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About us
Mike
Check
out Mike's article in
The Advocate of Westminster and Finksburg
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Gary
My name
is Gary Shapiro. I have been riding motorcycles for the
past 35 years. My first bike was a 1970 Honda Trail 70
that my father bought for my brother and me. We rode
that little Honda till the tires wore out. As the years
went on my brother and I got our own bikes during high
school and throughout our college days. Like most
motorcyclist, family and employment took top priority,
so riding wasn't in the cards. It wasn't till my son
turned 11 or 12 that he asked for a mini-bike, just
about the same time I bugged the heck out of my father.
A local shop recommended me to call my partner Mike.
After seeing Mike and his collections of minis and
motorcycles, I instantly got the old bug back in me to
ride again. I also at that time began to get interested
in the old bikes of my youth to buy, sell & trade. What
a great hobby and a great way to meet new friends.
Gary
Shapiro
Check
out
Gary's photo gallery
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John
If
hindsight is 20/20, then I was blind as a bat in my
earlier years. Hi folks, my name is John, and I am an
antiqueaholic (if that is a word). When I was thirteen
years old I was visiting my Uncle Charles, and I loved
going to his house. He always had big boy toys, but my
favorites were his motorcycles. He since has past away,
but some of my fondest thoughts in life were given to me
by him. He was the kind of guy that had to make sure he
showed off his bikes, and he always kept them spotless,
and always had a little project on the side. He always
made sure I got a ride. A lot of his ways rubbed off on
me.
The
reason I made mention of that day of my thirteenth year
is because it changed my life. Now the reason I
mentioned my uncle's projects is he had a 1953 Harley
165 sitting in his garage, it was pretty rough looking.
Hey but this bike had all its parts working, and at the
time fit me like a glove. It was just him and me there
at the time, and I think he saw the gleam in my eye, and
he asked me if I still had he old go-cart my parents had
gotten me Christmas's ago, my answer was yes. He said
to me, you know I've been looking for one of those for
my grandkids. How would you like to make a trade, he
asked me, that beat up old bike for your kart? I don't
think he got the whole question out before I answered
"yes". That was my first bike, but definitely not my
last. Now the reason I brought up hindsight is, I didn't
keep that bike, I traded it for a 1966 Yamaha Twinjet
100, newer was better to me then, (blinded by the
light). Ahh but the years of fun I've had because of
that day.
This is
what made me an antiqueaholic (if that is, no damnit it
is, and I'm proud of it). I don't own any great show
pieces, but I do appreciate them when I see them, and
they all are to me . This is why I got involved with
this show, the fact that there's others out there like
me, and I hope they show themselves at our EXTRAVAGANZA!
STAND
UP AND BE COUNTED, AND I'LL SEE YA THERE,
(or I'll see ya when I see ya)
John (Kurly)
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Bill
My name
is Bill Ross and I am a motorcycle ADDICT!! I began
riding in the late 60's on small displacement Japanese
motorcycles. As a kid, I grew-up near a TT track and
snuck into as many races as I could. Watching people
like Gary Nixon slide around corners on brakeless
machines at speeds over 90 MPH are memories I'll never
forget.
By the
1970's I got my motorcycle license and put a 360 Yamaha
Enduro on the road.
By the
Mid 70's I had become a "Biker" and had to have a
chopper!! So my next bike was a 450 Honda with an 8"
over front end. My first modification was to hose clamp
on a Sportster tank. the first bump I hit pinched the
wiring harness and fried every wire on the bike. My
second modification was rewiring the bike.
By the early eighties I just had to have
Harley, no two ways about it. So in 1981 I bought a 79'
Shovelhead. It had 5000 miles on it and the owner was
having trouble getting $2000 for it. That's right, two
thousand not 20 thousand. Times have changed.
For the
next decade, I rode the sh*t out of it. From Maine to
Florida, The Outer Banks to the Smokies with a trip to
Canada thrown in for good measure. Never once did she
travel on a trailer. I still own that shovel.
In 1989
I decided I wanted to bring an old Harley back from the
grave. I bought a 45 frame and Springer front end at Jam
ons Howard County Swap meet, then 2 months later, I
picked up a 1941 Flat Head motor for $125. I spent the
next 6 1/2 years rebuilding the bike from the flywheels
out.
I fell
in love with the craftsmanship
of the
forties. The frame alone was a thing of beauty and the
Springer front end should hang on a wall in a museum. I
started showing the 45 in 1996 and since, have been in
38 shows, winning 32 trophies and 7 of them Best of
Show!! Eventually I evolved into a motorcycle
enthusiast. Motorcycling is multifaceted, anyone who
does only one style is really missing out.
I truly
enjoy riding in the mountains of Western Maryland on a
1978 Yamaha 400 Enduro or playing on the motocross
tracks with the 1981 CR 450 Ellsinore. The best ride of
the year is taking my 1941 Harley Flathead on the
Vintage Run out of Thurmont Summer wouldn't be complete
without a road trip on the 79 shovel.
Last
summer, 4 days after my 48th birthday, I fulfilled my
lifelong dream of Racing Flat track. True it was only a
short track and I was only on a Harley Davidson Sprint
but what a rush!!
My
brother says that I haven't met a bike I don't like. I
think he might be right.
Ride
Safe
Bill
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