•Inside: Gilmore, Rhinebeck show reports • An old Yamaha vs. a Great Lake • Buyers’ guide to CBXes • Donating a bike to a museum • Classifieds now to include color pics! Vol. 29, No. 4 August/September 2008 $5.50 Saturday, September 20th, 2008 9 AM - 4 PM GFFUPG*/%003EJTQMBZTQBDFGPSFBSMZQSFSFHJTUSBOUT 0VUEPPS4XBQ.FFU 1FPQMFTDIPJDF5SPQIJFTGPS+BQBOFTF #SJUJTIBOE &VSPQFBO CSBOET ZFBSTBOEPMEFS &OUSZGFFo'JSTU#JLF o&BDI"EEJUJPOBM#JLF &OUSZGFFJODMVEFTGSFFMJNJUFEFEJUJPO5TIJSUBOEMVODI .VTUSFHJTUFSCFGPSF"VHVTUTUUPSFDFJWF5TIJSU Greater Atlanta Norton Owners Association 1SFTFOUFECZBOEMPDBUFEBU XXXNPUPDPN 1SPNJOFODF$PVSU%BXTPOWJMMF (" NJMFTOPSUIPG"UMBOUB NJMFOPSUIPG/PSUIHFPSHJBQSFNJVNPVUMFUNBMM For pre-registration, more info, or directions, please visit www.moto400.com & click on “THE BIG SHOW” or call Cam Roos at 706 265 6686 4 President’s letter Gas prices and the future of far-off rallies. 7 News, notes and miscellany Upcoming rides, shows, reader pics and more. 12 Rhinbeck meet rocks The AMCA meet is a treat, even for a Japanese enthusiast. 14 Gilmore adds new events Japanese bike takes People’s Choice award again. 16 1,100 miles in four days Riding a 1978 Yamaha around Lake Michigan. 20 So, you want to buy a CBX? The doctor is in. 24 Who’s running this show? A quick look at the VJMC board. 25 Classifieds Would you believe you can now add a color pic to your classified ad, and for only $10? It’s true. On the cover Club member Tom Sanecki, from Elburn, Ill., took first place in the Japanese Bikes, 299cc and under category with his 1967 Suzuki X-6 Hustler at the Gilmore Museum’s 13th annual Vintage Bike Show. The show report starts on page 14. •Inside: Gilmore, Rhinebeck show reports Photo by Roger Smith. • An old Yamaha vs. a Great Lake • Buyers’ guide to CBXes • Donating a bike to a museum • Classifieds now to include color pics! Vol. 29, No. 4 August/September 2008 $5.50 Aug./Sept. 2008 www.vjmc.org 3 FROM THE PRESIDENT VJMC magazine August/September 2008 Vol. 29, No. 4 President TheAs you all futureknow by now, gas andof expenses national rallies Stuart Covington 978-582-3335 are going through the roof. Your money is los- [email protected] ing value like a new car driven off the lot and all Editor you have to show for the rapid depreciation is Brendan Dooley that expensive new car smell. We have to spend [email protected] more money to travel and do the fun things we Classified ads like to do. Gary Gadd 817-284-8195 For the most part, we think people will stay [email protected] closer to home for most events. The national Display Ad Director/ rallies may attract fewer people due to expense West Coast Rep constraints. I, for one, would have to drive 1,500 Bob Billa 949-433-3580 miles, one way, to attend this year’s Heber [email protected] Springs, Ark., national VJMC rally. At 12 mpg with trailer, it would take 250 gallons Mountain States Rep of diesel roundtrip. At $5 a gallon now, it would cost me $1,250 just for fuel. And the Hal Johnson 24 hours of driving time each way, plus motel — and I would drop about three grand 402-660-6710 to attend. [email protected] Remember when being a millionaire had a nice ring to it and meant you were rich? Central States Rep Marjory Teachout Not any more! 734-498-2695 We are going to try to keep making the national rallies something to shoot for as [email protected] a vacation destination for our members, to see new parts of the country, meet other East Coast Rep members and establish new friendships. Louise McCarthy-Dutton I have suggested having one in New England for those of you who have never seen 954-993-3993 [email protected] this beautiful countryside. It would incorporate rides in Massachusetts, New Hamp- shire and Vermont for sure. We will see what people think about a rally up here before Membership Director Bill Granade we commit to the task. 813-961-3737 We have a good sense from our poll on the website what our members think about [email protected] these issues. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the club. Mission statement: I probably would have gone to the rally, despite the cost, if I did not have my year’s The purpose of this organization is to promote the preservation, res- travel already booked up. I will be going down to the Barber Vintage Festival in Octo- toration and enjoyment of vintage ber outside Birmingham, Ala., and will make up for the lost socializing then. Japanese motorcycles (defined as those 20 years old and older, I have been to about half the rallies since their inception, and I can’t emphasize until 2011. We will embrace 1990, 1989 and 1988 until then). The enough how much fun they are and the wonderful members and officers we have met. VJMC also will promote the sport (It was at the last rally that I got roped into running for El Presidente of the club by of motorcycling and camaraderie previous president, Pete Boody.) of motorcyclists everywhere. I am planning, and implore you, to do as many local events as possible. I hope © 2008, Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North we can build our regions and that in turn would make the club better. I hope the crazy America. All rights reserved. No prices these days will still allow us to get out and push the hobby we love so much. At part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any least motorcycles are still a fuel efficient mode of transportation. It is the trucks and form without permission. motorhomes pulling trailers of our cycles that eat the fuel like there is no tomorrow for The views and opinions ex- the hobby we have so much passion for! pressed in letters or other content are those of the author and do So save your dollars, which once were quarters, which once were nickels, for the not necessarily represent VJMC next event in your area. Or better yet, go to a national rally at least once in your life- policy. The VJMC accepts no li- ability for any loss, damage or time. claims occurring as a result of It will be worth it. advice given in this publication or for claims made by advertis- ers of products or services in this — Stuart Covington publication. 4 www.vjmc.org Aug./Sept. 2008 NATION AL FO R E S T A S S E S R O D C A I P A T S I O O L N LETTERS , NEWS AND MISCE ll ANY Event: Moto 400, Sept. 20 and the magazine, the emphasis is on stock motorcycles, and it should be for a couple Moto 400, with the help of VJMC, is of reasons. proud to present the Bikes In Georgia Vin- First, the value is always higher when tage Motorcycle Show on Sept. 20, rain a bike is in original condition or returned to or shine. Moto 400, a Yamaha and Suzuki it. The uniqueness of different models that dealership in Dawsonville, has 8,000 sq.- came from the factory and so on. ft. of indoor display area for early pre-reg- My interest is also in “riders.” I bought istrants. People’s choice trophies will be a new Honda 305 Superhawk in 1965, my awarded to Japanese, British, and European first year out of high school. The very first brands 20 years and older. The show will thing I did was paint it metal-flake blue also feature a swap meet, food, and raffle (stock was white), then added megaphones. prizes. Visit www.moto400.com for more Later came aluminum rims and I started information, or contact Cam Roos, Moto road racing the bike in sportsman class. 400, at 706-265-6686. My next Honda, a CB750, followed the same kinds of changes. Yes, valuewise, it would have been better to keep these Original vs. modified bikes stock, store them and years later reap the benefits. But, much of my early life was I just got my first VJMC mag (joined riding and racing the bikes I loved, along online recently). I was at the Barber event, with adding and replacing stock parts, mak- met the club members there and was invit- ing them more unique. I feel there is at least ed to enter the show. This was a real privi- a place for these kind of old bikes. How ones less interesting or desirable? lege because of the quality of the bikes. My many completely stock ’55 Chevrolets do Many of our old bikes have the same thoughts are this, I realize, from the show you see running around? Are the modified One week after Davenport $10 $10 Friday, Sept. 12 Set-up, all day. Race TBA Saturday, Sept. 13 9am to 5 pm - Swap Meet & Show Noon - Vintage Auction Legendary Sturgis, South Dakota Sunday, Sept. 14 9am to 3 pm - Swap Meet & Show *Largest vintage swap All meet in a six state makes, Thunder Road Sturgis region. all models prior to RAIN or SHINE 1978 • 40,000 sq ft indoors, 5+ acres outside • Located 3 miles E of downtown Sturgis • Vendor spaces $100-$1000 For event information call 605-347-6488 www.TheBigGypsie.com Aug./Sept. 2008 www.vjmc.org 7 appeal, these are pics of my latest restora- Donating a bike to Barber for many years sometimes showing it and tions (but not to stock) but to the type of never riding it. I new this was the bike to bikes I like to ride and enjoy.