Vintage Motorcycle Exhibit Will Feature Buell
WARREN, Ohio – The National Packard Museum‘s annual vintage motorcycle exhibition will focus on the Buell brand this year and will feature more than 30 bikes.
The exhibit, now in its 22nd year, will open Jan. 8 and run through May 21. It will be accompanied by an exhibition of automotive and motorcycle art by Guy Shively of Austintown.
The motorcycles on display will represent six categories: veteran, sport, on/off road, racing, military, and scooters and service bikes. Vintage accessories, gear and riding apparel will be exhibited alongside the motorcycles.
“We are excited to display such a broad variety of motorcycles,” said Mary Ann Porinchak, executive director of the museum. “Presenting six different categories enables us to display something special or unusual for everyone to appreciate, from long-time collectors and riders to casual admirers of motorcycles.”
Veteran bikes are motorcycles built before 1915. In the United States alone, over 300 different manufacturers experimented with a myriad of designs during that era. Most of these early bikes were bump start, single speed, no clutch machines with minimal brakes.
This category will include a 1909 Thor V-twin in original condition, a 1910 ½ Yale Single Cylinder, 1913 NSU TT Special, and a 1915 Austro-Omega Model 400cc, which is the oldest surviving Austro-Omega V-twin model.
Sport bikes are high-performance machines, ridden for sport, not for comfort. This category will include a 1955 Harley-Davidson KHK, 1961 Husqvarna 31 Sport, 1968 Bridgestone BS100, 1972 Harley -Davidson Sportster XLH, and Kawasaki H1.
On/off road bikes are street legal dirt bikes. This category will include a 1957 BMW R-50 ISDT replica modified for Enduro use, 1967 Triumph TR6C, and 1971 Yamaha 360cc RT1-B Enduro.
Race bikes include a variety of machines designed for different sports, including motocross, flat track, enduro, hill climber, scrambles, road racing, drag racing and trials. This category will include a 1950 Horex 350 Rennmachine ridden by Friedl Schoen, the 1950 German 350 cc Class Road Race Champion, a 1966 Velocette Thruxton (VMT 217), 1975 Rokon Cobra, a 2001 Honda RC and a 1978 Harley-Davidson MX250.
The featured bike of the exhibit will be a 1987 Buell RR1000, on loan from New Castle Harley Davidson. The RR1000 was Erik Buell’s first entry into the sport bike market. Buell’s innovative design incorporated the engine as a fully stressed member of the frame. Only 50 RR1000 models were produced in 1987-1988.
Military bikes were first used by the Allies and Axis during the First World War. They were mainly used for courier service and communications behind battle lines.
This category will include a 1943 Indian Military 741 and a 1961 Matchless G3 used by the Dutch military.
Scooters became popular after World War II as a means of inexpensive transportation in war ravaged Europe. The Cushman scooter also proved popular in the United States as it was easy to ride and was a good entry level motorcycle.
Service bikes were used as utility vehicles and were popular with auto dealers, service stations, auto repair garages, and police departments from the 1930s through the 1990s. This category will include a 1951 Harley Davidson Servicar, 1958 Cushman Eagle, 1962 Triumph Tina Scooter, and a 1966 Vespa 165.
During the exhibit’s four-month run, the museum will host several motorcycle-themed programs and events, including the Pirate Motorcycle Club’s Movie Night at the Museum at 6 p.m. Feb. 9. The event will include three films featuring vintage racing and Harley’s 1958 models. Admission is $10.
As an added bonus, the museum will present Shively’s art exhibition. The artist’s work can be found in many private collections and museums, including the Butler Museum of American Art permanent collection; Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts in New Castle, Pa.; and the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Neb,
Shively is the proprietor of Guy’s Graphics, specializing in hand painted lettering, pinstriping, airbrush and artwork. He has been decorating vehicles, ranging from motorcycles to semis, since 1975.
His work on vehicles has won awards at prestigious car shows, including Pebble Beach Concours d ’Elegance. It can also be seen in many privately owned car collections and public museums, including the Canton Classic Car Museum, Frick Museum in Pittsburgh, Mercedes-Benz Museum in Germany, and National Packard Museum.
The National Packard Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $10 ($8 for seniors 65 and older; $5 for children under 12; free for children under 7).
Cameras and flash photography are welcome. For group rates or information, call 330 394 1899.
Pictured at top: The National Packard Museum’s annual vintage motorcycle exhibition will focus on the Buell brand this year and will feature more than 30 bikes.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
