The Biggest Little Swap Meet This Side of the Rockies!  Dixon, California 2009

June 19 and 20, 2009 were this year’s dates for the AMCA Fort Sutter Chapter’s National Motorcycle Swap Meet and Show held in Dixon California at the Dixon Fairgrounds just off Interstate 80 about 25 miles west of Sacramento. This year the theme of the Show was “Honoring the Unrestored, Rideable Survivors”.  This Show and Swap attracted a lot of original motorcycles of all makes and models, from the early Harley-Davidson Singles, Excelsiors, Hendersons, Readings, Thors, Indians and many other motorcycles from our proud American past.  These survivors of the good times and bad, use and abuse, were proudly polished, primped, displayed and ridden at the Dixon Swap Meet.  To be a vendor at this and any other AMCA event you must be a AMCA member and as a vendor you must follow one of the cardinal rules for AMCA events and that is “only antique motorcycles and parts 35 years and older” are to be displayed for sale. This is a nice break from the same old t shirt and aftermarket parts vendors.

 

 The gates open for the pre registered vendors at 6:00 pm on Thursday and if you are a vendor you really want to make it there when the gates open because not too long after that the Vendor and Volunteer Appreciation BBQ starts. I can’t tell you if that is the actual name of the BBQ but that is who is invited to this feast of Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, fresh fruit and vegetables direct from local farms and gardens, plenty of soft drinks and for desert, cookies.  The food and cooking is provided by and the members of the Fort Sutter Chapter and it are a great chance to sit down and break bread with many old and new friends.  This simple BBQ really sets the mood for this swap meet because it really is a lot more than just a swap meet and a chance to show off your motorcycle, it is a gathering of a large group of people all passionate about one thing, old motorcycles.  At the end of the day it really is all about the motorcycles, how they make you feel, what they have done to add to your life and the people you have shared this obsession.  I always think about the mountain men from the 18^th century who wandered far and wide in search of and collecting pelts and furs all over the high country.  They would not see each other for over a year at a time but they would always travel long distances to the Mountain Rendezvous to do some trading, tell some lies and see their best friends again.  The Dixon event has that laid back feel with no one getting up tight and in a hurry which is easy to do there because the event is held on a beautiful expanse of grass with lots of shade trees, indoor plumbing and showers.

 

This year the temperatures were in the low 90’s, with nice cool breezes and blue skies which brought out more vendors than ever.  There was a great selection of parts for just about any motorcycle imaginable but there seemed to be less complete motorcycles for sale than last year.  But on the other hand the number of the entries in the Motorcycle Show held on the South Lawn was almost double from previous years and participants in the Official AMCA Points Judging numbered over 150 for 2009.  Because this is a National Meet there is always a lot of interest in the points judging because if you are the proud owner of an antique motorcycle and you need to accumulate the necessary National points to progress from a Junior Awards to Senior Awards all the while accumulating no less than 85 points out of 100 at each showing.  This is the proverbial brass ring for AMCA members who own restored and original motorcycles who, after achieving Senior Level status can compete for the prestigious Winner’s Circle status.  This Winner’s Circle status stays with the motorcycle for life as long as it is owned by the same person.  If you buy a Winners Circle motorcycle from someone then you will need to start all over and move through the process of advancement from Junior to Senior levels before you can earn a Winner’s Circle award.

 

Besides a great place to camp, to buy and sell  antique motorcycle parts, see hundreds of restored and original antique motorcycles the were several technical seminars scheduled for Friday and Saturday, seminars for members perspective judges and members who are interested on exactly how the motorcycles are judged.  On Friday night there is a catered banquet open to all AMCA members for a reasonable price and a good old fashioned Field Meet or in today’s vernacular Biker Games.  This is a great meet that is traditionally held the 3^rd week end of June and put on solely by the Fort Sutter Chapter Members of the AMCA, For this year’s show results or more information about next years event check out their web site at http://www.amcafortsutter.org/index.html and for more information on the AMCA go to www.antiquemotorcycle.org .

 

Ride them

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