
American Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA) – Southern National Meet
Story and Photos by Jack Cofano
For years the southeast has been hoping that the American Motorcycle Club of America www.antiquemotorcycle.org would make a stop in the area and this year their wish came true with the club holding its first meet in May at Denton Farm Park in rural North Carolina.
Denton Farm Park is famous for its annual Old Threshers’ Reunion www.threshers.com/farmpark, which fills the 100-plus acre site with antique farm tractors and other farming implements from the past. With its 15,000 square- feet of restored buildings and working steam engine, it was a perfect place to view antique motorcycles and parts.
I was there on the first day of the three-day meet and weather-wise I couldn’t have picked a better day, sunny and in the mid 70’s. Outside of an occasional hurricane you just can’t beat the weather in North Carolina. The folks were having a great time browsing the vendor sites looking for that jewel to complete their projects, cruising around on their classic rides, or just visiting with like-minded motorcycle enthusiasts.
What a great meet for following the evolution of the motorcycle. You begin to see what was considered state of the art at the time and how it has been improved throughout the years. These meets are also a great place to find a time-proven addition to work into your own ride making it a conversation piece to point out to your friends. Sure you might have to adapt and clean up the part, but that’s what makes it special. Like I heard one of the vendors tell a customer looking at a beat-down old Honda, “Hit it with a pressure washer for a couple of minutes and it will be as good as new.” Yea right!
I just can’t get enough of this stuff. I walk around going “check this out” or “what a great bike” and especially “sure do wish they had beer.” I was also surprised at the prices of the parts and bikes. While not exactly cheap, they were actually within my modest price range if I was so inclined to start another project that I had no time or patience for. Luckily there are dedicated individuals out there who do have the time and patience to restore antique bikes so that future generations can enjoy the history of the motorcycle as much as we do.