In a time of great uncertainty and unrest it was incredible to see the city of Brooklyn come together and lock arms in a moment of celebratory sister and brotherhood uniting the surrounding neighborhoods and city streets for some good old fashioned two wheeled fun. Of course I'm referring to the Indian Larry Block Party which this year was given the special name "small business shutdown protest." Bobby Seeger Jr and the hardworking crew behind Genuine Motorworks/Indian Larry really puts their own heart and soul into the festivities in the true spirit that Larry would have certainly wanted in these troubling times.
With the rise in event cancellations this year the midwest has had a lot of energy built up this summer waiting for some fun and safe vintage bike gatherings. So the folks at Horsepower Inc and Northbuilt Customs came together on Gasoline Alley in Indianapolis just south of the Indy 500 track to host a bike night that was welcome to a broad range of moto enthusiasts from vintage to modern. With events like the Moto GP canceling its run at the speedway and the Indy 500 being closed to any in person spectators, as well as the cancellation of the famed "Steer Inn" bike night, the large number of vintage, custom and high performance riders in the city were feeling an all time low in moral.
For the past 5 years, a group of fun loving custom chopper builders, antique bike restorers and all around good natured motorcycle hooligans have gathered in the small town of Franklin, Iowa for the "Hell on Wheels" chopper show and group ride. Toting slogans like "No sponsors, No masters" and "No trophies, No awards, Just Hell on Wheels" they aimed to put on a very grassroots event that was focused on the camaraderie of old bike riders and custom builders without the hassle for trying to outdo one another with trophies and such. The event also began with organizer Nathan Kirchner putting on something in the spirit that his father "Teddy Bear" Kirchner, who had since passed, would have been proud to be a part of, as he had been a big presence in the local bike scene for years. We heard that their 5th anniversary show was potentially going to be their last, so we saddled up with some folks from Indianapolis and hit the highways to jam out to the nearby town of Keokuk, Iowa for some amazing camping and great times with the whole Iowa crew.
The Vintage 1000 now in its 6th year is a pre 1981 "vintage only" motorcycle ride that spans a course of 1000 miles of incredibly diverse terrain that mixes some the most extreme trail riding and gorgeous beautifully paved roads that the Appalachian mountains can offer. Adam and Jamie Sheard of the moto repair shop "Speed Deluxe" out of Chattanooga, TN wanted to bring something exclusive to people who eat, sleep and breathe vintage motorcycles of all brands. Something that could push them out of their comfort zones and test their vintage steeds and willful spirits to a crash course of high and low speed endurance riding all while using only traditional paper maps and handlebar mounted roll charts only.
Just south of Chillicothe, Ohio sits a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and forests that are host to a few incredible hideaways that are like something out of a dirtbike lovers dreams. Imagine an old camp hideaway spot that has a full hare scrambles course laid out along with dirtbike jumps and multiple swimming spots to cool off in after ripping through the woods. This place does exist and it is called Camp Waterlow.
