AMA Announces 2010 Vintage Motorcycle Days

Example of the classics you can see there!

October 15, 2009 – The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the 2010 dates of the country’s premier annual celebration of motorcycling heritage.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will take place next year on July 9-11, 2010, at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Tickets will go on sale Nov. 30.  Please visit MidOhio.com or call (800) MID-OHIO for more information or to order tickets.

The 19th Annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features classic motorcycles of all makes and styles, and honors the riders who made them famous.

Husqvarna Named Marque of the Year for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Husqvarna, the legendary make that ruled AMA Racing off-road competition throughout the 1970s and 1980s, has recently made a full-throttle return to national championship contention. This July 9-11, the iconic brand will celebrate its heritage and build toward its future as the Marque of the Year at the 19th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. “Arguably the most dominant off-road racing brand in the United States for a generation of racers, Husqvarna has recently returned full force to AMA Racing national competition,” said Tigra Tsujikawa, AMA special events and marketing manager.  “We’re pleased to showcase both Husqvarna’s history and the company’s renewed investment in motorcycling’s present and future at this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.” “Husqvarna Motorcycles is delighted to be the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year for 2010,” said Husqvarna Motorcycles North America President Mark Brady.  “Launching the new decade with this prestigious recognition is indeed an honor.  Everyone at Husqvarna Motorcycles is very much aware of the great history of the brand, and we are determined to bring back the glory days. “We believe that developing a closer relationship with the AMA is an important part of growing and protecting the rights of every rider in America,” Brady added. As part of Husqvarna’s participation in AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, fans will be able to get up close and personal with the Husqvarna’s moto-history, from its genesis in Sweden in the early 1900s to the high-tech off-road, motocross and dual-sport bikes the company sells and races today. Although many U.S. riders first became familiar with Husqvarna in the early 1960s, the company had been selling motorcycles since 1903 when it fitted Husqvarna frames with engines from makers such as FN and Moto-Reve. In 1920 Husqvarna began building its own engine, a 550cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin.  Another early milestone was the legendary “Svartkvarna,” built in 1946. It was a lightweight, reliable two-stroke that could endure hard use with minimal maintenance.  The machine established a reputation that would define the Husqvarna marque for decades to follow. By the early 1960s the two-stroke revolution had yet to reach the United States. U.S. riders were still tackling the woods and deserts on converted Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs and BSAs.  It was about this time that a man named Edison Dye, now a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, took a motorcycle tour of Europe during which he became instantly enthralled with the European sport of motocross, and a new breed of lightweight two-stroke bikes favored by its competitors. A few years later, Dye put a Husqvarna motocross bike in the hands of a young American rider named Malcolm Smith for evaluation. Smith, also an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, gave the bike a thumbs up. This persuaded Dye to become the U.S., Husqvarna importer in 1966. As part of a marketing campaign Dye organized visits to the U.S., by the reigning Swedish world motocross champion Torsten Hallman, who also has since taken a seat in the Hall of Fame.  Not only did Dye sell Husqvarna motorcycles but he also introduced a new style of motorcycle racing to America. While educational displays and seminars at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will focus on Husqvarna’s rich history, the machines also will be among the many brands that amateur racers will test on the racetrack in the multiple racing disciplines that are part of the weekend’s competition schedule.

AMA Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith to serve as Grand Marshal for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

One afternoon in the mid-1960s, a man walked into a Southern California motorcycle shop looking for someone to race an unproven motorcycle with a foreign-sounding name.  Lucky for that man, he walked into the right shop and found the right racer.  Malcolm Smith took Edison Dye’s offer, and their partnership would help establish the Husqvarna motorcycle brand as a force in American off-road. In recognition of Malcolm Smith’s contributions to the success of Husqvarna, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Husqvarna Motorcycles North America are pleased to announce that Smith will serve as Grand Marshal at the 19th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this July 9-11 in Lexington, Ohio. “Even today, decades after Malcolm Smith’s racing prime, his fan base rivals some of the top names in the sport,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman.  “To anyone who has met him, the reason for that is clear: Malcolm Smith is synonymous with everything positive about motorcycling — fun, sportsmanship, and excitement. He will serve as an exceptional Grand Marshal at this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days as we celebrate the brand on which he became famous: Husqvarna.” Added Husqvarna National Sales and Marketing Manager Scot Harden: “When it came to honoring a Grand Marshal at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Malcolm Smith was the obvious choice.  We look forward to celebrating the storied history of Husqvarna with Malcolm, as well as a large number of other past Husqvarna legends and champions on July 9-11.” Smith says he’s looking forward to meeting fans and enjoying the activities himself at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. “I was last at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days three years ago and had a wonderful time,” Smith said.  “I particularly liked walking around the large field where they sell all the old bike parts, buying a truckload and then figuring out how to get it all back to California.  I’m spoiled.  I like to ride new bikes, but I really enjoy working on old motorcycles.  I work on them every day.” Smith said that he remembers the day he was introduced to Husqvarna motorcycles like it was yesterday. “When Edison Dye brought me the bike, we laid out a track and some trail that went up into the hills,” Smith said. “When I came back from that ride, I said, ‘Mr. Dye, you have yourself a rider.’  The bike was so far ahead of anything else available at the time, and so reliable.” Following his encounter with Dye, Smith’s success and influence wasn’t limited to the track.  Smith’s positive evaluation of those first Husqvarnas also persuaded Dye to become the U.S. Husqvarna importer in 1966. That decision paved the way for Dye to bring in reigning Swedish world motocross champion Torsten Hallman to race the bikes in the United States.  Not only did that move further advertise the quality and speed of Husqvarnas and help Dye sell a lot of motorcycles, but it also established the sport of motocross on American soil. In his role as grand marshal, Smith will participate in numerous fan-friendly activities, from autograph signings to discussions of his history with Husqvarna.  This will be a rare and unique opportunity for Smith’s thousands of fans to meet and greet the off-road legend. As a racer, Smith gained fame for his accomplishments in the Baja 1000 and for his gold-medal-winning rides in the International Six Day Enduro competitions, but his notoriety reached well beyond the motorcycling community as the star of the influential 1970s motorcycle movie, “On Any Sunday.” The scenes of Smith play-riding with his buddies, which included popular actor Steve McQueen, showed people across the country just how fun motorcycling could be. The movie helped launch an explosion in the popularity of off-road motorcycling in America.

More on the 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Event

Activities include the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, which feature road racing, motocross, hare scrambles, trials and dirt-track racing.

The event will also inlude North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet; bike shows and awards; a Marque of the Year display that showcases the history of a unique brand; a Grand Marshal; a new-product vendor midway; stunt shows; demo rides of current production bikes; and seminars on a number of topics by noted motorcycling experts.

“AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the highlight of many motorcyclists’ calendars,” said AMA Special Events and Marketing Manager Tigra Tsujikawa. “By announcing the dates now, we hope to provide our fans, enthusiasts and racers ample opportunity to set their schedules for next year.”

“As always, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be a treat for motorcycling fans of all eras — and ages – and we don’t want anyone to miss out on this unique opportunity.”

Michelle Trueman Gajoch, president of TrueSports Inc., which owns and operates the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Mid-Ohio School, added: “The AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days weekend is a special event that we are proud to host for the 16th straight year.”

“Classic sportbikes on a historic track like Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course make the races a real spectacle to see. The on-track action, coupled with one of the world’s largest motorcycle swap meets, is a treat for fans as well as riders.”

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.  The goal of the Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling’s legends and heroes.

For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Hall of Fame’s website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, visit AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com

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MOTOGP: Japanese GP Rescheduled

The Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for May 2, has been rescheduled and will be run on October 3.

Japanese GP Re-scheduled

The Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for May 2, has been rescheduled and will be run on October 3. The ash clouds over Europe caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull have turned most of northern Europe into a no-fly zone and, with no let-up in sight over the next few days, Dorna and the Japanese promoters of the Motegi event had no other alternative.

Dorna had considered the possibility of trying to airlift the over 600 people who make up the paddock universe to Japan on two charter flights leaving from points in Italy and Spain, but for many team members and GP staff based in northern Europe, and especially in the United Kingdom, the logistics of getting to Italy and Spain would have been very difficult. Some Italian airports were already on the no-fly list and no one could reliably predict the situation for Monday and Tuesday.

The Japanese GP moves from second to 14th on the schedule and will be the first of three races to be run on consecutive weekends followed by the Malaysian G.P. on October 10 and the Australian G.P. on October 17

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Somedays I can’t belive where technology is taking usthis is a very cool product, stay tuned for video’s from OBB

ContourHD is the World’s First and Smallest wearable video camera. It’s light but armored body “slides and locks” ContourHD onto a series of mounts for your goggles, helmet, handle bars, vehicle, or anywhere else you want. Wear HD video and record your adventures hands-free!

Built to be operated with a pair of gloves on, ContourHD uses a single button to capture hours of HD video to an internal microSD memory card. With no wires or tapes, the ContourHD helmet cam makes it easy to capture Full HD video from within the action

Shoot to share with our Easy Edit software and your own account on VholdR.com. Connect ContourHD to your computer, clip the best parts, and share your helmet camera adventures online in seconds.

Keep it between teh ditches and the shiny side up!

Bear

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Valentino Rossi won his 100th Grand Prix, took his second triumph in succession and became the undisputed leader of the MotoGP World Championship with a stellar performance at the Alice TT Assen. The Fiat Yamaha rider had a peerless performance from pole position and, unlike two weeks previous in Barcelona, needed no ‘Hail Mary’ last lap at the Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing.

(more…)

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Hey Bear of www.oldbikebarn.com here,

   I have been mentioning for some time that we would be updating our about-us section on the web site as well and FAQ’s and help. here’s the first on many installments that well let you get to know us and or brand better 2009.

The Old Bike Barn Story
Hi this is Barrie Haughton (aka Bear)  president & founder of www.oldbikebarn.com  I have been told by many it’s high time I tell the story of how  this crazy motorcycle parts machine got started and how motorcycles saved my life.
  Growing up as a kid I was into all things “Hot Rod”. I avidly read Hot Rod Magazine, Rod & Custom, and Car Craft form the young age of 10. By the time I was 15, the muscle car pricing crisis (well it was for me) was way out of hand with even rust buckets and less than pristine examples of desirable models fetching 10k or more and often well into the 6 figures. My dreams of owning a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6, Classic Mustang or Super Bee had been crushed. Then a stroke of genius my dad ( The Old Honda Man) suggested vintage bikes. These machines were cheap, plentiful and with a great power to weight ratio I could easily pull up at a light on my CB750 and blow the doors off the latest machines and Muscle cars alike, needless to say I was hooked!
  I spent my teens building and restoring all kinds of bikes. At 18 I joined the Military and traveled to 28 countries in my 10 year career, eventually working under American, British, NATO and UN command. Every time I would do a tour of duty, I ‘d come home I would buy a few more bikes to tinker with. To-date I have owned some 38 bikes; my stable currently houses 13.
 

In late 1999 disaster struck while on a tour of duty in the Balkan’s. During a show of force to clam the local militias and war lords down, I sustained 2 fractures in my spine I could not walk at first, and they were not sure I would again. I was devastated, but I told the doctor’s in the field medic tent that I would walk because I had to ride my bikes.

I came home to some rough times. The Army didn’t renew my contract and once leave was up, they miraculously had lost any record of me being injured on duty. The young Military doctor had the gall to ask me if it happened on leave. I couldn’t believe it, I got Veteran’s Affairs and a lawyer involved…  Surprise, Surprise after many months without pay my files turned up.

They made good on it and paid for my re-education and business school. Those were some rough years. I was still in a lot of pain and limped badly for a few years. My back was too fragile to ride bikes but I stayed convinced that I could ride again someday. Around this time I built a hobby web site called www.oldbikebarn.com The site had a readers ride section and I was selling off my personal collection of Vintage parts to supplement my Veterans pension. Then it happened…  I started to receive hundreds of emails asking me for parts. Remember this is back in 2000, 2001 the Internet was not what it is today. With little competition I seized the opportunity, and started to source reproduction and new parts for my site. I was running this from my bedroom waste deep in parts. I moved into my first commercial location in 2002 where the SH*T promptly hit the fan, the web site was getting too much traffic and I was working 80 plus hours a week, in poor health. That’s when the partnership that made this business what it is today was formed.

Enter My long time friend Kevin Murphy, an avid rider himself (having cross the continent by bike) Kevin left his previous job, and with his strong back ground in web design I approached him to help out.  I could no longer do it all: build the site, ship the goods, answer the 800 number, manage the accounting and what seemed like a million other tasks. Kevin came aboard as a consultant at first but that quickly grew into a % partnership, because of his talent for making my ideas about the web and motorcycles even better.

Today the company has grown with a full staff and a vast product line covering hundreds of models; 1969 to present day.
The key players are all brothers or old friends: my brother Billy, Kevin’s brother Brian and our time long friend Pat, run the show with Ronny our latest manager handling the shipping staff. We are a site by biker’s for biker’s: filling our fellow motorcyclist’s needs with fast, friendly service, and an all to uncommon personal touch.
I remember every time someone says motorcycles are dangerous that they saved my life. If I had listened to those doctor’s I might have never ridden again!

Thanks to all of our loyal customers for their support that took www.oldbikebarn.com from my bedroom to where it is today!    Bear (President & Founder)

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