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Our membership consists of people of all ages and from all walks of life. Many of our members are old timers of some note here in the Northwest and even nationwide. The club was founded in 1979 by several owners of old bikes who wanted to get together with others of like mind in Oregon to go for rides, put on shows and swap meets and other things that would allow us to use our old motorcycles for what they were intended. The motorcycles owned by members of our organization include early American and British bikes from the very beginnings of the motorcycle industry, up to relatively modern machines from manufacturers in Asia, Europe, Great Britain, and The United States.
Our premier annual event which is open to the public is our May Show and Swap Meet, (check our events page for date)which takes place in Corvallis, Oregon, at the Benton County Fairgrounds. The show is always on Sunday of the weekend before Memorial Day and opens to the public at 11:00 AM. Admission is a low $5.00 per person with children under 12 free. You can expect to see over 100 well-restored or original examples, with Indian often being the best-represented make in attendance. There are also always lots of really nice British bikes on display, quite a few BMW's and some Italian bikes. Japanese machines have been gaining in popularity too, and you can expect to see a few very interesting oddballs like a Chinese made Chang-Jiang, sidevalve BMW copy. There is also food available at the display site, which is outdoors whenever weather permits ( we've only had to go indoors due to rain 3 times in 19 years) in a large field at the front of the fairgrounds.
Visitors to our show are encouraged to fill out a peoples choice ballot where you can vote for your favorite bike from each of four categories, these are; Best American, Best British, Best European, and Best Asian. The club president also names his favorite, and awards are given for President's Choice, and the four People's Choice categories. Beginning with the 1998 show, we have pictures of each of the bikes so honored on display in our photo gallery.
On the Saturday before our May Meet, we always have a vintage ride, see the photo gallery for an idea of the kinds of bike that take part in this. Anyone who wishes to participate in this is invited to meet us at the Benton County Fairgrounds West of Corvallis by no later than 11:00 AM. The ride consists of about 60-70 miles of some of the Willamette Valley's best backroads at a safe riding pace. There is a barbeque dinner available for a few dollars after the ride at the Fairgrounds. Everyone is welcome, but please, leave your modern bike at home if you have an old bike available, this is a vintage motorcycle ride, and we'd like to maintain that spirit as much as possible.
We also have a bike display each August at Oaks Park Amusement Park in East Portland, near the Selwood Bridge. This show is always on the Sunday nearest the 10th of August.
In addition we have two or three club-sponsored rides each summer, and we participate in a number of annual events put on by other groups. Look at our coming events page for the latest calendar of vintage bike events.
Be sure to come to our monthly meeting at Beaches Restaurant in Vancouver, WA, always on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 12:00 noon, ride after the meeting, weather permitting.
If you are in the Eugene area, you can come to our High Street Brew Pub beer and BS session on the 3rd Sunday of each month at 3:00 PM. Everyone is welcome, ride in if you can.
Anyone who owns an old motorcycle, or is interested in old motorcycles is invited to join the OVM. Advantages include access to a large body of information and expertise on restoration and maintenance of old motorcycles, parts sources, and other forms of contact and networking of value to someone who is trying to restore or obtain parts for an old motorcycle. You'd also have opportunities to participate in rides and other events with other owners of old bikes. Included with membership is our bi-monthly newsletter which lists coming events, runs members advertisements (an excellent source for restored old bikes, and parts), and has pictures and articles that are of interest to anyone who is into old bikes.
For membership, send $15.00 to Oregon Vintage Motorcylists, P.O. Box 14645, Portland, OR, 97293-0645, include a letter with your name, address, phone number, and a brief description of what old bikes you own, or are interested in, all information given to the OVM about bikes you own is confidential, unless you specifically say that it is ok to list them in the club roster.