LEXINGTON — Thousands of two-wheeled enthusiasts milled about in the scorching midday sun, searching for hard-to-find bike parts in a sea of vendors at North America’s biggest motorcycle swap meet.
Fans crowded around the fence in the upper paddock at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, cheering for riders on alien-looking, seat-less bikes as they bunny-hopped onto — and over — obstacles (and other riders) at the moto trials extreme exhibition.
The scene at the first day of BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days more closely resembled a state fair or an all-day music festival than the opening day of a race weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
The feature attraction was the massive circular structure set up near the manufacturer’s midway. No circus barker was needed, however, as the sign out in front lured fans inside.
“American Motor Drome Co. proudly presents The Wall of Death.”
If that didn’t keep them in the tent, nothing would.
“Back in the day this would have been a carnival show. That is what we’re trying to represent, a carnival show from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s,” said daredevil “Cyclone” Jake Wheeler, one of the stars of the show.
The gravity-defying Wall of Death has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Cyclists and go-kart pilots power their machines up the 14-foot vertical wooden walls, exerting more than 3g of force to keep them from crashing to the ground.
“It’s definitely scary every single time,” said the 29-year-old Wheeler, a St. Louis native who has been with the group for less than a year. “We don’t practice, so what you see is what you get. Believe it or not, that actually helps with calming the nerves.
“We’re risking our lives every time, but nothing compares with the Wall of Death.”
Hundreds of curious spectators climb the metal staircases and crowd onto the raised viewing areas for hourly shows. At the encouragement of the announcer, fans hold out dollar bills that riders snatch from their fingertips.
“It really is exciting,” said Wheeler, whose background is in motorcycles and BMX. “We travel across the country doing this. We started our season in Florida. From Florida, we moved to Texas, then to Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
“We’re about to go from Ohio to Sturgis, South Dakota. We’re all over the place. It really is from coast-to-coast and I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
There were plenty of other highlights from Day One of BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.
Across the drive-over bridge in AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tent set up in the corporate hospitality area, grand marshals Bill Tuman and Bobby Hill signed autographs and delighted the crowd with stories from their Hall of Fame racing careers. The two, along with the late Ernie Beckman, made up the Indian Wrecking Crew in the early-1950s.
Indian Motorcycle is the marque of the year.
“Indian motorcycles have a special place in history,” Tuman said. “In those days, when people were looking for something to take their mind off the war, Indian racers saw some success, and those who witnessed that remember the brand as something from those glory days of racing.”
Scores of fans filtered through the Hall of Fame tent to listen to Tuman and Hill relive some of the glory days. Both racers were American Motorcyclist Association national champions.
“Bill and I have been friends — not only friends, but like brothers — for all these years,” Hill said. “We really enjoy sharing stories of our Indian motorcycle racing days with the fans.”
Actions resumes at 8 a.m. today. Highlights include Vintage/E1 Moto Armory Motocross Racing at 9:30 a.m. and road racing beginning at 1 p.m. Gates open at 7 a.m.
