Eustis Meet 27-29 February

Peter Reeves and Geoff Skilton were the UK representatives, and did not see other Europeans at this Florida show. Some unseasonal weather again hit attendances, this time near freezing temperatures after rain and cold in the two preceding years. Geoff had bought a 1913 Harley twin engine and some cycle parts at Davenport last year, and this should be the oldest Harley twin in Europe when finished. However, the engine was missing one cylinder and much searching over the intervening months had not turned up another. At Eustis was a rusty 1913 twin basket case, and three days of bargaining would not separate the needed cylinder. You know the end of the story of course - Geoff now has two ’13s to restore. Both our European Chapter attendees participated as judges at this show, then went on for Daytona Bike Week.

Oley Meet 23-25 April by Steve Slocombe

Peter and Tina Reeves, Geoff Skilton and myself went from the UK, and saw seven or eight of our Dutch friends at the show. They were taking advantage of the strong euro and seemed to have bought a similar number of bikes between them by the end. We had left a day early to give time to attend the big Rennigers Antique Show in Kutztown on Thursday, and picked up some repro motorcycle tin signs and old photographs. Bright and early on Friday we were at the show, with me being classy and vending from the back of the white Cadillac de Ville the rental car company had given to us, and the others foraging for parts. This year both Friday and Saturday were dry, with rain politely falling in the evenings and late Sunday morning. All the spaces were sold out and most vendors left smiling. This is now a big show, and in a pleasant part of the country which can be reached from Europe without too much expense.

AMCA President Pete Gagan gave an amusing talk at the Saturday evening banquet, describing his Pioneer Run on the Dreadnought. I had not realised it was built by Harold ‘Oily’ Karslake, an early bike designer and racer. The theme of the meet was Triumph bikes, and you may remember the charming photo of a young lady on a 1950s bike used to advertise the meet in the AMCA magazine. It was a pleasure for me to see another lady repeatedly driving an old Triumph round the show to advertise the bike for sale. On the other hand, my spirits were lowered by seeing a 1970s Norton Commando, that I lusted after at the time, being driven round with Pennsylvania ‘Antique’ plates - how the years fly by.

The Oley Diner again provided breakfast, with the Oley Fire House and the Yellow House Hotel again recommended in the evening. I was struggling to find 1930s Harley parts to buy, but Geoff found a great early acetylene lighting generator carrying a 1909 patent date. Pete stocked up on UL and WLA cylinders, so packing for the return journey again involved weighing our suitcases in the motel parking lot on a cheap set of bathroom scales.

On judging, a committee meeting was held where it was decided judges may decline to examine bikes where they believe engine numbers have been altered. On Sunday morning Pete and I were appointed ‘Senior Judges’ with the hats to prove it, and then helped in judging about 100 bikes outside.