#1 Gene Romero on a Triumph

#4 Dick Mann on a BSA #25 Don Emde on a BSA

If you were on our Wes Scott ride, you got to see Wes’s 1971 Custom BSA Rocket III which was the same model that Dick Mann won on that year. We all voted it The “coolest” bike on the ride!

WW

Wes Scott and his BSA There is a real cool youtube video from that race: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb8UjSGiFok

Snake Road Ride, 31 May Report: By

Pat Jebb We are calling Gary McGoron, our ride leader, the “I know how to skirt the rain” Guru! You will find out why at the end of the story. Sixteen bikes met at the Miccosukee truck stop off of Alligator Alley and we headed out with our backup van at 10am. The morning was beautiful and clear. There were cows and bunnies, egrets and a few alligators, kamikaze bugs and lots of buzzards hanging out on road kill. There were even snakes on Snake Road! Our first stop was a quick one for photos and then a stop just before lunch to stretch our legs.

Lunch at the Dixie

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Dixie Chicken in Clewiston is as homey and quaint as it gets. After a quick meeting lead by President Wasson, we feasted on everything from chicken livers and catfish to fried pickles and hushpuppies. It was getting time to leave.

Roy Wasson, Dave Wright, Clive Taylor Jr, Wally Allen, and their Dania Beach Bike Show Shirts Looking to the south with the clouds looking black and ominous, the smart phones were passed around showing how wet we would get if we went south. Seven of us had to go back to the truck stop as we had trailered our bikes, so we took the chance. About five bikes went due east to hit Highway 27. Gary decided for us to wait a bit and then we headed back down Snake Road. Those clouds followed us and surrounded us, but our luck held out and we only got hit with exactly 14 drops. For the report on those five bikes that went east, please read Roy’s report. We should have told them that Gary was a weather Guru, and that those “smart” phones don’t know poop! It was a great day and a great ride through old Florida! Here is a list of who was there: Gary McGoron Yamaha 1973 TX650 Gary & Susie Matijevich Yamaha 1970 XS650 Tom Doyle Yamaha 1977 XS650 Dave Wright BSA 1967 Lightning Clare Frost Triumph 1967 TR6 Clive Taylor Sr. Norton 1956 Dominator

Clive Taylor Jr. Triumph 1957 TR6 Metalflake Herb Triumph 1970 TR6R Albert & Sherry Owler BMW 2003 R1150RT Shawn Lamb Vincent 1949 Rapide Howard Swinnerton Moto Guzzi 1993 SP3 Charles Hamer Moto Guzzi 1973

Eldorado Howard Alexander Harley 1971 Sportster Roy Wasson Harley 2003 V-Rod Curt Delanoy Ducati 1975 860 GT Bill Tracy Matchless 1967 G15CS

Road Captain Gary Mcgoron

The Snake Road Crew

More Snake Ride, 31 May: By Roy

Wasson

As we were preparing to mount up and ride back to the Mickosukee truck stop after our brief business meeting and sumptuous meal at

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Dixie Barbecue, two groups of us began to realize that heavy rain was on our way. One of those groups was the techno-savvy types who can get the Weather Channel on their cell phones. I was a member of the other group: the ones who looked up to the sky and saw the ominous black clouds coming. The plan was to make it about a mile or so to the next gas station to refuel and reconnoiter.

After gassing up, we split into two groups: Thirteen of our original sixteen bikes planned to go back the way we came, down Snake Road past the Seminole Reservation to the truck stop. Three of us opted for the more easterly route down Highway 27, hoping that the storm would drift toward the west and soak our fellow riders instead of us. Soon after leaving the gas station I began to feel the cold–almost icy–wind gushing out from the bottom of the frontal system that signals a rain storm coming. A few drops started spritzing down, as I watched the oncoming traffic to see if the cars had their wipers on high speed or intermittent, to gauge what they had come through. Soon the spritzing drops became a steady, but still light, rain. One of our group members pulled over to take off his jacket, and I pulled onto the shoulder to dress in my bright yellow foul weather gear I bought from a sailing supply store. When my large frame dons that yellow suit I am usually mistaken for Big Bird, but it beats getting soaked to the bone. This time I was slow putting on the jacket and pants and got very wet in the process. Meantime, our other member who had stopped with me–and who apparently had no rain gear with him–announced that he was turning back, to look for the thirteen other bikes who were going the other way. The third of our group was long gone ahead, into the teeth of the storm that was soon to bite me.

The Original Nightrider’s Rainsuit

After struggling with the snaps and zippers on my Big Bird costume, I took off down the shoulder on the V-Rod, waiting for a clear spot to merge into traffic. There were not many cars on the road, but the rain was very heavy and I could not see that well. After entering the travel lane and reaching a speed of about 45 mph, the rain intensified to extremely heavy. So hard was the downpour that it found the seams in my rain suit, around my neck, and at the zipper, and I slowly began to become soaked to the skin. I did not think about turning around because that would have put me back through parts of the storm that had already passed to the north. I decided to plow on through and that is when the hail starting pummeling my hands and helmet. The ice must have been no larger than marble-sized, but it hurt when it hit and I kept wondering what would happen if we had some of the baseball-sized crystals I had read about in the news recently hitting other areas. The roadway became slick with pooling rain and ice crystals, and I felt the back tire lose

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grip on the pavement a couple of times. There was enough hail hitting the ground to cause some cars and trucks to pull over to the side, but I persevered, choosing the path that would lead me out of the storm sooner than sitting on the side of the road and allowing it to drench me even worse (if that were possible). At that point I vowed to remember that–if this was not the heaviest rain storm I ever rode through in 50 years of motorcycling (okay, I am exaggerating, it won’t be 50 years until December)--this storm was equal to the heaviest.

Turning around was out of the question. Finally I saw another gas station and pulled in under the canopy over the pumps for shelter. I must have looked funny in the restroom as I unbuttoned my shirt and pointed the hand dryer nozzle inside my clothing to dry it off a little. I finally got dry enough to join Clare and Clive at the Lions Club barbecue in Dania Beach honoring veterans. It was a soggy afternoon in South Florida, but a wet ride is better than no ride at all.

Meeting Minutes, Snake Ride, 31 May: By Clare Frost President Roy Wasson welcomed everyone at the Dixie Chicken restaurant where the ride lunch was held. He advised he founded the Everglades chapter 10 years ago and that we have had two national rides, one in South Dade to the Everglades National Park in 2006 and the last one in 2011 in Ocala. Active members are needed to help put on local rides, bike shows and write articles for our newsletter. President Wasson thanked new members for joining and reminded them to join the National AMCA which can be done on the website: http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org

Riding Into History: By Bob Brandner

Riding Into History is held every year on the 3rd Saturday in May. The organization is

independent and run by volunteers from BMW Motorcycle Owners of North East Florida Into History has several facets, including:

Concours d'Elegance

This competition attracts between 300 and 400 antique and vintage motorcycles each year. Collectors from all over America bring their motorcycles to the show, and they are displayed around the lake which forms the centerpiece of the World Golf Village. There are numerous exhibitors at the Concours, as well as representatives from several motorcycle clubs. For the 15th annual Riding Into History, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum had a beautiful display of 9 very rare motorcycles. Their display included a 1926 Ace 4 cylinder in mid-restoration, a 1914 Indian electric start original and operational motorcycle! They also brought a 1961 Honda RC161/4 GP, a 1979 Yamaha TZ750 E, ex Henry DeGouw, (Henry was at Riding Into History this year!), a 1969 M.V. Agusta 250 twin scrambler, a 1973 BSA/Triumph Dick Mann Daytona replica, 1967 Moto-Guzzi ISDT, a 2000 Lakewood custom, and a 1994 Harley Davidson VR1000. This was the largest display that the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum has ever brought to any event! Riding Into History was very honored to host this display.

There are charity rides for any motorcycle riders who may wish to visit the event and enjoy a pleasant morning ride in North Florida. They ride from either Adamec Harley Davidson, Baymeadows or BMW Motorcycles of Jacksonville, Orange Park to the World Golf Village to see the Concours. VIP parking is provided, along with tickets to the Concours.

The Grand Marshal Dinner takes place the evening before the Concours and it includes a silent auction and the Grand Marshal as a guest speaker. The latter are always celebrities

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in the field. Craig Vetter was the 2004 Grand Marshal of the event; he is a famous motorcycle designer and author, Dennis Gage (2005) is the Television producer and host of TV shows on the Speed Channel, Peter Egan (2006) is an author and columnist for Cycle World magazine, Kel Carruthers (2007) is a former world champion motorcycle road racer, and Mert Lawwill (2008) was Grand National Champion and starred with Steve McQueen in On Any Sunday. In 2013 Buzz Kanter, editor of American Iron Magazine and Dale Walksler from the Wheels Through Time Museum were dueling Grand Marshals. The 15th annual Riding Into History Grand Marshal was Dave Despain, the voice and face of motorcycle racing announcing.

Historic Ride is held on Friday morning before the Concours. The participants, who entered their motorcycles in the Concours, take their own motorcycles from the World Golf Village to Corky Bells in old Florida Palatka, for a lunch. The goal is to present the antique and vintage bikes to the public and to enjoy riding into history.

Entries for this years event were down from last year but the quality of the exhibited bikes remained very high. This years featured Marque being American Iron.

A total of 282 entries were registered, of those 92 were of various Japanese makes.

Some of the Japanese Motorcycles

The weather was perfect and all that attended were treated to a Day of motorcycle fun in the sun.

Of note the main parking lot was jammed with at least 1500 ride in spectator motorcycles with enough eye candy to satisfy anyones taste.

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Lots of Bikes in the Parking Lot

The show results may be viewed at the following website:

www.ridingintohistory.org/2014-concours-result

RIH crew deserves a thumbs up for a super event, looking forward to 2015.

Want To Buy: I am a member of the Yankee chapter of AMCA and need a left side engine case with a valid number for the 1955 FLH that I am restoring. I could also use a 1956 or 1957 FLH but would prefer to get a 1955 FLH. Contact: John Zaharek Cell (203) 788-8181 themrz@sbcglobal.net

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AMCA Everglades Chapter Membership Enrollment and Renewal Form

Check One: New Chapter Member: ____ Renewal ____ Name:_________________________________________________________ AMCA Member No.______________ Address:_______________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________________ Zip Code_______________ Phone #1 ( )_______________________________ Phone #2 ( )_______________________________ EMail:______________________________________________________________ Facsimile:___________________________________________________________ Check here_____if you would like to be considered for a leadership position as a director of the Chapter

Motorcycles Owned/Preferred/Riding Experience/AMCA Background (Optional information to allow us to get to know one another)

________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

By signing below the applicant represents that he/she is a current member of the national AMCA and agrees to abide by the Bylaws and rules and regulations of the Everglades Chapter. $15 annual dues enclosed. Please make check payable to AMCA Everglades Chapter.

Return this page with $15 dues to: Clare Frost 642 N.E. 3 Street Dania Beach, Florida 33004 Signature:________________________________________________________ Date:____________________________________________________________

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