I’m honored to share a guest post today from reader David N, who checked out the beginning of Bike Week and had some great thoughts and pictures to share. Enjoy and hopefully you’ll see him at the show!
Although the J Wood Antique and Vintage Bike Auction long since moved to the Barber Festival (October in Birmingham, Alabama), and AHRMA road race now occurs in October (at the Daytona Speedway), the vintage bike scene remains alive and well during Daytona’s Bike week. That is, so long as you come to Daytona early. Most of the vintage events are held the first weekend. I try not to miss it!
The Antique Motorcycle Collector’s Club holds its yearly opening meet in New Smyrna, FL on the first weekend of Bike Week. The location is just off Rt 44 at the horse stables next to the Cabbage Patch. Yes, the Cabbage Patch is where bikini clad women wrestle each other in cole-slaw!
The inaugural AMC event used to be held in Eustis, FL but it was moved to New Smyrna when it became a club national meet. Eustis is a good hour from New Smyrna and some holdouts did not want to move the show. The holdouts remained in Eustis and now offer a competing show, which remains open for the full three days, Friday through Sunday. It’s held at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
There was surprisingly plenty to see in Eustis
The AMCA show in New Smyrna typically closes late Saturday. Friday is the official opening day, but it unofficially opens Thursday. If you are a picker, it is good to arrive early. Most folks go back and forth between the two shows. Some vendors attend both shows.
This electric motorcycle produced by the Auranthetic Corporation in 1974 was seen buzzing around both shows!
I did not expect much at the Eustis Show. This was my first time there, but I was happily surprised. It’s now sponsored by the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, which holds its national meet there. So the turnout was not small and was significantly different than the AMCA show in New Smyrna. Both are “must sees”.
While the show bikes are always beautiful, they are not for sale. I like to dream about bikes I could conceivably own, even if I can’t buy them. The show bikes are off limits, so I spend most of my time in the swaps. I apologize for not photographing show bikes. I was caught up in the picker’s moment! It’s a capitalist’s thing. You might not understand. I’ll do better next year.
There were antique Harleys and Indians at both shows (and in the swap) but much more so in New Smyrna. The Eustis show, though still antique, was decidedly more European and Japanese. My buddy and I scored a pair of Spanish two-stokes.
Spanish bikes in Eustis
Eustis: This little Honda Cub was missing a few pieces but sports a rare factory sport kit. The bike was offered at $1000
A custom ride in Eustis. I think it’s a pint size Ridley Automatic
A very nice 1972 Honda 350 four, offered at $3500 in Eustis.
Not everything was modern in Eustis
The biggest ticket items were in New Smyrna. If you have 50-100K to spend, the pre-teen and early century bikes there beg your attention. I was not in the market to drop 50K.
This 1913 Thor was offered at $40,000
And you thought only BMW made flat twins. Here is a 1917 Indian. I think it’s a Model O, which would give it about 4 horsepower. It was offered at $40,000. Hello Gorgeous!
Jax Teller really did not crash his father’ bike. Can you spare $60,000? I promise you the Teller bike is not hot! (The SOA bike was a 46. This is actually 47).
Some bikes did change hands. The 1974 Harley Sprint found a new owner. The seller was asking 4K. It showed 1800 miles on the odometer and looked the part.
This 1974 HD Sprint electric start model offered at $4000 changed hands. Sale price unknown
This Bultaco Campera was featured on Bike-urious in November. The new owner found it this year at the New Smyrna show.
A 1968 Sweedish Condor offered in New Smyrna, size unknown. These are typically 250cc and seen more often in military trim. Expect this one on the Florida craigslist. The same seller sold his Bultaco Campera.
While there was a gaggle of small Hondas everywhere, this S90 went unsold. It ran and drove. It looked OK. The seller was asking $750, which I thought was cheap. I know they are prized here, but I’ll call it a scooter just to impress my friend Abhi!
Maybe we should rethink this scooter thing!
A trailer full of modern classic “barn finds”
This was just cool!
The piece de resistance of both shows was this superbly restored Rickman Metisse. The bike was so nice; I had to check its data plate. I thought perhaps someone ordered a new frame kit and built a new bike. Yes, you can still get them from Rickman Motorcycles Limited. This bike though was truly authentic, complete through its 1974 data plate, Triumph TR6C competition engine, and Rickman wheels. I favor this rarer white color over the more common red or green.
See you at the show next year!