I had just finished the restoration of a 1972 Rickman-Montesa, and naturally sent pictures to a few friends. “Wow—that’s nice! Are you gonna ride that?” My friend hit upon The Big Issue in the vintage motorcycle hobby/community: “Ride ’em or hide ’em”. There are some that feel strongly that vintage bikes should be ridden, to […]
Part 2: Harley-Davidson enters my life Harley Davidson were having problems marketing their entry into motocross during the late 70’s. They produced a 250 two-stroke, designated the MX250. This was Italian, designed by Aermacchi. The project started well, winning the 1975 Baja 500, and having the most powerful engine (barring the Can Am 250) of […]
Preparations started months—years—before, of course. There were discussions with local government and corporations, evening phone calls, maps and diagrams, disagreements, more phone calls. Retired club members worked out the plan with busy younger members—who later enlisted even younger volunteers to help with the grunt work, as well. Thousands of theoretical little two-dimensional squares on paper […]
An examination of the advent of motorized transportation in and around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the early 1900s Introduction For most of us, owning and operating an automobile is a requisite and routine aspect of living in modern America. We depend on our cars for all but very local and very distant transportation; our ability to […]
Chapter 2.3 Part 1 SMALL MAICOS: THE 125s Although known primarily in the United States as a producer of large, powerful, off-road motorcycles, Maico was certainly no stranger to smaller bikes and road motorcycles. As we have seen, the company began by manufacturing small motorcycles, 200cc-and-under, which were initially used as personal transportation in […]
A-plus Truck and Fleet is a business specializing in large truck maintenance, along with automotive work, in Lewisberry Pennsylvania. Owner Mike Schantz is a dirt rider from his youth, who can’t wait to push the last truck of the day out of the garage and start working on what he really loves. It’s at that […]
As we’ve mentioned before within these sacred halls of our literary web forum, it is truly a privilege to be located here in the great northeastern part of the USA – especially if you are an active vintage bike aficionado. The amount of swap meets, events, and in general motor shows gives us seasoned motor-heads […]
THE SHOP OWNER: GIG HAMILTON Pt. 2 Our second article in the examination of the unique business model of retail sales, as the “motorcycle boom” of the late sixties and early seventies reached the United States. This was a time when hardware stores, used car dealerships, individual racers – and, nearly anyone with a few […]
One of our first articles. We wanted to repost for various reasons, but most importantly to celebrate 3 years of viewership! Saturday. The day of Recovery, if not The day of Rest. The one day of the week when it’s OK not to work; to not even consider work, and not obsess upon the waiting […]
Vintage Motor Company is pleased to present a three-part series on why Maico riders modified their bikes–and why owners of motor vehicles are still motivated by the same desires The pick-up truck bounced into an open dirt patch on the Pennsylvania hillside. It came to rest abruptly; a drawn-out scratch of the emergency brake finalized […]