Hundreds attend AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Fall Bike Night
Bike show, music, museum keep crowd entertained
By Michael Marino
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Hundreds of motorcycling enthusiasts, some of them in town for the 2019 AIMExpo presented by Nationwide, gathered at the American Motorcyclist Association campus Friday night for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Fall Bike Night.
All proceeds from the event go to support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which preserves the legacy of motorcycling in America.
The event kicked off at 5 p.m. and featured free access to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, live music on the Old Bike Barn stage, the Old Bike Barn Ride-In Bike Show, live music, food and a trials riding demonstration by RYP USA Sherco team pro trials rider Sam Fastle.
Vendors on hand for the event included TourismOhio, Visit Fairfield County, KTM Wheelsports, AIMExpo, the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau and ABATE of Ohio Inc. Region 9.
Members of the Women Ride Now organization attended the event, and the wooden baton that’s being carried around the world for the Women Riders World Relay was passed from one rider to the next.
Dan Belvens of Newark, Ohio, was among those attending the event. He rode his 1982 Honda Gold Wing GL1100 and said it was his first time attending an AMA Bike Night. He, his wife and son planned to tour the museum for the first time.
Blevens said he bought his Gold Wing this year and uses it to commute to his job in Columbus, Ohio, almost every day.
“I bought it for $500 as a parts bike,” he said. “The previous owner told me the engine had seized up. I got it home, got it to turn over, cleaned the carbs and have been riding it ever since.”
Another attendee at her first Hall of Fame Bike Night was Nicole Coleman. She rode a 1975 Honda CB360T that she and her boyfriend, Dylan Paul, bought at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in 2018. Paul rode on a Harley-Davidson, and was attending his second bike night event.
The following riders received awards in the bike show:
- Modern Class Winner: Bryan Mauger, Columbus, Ohio, Kawasaki ZX-11
- Custom Class: Ed Parker, Baltimore, Ohio, Arlen Ness Custom (No. 51 of 51., Harley-Davidson 1200 engine)
- Classic Class: Ed Parker, Baltimore, Ohio, 1972 Kawasaki H1 500
- Best in Show: David Michalik, Pataskala, Ohio, 2007 Ducati Sport Classic.
