Check out the great video Berry Landen did on The Antiques Motorcycles in the Park.
The Best show ever with 108 Antique and Vintage on display in beautiful down town Hot Springs at Hill Wheatley Plaza. The show was fantastic and the weather could not have been more perfect, no rain two
years in a row.
The oldest motorcycles was a 1908 Thor (only two are known to exist) brought by Steve Klein. There were at least 40 Harley's from 1912 on up. We had the most Indians ever, 1912 to 1953 including several
chiefs and two Indian 4 cylinders.
Several British bikes, 1927 to 1971, Triumphs, BSA, and a Rudge. Lots of Japanese bikes mostly in the 1960's. Jed Simpson made two trips with Japanese bikes. A few European bikes, mostly BMW's.
The Italian bikes were mostly Harley's made in Italy.
The competition bikes were mostly Vintage MX bikes, Husky's, Bultaco, Honda's and one Kawasaki drag bike. Lots of Cushman's, a few Mustangs and James Sandage Simplex collection.
Motorcycles were brought in from Texas, Louisiana, and all over Arkansas. The Cherokee Chapter brought in bikes from Georgetown Texas, 550 miles away just for the show and Rally.
Buddy Muirhead displayed his 1923 Ner A Car, It is always a big hit when he starts it up and starts to tell stories about it. Steve Klein would start up his 1912 Harley every now and then to the amazement
of the crowd. He rode it around the show and up and down Central Ave. Butch Jones said “I wonder when the last time a 1912 motorcycle was ridden on Central Ave. in Hot Springs".
We had a large crowd all day with people talking and pointing at motorcycles with comments like" I had one of those when I was a kid, wish I still had it "or" I have never seen one like that up close only
in magazines or a museum " or " There sure is a lot on money sitting here".
Lots of people taking pictures, nothing but great comments on the show and most said they would be back next year. Several ask about putting their bikes in the show next year and are now on the clubs
newsletter list.
There is no way to count how many people were at the show but it must have been a few thousand. The Rally had over 10,000 and I would say most of them were at the show.
The Rally was a huge success, Thanks to Fred Anderson and his crew for doing a great job. Special Thanks to all who put their motorcycles in the show and to all who helped unloading/loading, set up and
running the show, with every ones help and enthusiasm the Antique Motorcycles in the Park was a great success, Thanks again.
The Sentinel Record ran articles in the paper four times. A story about Mike Carson and the Cannonball Run. A front page photo on Sunday and a picture on Tuesday of a 1912 Indian. The club Thanks the
Sentinel Record and Beth Bright for the coverage.
Meet and Greet:
The meet and greet was held at Mike Thomson's house Thursday before the show on Saturday. Everyone who entered a bike in the show was invited to the meet and greet Barbecue and we had quite a crowd. Billy
Ross and Jerry Welch brought their rolling Bar B Q trailer and they cooked all day Thursday.
The smell of the Bar B Q trailer attracted Big Foot or some critter early Thursday morning according to Susie Parker; anyway she came inside to drink her coffee. We had Ribs, brisket, pork, beans,
potato salad, Cole slaw, and all the fixin's. Linda brought the dessert. The food was some of the best I have ever had. What a great job Billy and Jerry. If you went hungry it was your own fault. After
eating we all sit around and talked, to full to stand up. We had more food than we could eat so the people who stayed a Mike's ate Bar B Q for the next few days. Special Thanks to Joan Klein, Debbie
Dillon and Kathy Bauer for setting everything up and Thanks to all who helped with the clean-up.
The meet (or was it meat) and greet was Susie Parker's idea and what a great idea it was. Everyone had a great time, met a lot of new people and made a lot of new friends even though we all ate too much.
Several people stayed in their RVs on my property so I had a house full for a few days, we all got to know each other a lot better and had a great time partying. I took everyone on a couple of rides, most
had not ridden in Arkansas before and were very impressed. They all said they wanted to come back and ride more in Arkansas. Some took off to down town Hot Springs to check out the sites. I am glad they
got to spend time to see down town and enjoy the great weather.
The swimming pool was a big hit at the end of the day.
The Cherokee Chapter was a big plus for the show and I thank them for coming. They all Thanked me and Susie and said what a good time they all had and would be back to see more of Arkansas in the
future.
Diamond Chapter September Meeting:
September 29, Sunday will be the Diamond Chapter at Perkin's (3630 Central Ave.) at 1:30 to eat. Meeting will be around 2:00. The club meetings are open to the public, so bring a friend.
Diamond Chapter AMCA August Minutes:
The regular meeting was called to order by Mike Thomson at 1:00 in Hill Wheatley Plaza on August 31 with 17 members present. Mike reported that the club project bike sold and the Treasurer's report was
accepted. July minutes were accepted.
All September 7th show details were discussed. Mike Thomson announced a "Meet and Greet" barbecue for everyone showing a bike. Several members volunteered to make and bring dips and desserts. Mike also
hoped to squeeze in an early morning ride for show participants sometime before Saturday.
Many out of town guests with vintage bikes are expected for the show. Show displays and motorcycle placement were discussed. Parking meters displays will be done by Linda and Greg Bright. Barry Landen
will be present with his BSA and will film the show. Mike Thomson will pick up parking lot barricades. Vehicle and trailer parking, along with show unloading/ loading traffic flow, were addressed.
The Sentinel Record's On the Go magazine interviewed Mike Thomson. Many thanks to Beth Bright.
New business for next month's meeting was brought forward for consideration. Meeting adjourned to Fat Jack's.
Submitted by Elizabeth Plunkett
Birthdays:
Mike Matula, John Quirk, Linda Parker
Things my motorcycle has taught me:
Don't lead the Pack unless you know where you are going.
Ridding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.
Winter is nature’s way of telling you to polish your motorcycles.
Work Shop Tools Explained:
British Standard Whitworth (BSW) wrench sizes 7/16 BS = 3/8 Whitworth, Go figure. Leave it the British.
These British tools were invented to confuse everyone. Don't even use these tools on anything but British bikes. They don't even make a good hammer.
Events:
Sept. 29 Diamond Chapter Club meeting at Perkin's on Central. 1:30 to eat, Meeting around 2:00
Sept. 27-28 Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Hot Springs airport.
Oct. 3-6 NTNOA Lake o the Pines, Jefferson Texas http://www.ntnoa.org/ for info.
Take a bike to show on Saturday. Jefferson TX is only 160 miles away you can make it.
The price is more than reasonable for three days camping and fun, good riding also.
Highly Recommended.
Oct. 10-13 Barber's Vintage Festival, Birmingham, Al. http://www.barbersmotorsports.com/ Highly Recommended. Larry Edwards will be racing mx and enduro. Mike Thomson, Perry Holler, James Sandage, Russell
& Elizabeth Plunkett are also going.
Closing remarks:
Thanks again to all who displayed your motorcycles in the show making the 6th annual show the best ever. The Antique Motorcycles in the Park has come a long way in six years.
Winter is coming fast, good time to work on your bikes.
Ride Em, Don't hide Em,
Michael Thomson
President, Diamond Chapter of Arkansas
Antique Motorcycle Club of America
