Yesterday and Today Met

August 1, 2012: July 26 thru July 29 the First Annual Vintage Motorcycle event took place at McKee’s Sky Ranch in Terra Alta, West Virginia. Also at Sky Ranch that weekend were races, trials, and scenic rides.Some of the best classic, vintage motorcycles were there on display.  Gene Brown of Denver, Colorado brought a 1961 BSA Gold Star Clubman. This motorcycle is original and has exactly 1 (yes, that is ONE) mile on the odometer. The original owner bought it and displayed it in his living room. Mr. Brown was pleased to show it to West Virginia Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver, as well as his 1932 Brough 80.Famed motorcycle racer, Dick Mann and Bob Sholly, a well-known motorcycle racer of the 1960s and 1970s laid out the race course for Tom McKee at McKee’s Sky Ranch. Today Dick Mann specializes in restoring and selling vintage race motorcycles. Bob Sholly now owns Good Old Boy Country Auction in York, PA. He showed Commissioner Carver and Heritage Marketing Coordinator Jane Bostic memorabilia of his days racing with the great Gary Nixon.    Mr. Sholly shared many stories of his days as a racer with visitors and participants. Motorcycle artist John Panek was the owner/tuner of a BSA Gold Star racing motorcycle in the Midwest in the late 1950s- early 1960s. He shared memories of racers, tracks, and machines.Among the vendors were the Christian Motorcycle Riders with a donation-based offering for lunch and a delicious chicken dinner for a mere $10 and a wonderful cheese maker from Maryland Firefly Farm. More on Fairfly Farm coming soon.Across the landing strip from the Vintage encampment was the camp of the participants of the Trials and Racing and Dick Mann. Friday afternoon the racing contingent had begun to arrive. By Saturday morning it was a very crowded area! There were races all afternoon Saturday. At the lower end of the landing strip was a swap meet and a West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program trailer and display.It was a great weekend for both segments of the motorcycling sport. We look forward to the Second Annual being even bigger and better.