Coatesville Vintage Grand Prix 2017

The 2nd Annual Coatesville Vintage Grand Prix 

Photos by Ed Buffman

The Auburn Speedster 

A Vincent Comet chases the Vincent Black Lightning

Smoke & Throttle's Matt Smith on BSA Goldstar

Quaker City Motor Works Kenric Strohm on the Triumph 500

Clayton Wheaton on the MV Agusta 350

Lunch-time Touring group star, the Dual Ghia

Cooper Sports racer

Porsche 911's coming back on to the front straight

Dave George in the Indy Bear Suspension Special

                                       
                                                                   

Bug Eye Sprite ready to go

Formula Ford

Highly-modified Mini Cooper

Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance 2017

21st Annual Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance

The 2017 Radnor Hunt Concours truly featured something for everyone. Whether you're a fan of cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedal cars, tractors or horses and carriages, you'd have found it here. It was an incredible collection of vehicles and people who gathered to share their mutual interest while raising money for a good cause. Radnor Hunt proceeds are donated to nearby Thorncroft Equestrian Therapy, which helps individuals with disabilities and recovering from accidents through their program.

This year Radnor Hunt welcomed special guest Gavin Trippe, a 2005 inductee into the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame. Trippe received that recognition for his contribution to the sport for his exceptional work as a journalist, publisher, promoter and creator of Super Moto.

Nearly 100 Auburn, Cord and Duesenbergs plus Abarth and the cars of Roger Penske covered the showfield this year. Motorcycle classes included Century Cycles (1896-1917), Inter-War Elegance (1918-1940) and Post-War European Sporting (1946-1990). Additionally, this year, RHC displayed a collection of Victorian Era Bicycles, Antique Pedal Cars and Vintage Tractors.

Best of Show, the 1971 Munch 1200TTS

Photo by Raymond Schwab

Gavin Trippe awards Bob Henig the Spirit of Radnor Hunt trophy

photo by DL

Ferrari Daytona Coupe

photo by DL

Steve Geiger takes home the Preservation Award for the 1896 Spiral, 

the oldest completely American made motorcycle

photo by DL

AMA Flat Track Champion Bryan Smith congratulates Christopher Aker on the 1921 Victoria K Photo by DL

The former Mille Miglia racer is reflected in the wheel cover of another Abarth Fiat

Photo by DL

     Two dozen antique Pedal Cars don't take up too much space

   photo by DL

Farhan Terhani's BSA was visual delight and a sound runner

photo by Raymond Schwab

Bellisimo ! 

photo by Raymond Schwab

The American Bombshells entertained the crowds with songs and style !

photo by Raymond Schwab

The stunning Indian Four was resplendent in its Art Deco period paint scheme. The Inter-War Elegance Class had a variety of high quality, unusual machines making the judges work hard to choose a winner. 

photo by Raymond Schwab

Whats better than a restored rare 1926 BMW? How about a matching, unrestored version.

photo by Raymond Schwab

Classic Gulf Blue and Orange with Firestone race rubber

photo by Raymond Schwab

Ducati TT1 as raced by the late Jimmy Adamo

photo by Raymond Schwab

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy 

photo by Raymond Schwab

F-E-R-R-A-R-I

photo by Raymond Schwab

The rare MV Agusta 600cc four cylinder roadster

photo by Raymond Schwab

            2017 Radnor Hunt Concours Winners

Best of Show: 1971 Munch 4 1200 TTS, Presented by Klaus Heunecke

Historical Preservation: 1896 Spiral, Presented by Steve Geiger

Peoples Choice: 1971 Munch 4 1200 TTS, Presented by Klaus Heunecke

Spirit of Radnor: Two 1929 BMW R57’s, Presented by Bob Henig

Century Award: 1896 Spiral, Presented by Steve Geiger

Inter-War Elegance - 500cc and under: 1921 Victoria KR1, Presented by Christopher Aker

Inter-War Elegance - 500cc and over: 1929 BMW R57, Presented by Bob Henig

Post-War Sporting - 500cc and under: 1952 Ariel VHA, Presented by Kerry Grubb

Post-War Sporting - 500cc and over: 1971 Munch 4 1200 TTS, Presented by Klaus Heunecke

                  See you next time ! 

Movie Night at the Simeone Museum with Peter Starr

Take it to the Limit Movie Night at the Simeone Museum with Peter Starr

Featuring the Radnor Hunt Concours exhibit of 100 Years of Motorcycles

Saturday, August 19, 2017

    

     

Opening night at the Simeone Museum motorcycle exhibit kicked off with Special Guest Peter Starr making an appearance. Starr will be inducted into the American Motorcyclist Hall of Fame this September 22, 2017 and made a stop in Philadelphia to show his classic film, Take it to the Limit. The presentation was sponsored by the Boyertown, PA dealer, Martin Moto. Attendees were enthralled by the tales told by ex-motorcycle racer Peter about his story of coming to America at age 22 and becoming a part of the British Invasion as a successful radio DJ. He enjoyed a variety of job opportunities that eventually allowed to become a filmmaker, creating no less than 40 films over his lengthy career.

A packed house watched the film with rapt attention, enjoying a chance to see it on the big screen. Afterwards, appreciative audience members got autographs and cleaned out his inventory of DVD’s and his wonderful, behind the scenes book, Taking to the Limit.

Watch the Take it to the Limit film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhm8Ax5WX8s

John Lawless, chairman of the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance has curated the annual exhibit at the Simeone Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for nearly a decade. Previous shows have included motorcycles from nearly every point of the globe and this year was no exception. The carefully chosen machines span the history of motorcycling in three distinct chapters; the Century Cycles tell the story of emerging technology from 1885 -1917.  The Roper Steam Cycle replica, the unique Spiral and the King Dick are top choices.

A group of fine motorcycles both sporty and sleek represent the Inter-War Elegance period of 1918-1940 that includes two pair of rare, identical BMW models presented both in original, unrestored condition as well as restored models for direct comparison. The Simeone Museum’s founder, Dr. Fred Simeone is an ardent proponent of preservation over restoration unless absolutely is required due to necessity. A stunning, restored 1939 Velocette KTT Mk. VII with Isle of Man race history is another highlight from this period.

In the Post-War European Sport Class, a fine trio of British-built Vincent motorcycles are paired with sophisticated German and exotic Italian motorcycles that spans from the period of 1946-1988.  Three top flight competition bikes of that ear include the ex-Jimmy Adamo Ducati TT1 and NCR Cagiva TT2 as well as the mighty Yamaha TZ750 which figured prominently in the Peter Starr film.

It’s an impressive, succinct collection that has many other layers and underlying themes when the motorcycles are studied and considered by the viewer. The Simeone Museum has won the International Museum of the Year and its mission is to educate and demonstrate.  Its collection of world class sports racing cars in truly mind-blowing for the car lover. The motorcycles presented compliment the autos and remind us that gear-heads have always loved the rare and desirable machines whether no matter how many wheels they have.

All photos by Dawn Deppi

#####

Racing an MV Agusta and Manx Norton at Barber Motorsports Park

October is the perfect time of year for the  AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle races at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Brilliant blue skies and warm weather provided a welcome alternative to the hurricane that was battering the coastal states this year.   We were there to race our bikes with friends for the final race event of the year. Motorcycles of all types are at what to expect at what has now become the largest motorcycle sporting event in the USA.  The combination of the impossibly well-done Barber Museum (the largest motorcycle museum in the world), classic road racing, swap meets and vendor exhibits is truly overwhelming. You must experience it to believe it. 

After being laid up for a decade, my MV Agusta 350cc racer was again ready for action. The heavily subscribed 350 Grand Prix class was chock-full of competition and the MV was right in the mix. It may never win another race with me in the saddle, but every lap is an adventure in Italian race mythology, my head swimming with images of Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, Phil Read, John Hartle and other great riders of the classic era in action. But above all, it's that sound, a glorious cacophony of unmuffled aggression bellowing from those hand rolled exhaust pipes. Bellissimo ! 

Photo by Etech 2016 @ Barber

 Photo by Etech Photo 2016

Photo by Revit on Instagram

Fond memories of meeting the great Giacomo Agostini aka 'Ago' and Eraldo Ferracci with the MV at Mid Ohio AHRMA Vintages races in 2006

Cook Neilson on the MV at Barber 2016

As if racing a little gem like the MV 350 wasn't enough for one race weekend, my trusty 1961 Manx Norton 30M (500cc) was running well, too. Blessed with good company and sunny skies, not to mention my new Arai helmet, it was pure racing bliss. 

Photo by Razzo 

The ex-John McLaughlin / Tony Murphy Manx has always remained in America since it was new in 1961. McLaughlin sold it used to up and coming talent Murphy who raced it to good advantage in AFM roadracing on the West Coast in the early to mid-1960's. I've now owned the bike for a decade and have found it to be the ideal balance of performance and handling for Classic 60's class racing. It's been regularly fettled by Dick Miles and Maurice Candy rebuilt the engine in 2015. The class it runs in is small as only a handful of original Manx  Norton's are still raced in the USA today. I am most fortunate to have the opportunity to run such a thoroughbred machine and each outing is something to be savored. 

Photo by Dave Back from NJMP July 2016

Photo by Etech 2016 Roebling Road

Photo by Etech 2016 Roebling Road