Don't miss this exciting combination of road race and motocross styles showcasing world-class riding at VMS!
NEW THIS YEAR - Vintage Rider Night on Thursday
Take a step back in time... whether you yourself are vintage 1954 and earlier, or a fan of retro bikes!
There will be vintage bikes on display, promotions and special prizes to be won. We will be featuring the bikes and retro lifestyle in our feature area, where ratbikes, cafe racers and other oldies but goodies will battle on a flattrack-style course for the inaugural presentation of the coveted Cafe Racers Cup. But that's not all... the Vicious Cycles, a hugely popular, local motorcycle rock band, will add live music to the mix. The band members will play AND compete on their own bikes for the Cup!
Introducing the Host of Vintage Rider Night - Tim Stover
Tim Stover is the Manager of Shows and Members Service at the MMIC, and oversees their seven Manufacturers Showcases.
Tim's motorcycle interests are what attracts him to the Vintage Riders night. His first riding experiences were on revived Triumphs of 60's and 70's vintage, then restoring bikes took up more of his time. Tim still has an eye for iconic motorcycles, and has recently looked to the 80's to bring back to life an example from the then budding sportbike stable, the venerable Yamaha FJ1100. But he hasn't left the 70's behind. He's currently restoring a Triumph T-25 scrambler, in its road configuration.
Riding the older bikes also fits into Tim's world. He runs a '75 Honda CB500T on the Vintage Road Racing Association circuit.
Vintage Night Grand Prize - Won By Simone Tranquilli!
Our Grand Prize on Vintage Night was a pair of fabulous Wesco boots and Best Western Travel Cards, for comfort on the road and at the end of the ride. Simone entered at the Wesco booth, #615, and was the lucky winner. Congratulations, Simone!
Vintage Night Prizes
| Click Here to see the Vintage Rider Night Prizes! | You won't believe all the cool stuff you could win! |
Visit the Miller Lounge - Re-Aquaint Yourself With A Genuine Classic
Stop by the Miller Lounge between 5:00pm and 8:30pm for a free sample of Miller* - kick back and meet the Racing Stars of Yesteryear from 7:00m to 7:30pm. These guys are the originals; hear all about their experiences in the relaxing atmosphere of the Miller Lounge.
*Must be 19 years or older to qualify.
Meet 1977 World Champion Steve Baker!
Steve Baker started his racing career at Westwood in 1970, riding for Trev Deeley Yamaha. He won Canadian Championships in 250, 500 ,750 in 1974, 1975 and 1976, after which he went on to race in Europe, and in 1977 won the 750 World Championship and placed 2nd to Barry Sheene in the 500 Championship. In 1979 he retired from racing due to injuries and bought a motorcycle dealership which he ran for 22 years. He now rides for the Yamaha Classics Racing Team and has made numerous trips to Europe with the team, riding a factory OW-31, which he says is exactly like the one he raced in 1977! Meet this racing legend at Vintage Night and hear about his impressive racing career!
Meet Frankie Juhan, former Westwood racer!
Frankie Juhan raced at Westwood back in the day, and is still in the motorcycle business, going on 45 years as a Honda dealer. His old tuner Duncan rejoined him 8 years ago and he says "life is good".
He still rides, mostly in the dirt at his cabin in the interior. His current passions include competing in barefoot waterskiing as well as snow skiing and wind surfing. He has a good collection of old Hondas on display at his shop, the Honda Centre in Burnaby, BC.
Say Hello to Tom Scott, "2010 Vintage Rider"
“I found when I started to think about the so called retiring years coming up I had to decide what I did want to do in my “mellow years”. When my wife and I started talking about it, I found I was excited to make my ‘bucket list’. First, I got an opportunity to go sky diving (tandem) before I retired. Then my wife grandchildren and family picked me up in a limo on my last day of work. A trip to Aruba was the next exciting item on my list. After our trip we moved to our present location in Cloverdale. Next on the agenda was a discussion with the wife about learning to ride a motorcycle! I found an instructor and program that I was comfortable with and I think he was ok with me. It seems as you get older it takes some of us (me for example) a little longer to pick things up! Bob my instructor had great patience with me. I kept asking him how he kept me going and he always said “”you are learning something every time out”. I made it through thanks to my stubbornness and his persistent training and have found out I wish I had done this years ago. I LOVE TO RIDE! It took some rides to find out that everywhere you stop while on a bike, there is always someone that will come over and ask how you are enjoying your motorcycle. I would not have wanted to ever miss this – it is such a pleasure! I have had some beautiful rides on some awesome roads through BC!
Meet Tom and hear more of his story at the Miller Lounge.
Meet Ron Kirkham, Vintage Rider
He rode in Europe for 2 years before a serious crash at the Belgian GP of Spa/Francorchamp ended his International career. In the 80s he started Vintage racing on a restored Yamaha TR3 and did that with some success until the closure of Westwood. At present he has a collection of vintage Yamaha racers dating back to the mid 60s, most of which he have restored.
Vintage Rider Night $5-Off Admission Coupon
Vintage Rider Night Feature & Event Schedule
| Click Here for the Vintage Rider Night Feature & Event Schedule | Your Vintage Rider Night schedule - don't miss out on the fun! |
Have Your Picture Taken With An Amsoil Girl!
Stop by the Trev Deeley booth and have your picture taken on a Harley with one of the lovely Amsoil Girls!
By donation; proceeds go to the Westcoast Motorcycle Ride For Life, fighting prostate cancer.
Barnes Harley-Davidson Fashion Show
Barnes Harley-Davidson will show you how to update your vintage look! They'll show you the newest styles in clothing, boots, and everything you'll need to bring back the cool to your riding style. Don't miss the fun and fashion as we bring back rider passion!
Open Road Training
Meet Helmet and Safety Gear Expert Ryan Chodachek!
Ryan started riding and racing at 8 years old. He has a passion for the sport and has spent the last 13 years working in service, parts and accessories.
Presently Ryan is the Motorsports Parts and Service Manager at Jim Pattison Suzuki. Ryan invites you to stop by booth # 230 and discuss proper fit in helmet and safety gear to ensure your safety gear is comfortable and offers you maximum protection.
A Deluxe Night for Two at the South Thompson Inn - Won by Lisa Halowaty and Debra Ketchell
Congratulations, you've each won a luxurious night for two in a king riverview suite on the shores of the South Thompson River! The South Thompson Inn & Conference Centre is waiting to welcome you!
Debra won on Vintage Rider Night , and Lisa won on She Rides Nite; congratulations again!
Meet Bob Work, Racing Tuner
Bo was with Trev Deeley on the Yamaha team as service manager, moved into the racing department and he and Yvon du Hamel of Montreal became one of the most successful race teams in Canada. Bo and Yvon won Daytona, finished second once, and set the track record of 242.8 kph, which still stands on the oval. In 1972, Bo offered a young dirt biker from Bellingham a ride on a rebuilt TD2 road racer even though the kid had never road raced before. However, Bo knew what he was doing. Steve Baker and Bo went on to be the first North Americans to win the World Formula 750 Championship in 1977, and that was just the start.
Find out more about Bo's fascinating career in motorcycles at the Miller Lounge Meet The Riders Of Yesteryear.
Winner of a Level-1 Advanced Motorcycle Rider Course - Art Depner!
Congratulations, Art, on winning a Level-1 Advanced Course from Road Craft Motorcycle Academy! You'll enjoy the opportunity to enhance your riding skills with this advanced skills course.
Meet Jim Greenwood, aka pinstriping genius "James"
Bob Work got Jim involved in motorcycles; in 1958, he bought his first bike, a 1957 Triumph 650cc, which he fixed up to put in shows. Bob and Jim also had a Norton which Bob drag raced throughout the North West with much success. Jim worked for Trev Deeley, looking after advertising and racing. During the late 1960s, Jim was involved in promoting motorcycle racing and held professional indoor flat track racing every other Saturday night during the winter at Cloverdale Speedway.
Find out more about Jim at the Miller Lounge Meet The Riders Of Yesteryear.
Come and meet Murray Neibel, Vintage Rider
Murray then built, from bits and pieces, a 350 Manx Norton that he successfully campaigned from 1964 through 1967 and then later in the Vintage classes throughout the Pacific Northwest. His accomplishments racing his 350 Manx were many and he was frequently first overall.
Early in 1966, Murray met with Ray Deeley of Radco Sales, Distributor of Suzuki Motorcycles and became the first Canadian to be sponsored, successfully racing the Suzuki 250cc T20.
Meet Murray and find out more about this motorcycle pioneer at the Miller Lounge Meet The Riders Of Yesteryear.
The Original - The Pennington Bike
Edward Pennington built the first gasoline powered motorcycle to appear in the USA. A native of Racine, Wisconsin, he assembled it at the Kane Furniture Works in Racine, and demonstrated it on Grand Avenue in Milwaukee early in 1895. During the demonstration, two 14 year old boys named Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson were witnesses to the run, and apparently it inspired them. Pennington called his invention a “motorcycle” and his proposed company The Motorcycle Company. He was the first person in history to use the term. The bike had the first spark ignition ever used, a Pennington invention, and featured balloon tires, another invention which would not come into common use for three more decades. The bike also has a rudimentary form of fuel injection, another first.
Mr. Pennington was a promoter, and a bit of a scam artist as well as an inventor; he filed almost as many patents as Thomas Edison, but once he showed that the invention worked, he would go on to something else, without developing it further. He demonstrated the bike in England at the Coventry Cycle Track, and attracted large investments in a manufacturing concern named “Motormills”. The Pennington Motorcycle was the first gasoline powered motorcycle in England, pre-dating the British Holden by about six months. Only a few were made, and no original Pennington motorcycles survive. This one has been reconstructed from Pennington’s drawings, unearthed in England, so this is the English version. It is not, nor ever could be, a practical vehicle, but it does run. It displaces 1000ccs and weighs 140 lbs. It has direct drive, and a wide open throttle. T W Blumfield, (the test rider) was a brave man.
Mr. Pennington produced the first gasoline motorcycle in both the USA and England, and deserves our recognition as a true Pioneer.
