LEXINGTON, Ohio — Ed Bartram’s official title is treasurer of the Mansfield Motorcycle Club, but the Little Washington man also serves as the unofficial historian of the local organization.
And what a history it is.
The club was founded in late-1930s as the Richland Ramblers. It has hosted motorcycling royalty, including American Motorcyclist Association hall of famers John Penton, Ronnie Rall and Dick Burleson, at its 35 acre complex on Cookton Grange Road.
“Over the years we’ve had a lot of national champions race at our club,” said Bartram, who has been a member for more than 40 years.
The 67-year-old Bartram and his fellow two-wheel enthusiasts had ringside seats for the motocross races Saturday at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Several Mansfield MC Club members are racing this weekend.
“We’ve got about 45 members,” club president John Eppley said. “We’ve got some older guys like Ed and some guys in their 40s and 50s. Then we have a group of guys in their 20s and 30s and they bring their kids out to the club. We’re multi-generational.”
The Mansfield Club’s 2015 schedule includes seven dirt events and its annual poker run. It’s December event is a benefit for Toy Time.
“We’re not a huge place, but we draw people from a fair distance away,” said the 57-year-old Eppley, who has been affiliated with the Mansfield Motorcycle Club for the past decade. “Any place you go, you can ask, ‘Has anyone ever raced at the Mansfield Motorcycle Club?’ and the answer is always, ‘Oh yeah.’ It seems like a million people have raced there.”
For Bartrum, motorcycle racing is a lifelong love affair.
“When I lived in West Virginia, my dad’s best friend had an old Harley. I was about three years old and he took me for a ride and I was hooked then,” Bartram said. “In the spring of 1964 I was 16. I was in shop class at Madison and there were two or three guys with motorcycles and I just had to have one.
“I’ll be 68 in three weeks and I’m still out here trying to race.”
