Second Annual SLO Vintage Motorcycle Weekend

In 2009, my VMOL partner and I ventured to the east coast for the vintage weekend at Barber Motorsports Park. While that event and venue was fabulous, this year we decided to stay local and try something different. Sponsored by the Central Coast Classic Motorcycle Club on October 7th through the 10th, in the historic city of San Luis Obispo was the second annual 'SLO Vintage Weekend'. The rally headquarters was the Marriott-Courtyard, just off the 101 and the service and accommodations were great. Over those four days there was a variety of activities including a vintage display at the weekly Farmers Market, and a scenic ride on Highway 1 followed by a bonfile/dinner at Avila Beach on Friday night. Saturday was the big day which featured a vintage motorcycle show, a large swap meet with many motorcycle accessory vendors, a new motorcycle raffle, (this year they gave away a new 125cc “Buddy” scooter with all proceeds going to charity) and an awards ceremony. There were also motorcycle games, a catered lunch, and featured speakers such as Craig Vetter of Windjammer fairing fame, Marty Dickerson, Grand Marshall AMA Hall of Fame recipient, the World’s Fast Indian presented by the Hensley family and 1998-1999 AMA Hall of Fame recipients Joe Leonard and Eddie Mulder.

To me, and I'm sure most of the other attending, the highlight of the weekend were the numerous vintage bikes and their enthusiastic owners. We saw and photographed some of the finest British, Japanese, European and American vintage motorcycles on the west coast. Many of these with license plates bolted on and ridden in.

An interesting and worthwhile side trip is the nearby Vintage Motorcycle Museum in Solvang, which we visited on Friday. Featuring many rare and historic racing motorcycles from 1900 onward, this small but very well organized museum is a 'must do' for any vintage motorcycle enthusiast visiting California's central coast. See more at: http://www.motosolvang.com/motorcycle.html

In closing, it was a great weekend with superb weather and scenery. For information about next year’s event, go to www.centralcoastclassicmc.com or email them at cccmotorcycleclub@hotmail.com JJ Cerilli