Classic Bike RamblingsRIDING INTO HISTORY.......... Ridingintohistory.It’ssomethingallofusaredoingeveryday.It’ssomethingthatcan'tbestoppedforit’stheprogressofmantoleavehistorybehind.Thespaceshuttlesareonemissionawayfrombeingpartofour"his-tory".Themenandwomenwho"ride"themalsopartofit,andthespacecraftthemselvesinalltheirmillionsofmilesofspacetravelwillberegulatedto"displayonly"forthefuturegenerationstomarvelatwhatsimpletechnologyexistedsolongago.ForyouseemydearfriendsI

amahugebelieverthathistoricmachinesmustbepreservedandshownandinasoriginalconditionaspossible.Theymustbepresentedtothe

wellknowledgeandtothefolkswhojustsay"wow,that’ssocool!"Thoughtofinthelate60tiesastheApollomissionswouldwinddownthefirst

shuttleSTS-1"Columbia"wouldrideintohistoryonApril12th.1981. ItwouldnowbeMay16th.2011whileIdroveupto

theFullThrottleOfficeinOldsmartogetthebigdoubletrailerforyouseeIwastransporting4relicsofmotorcyclinghistorytoSaintAugustineinjustafewdays.JustbeforeIleft,thewhatshouldhavebeenlastshuttleflight,STS-134"Endeavor"hadliftedoffintohistory.Itseemstherewereotherswhowereonamultidaymissionofridingintohis-torybesidesmyself.AfterthenextshuttleflightSTS-135"Atlantis"alltheremainingshuttles(4)willwindupwheresomanyofourvintagebikesdo,ondisplayinmuseums.After30yearsofservicetoournationonoraroundJuly8th.2011"Atlantis"willbecomethelastshuttletorideintospaceandintothehistorybooks,shewillthenbedeployedattheKennedySpaceCenter,"Enterprise"(whoneverflewinspace)willbeattheIntrepidSeaAirSpaceMuseuminNewYork."Endeavor"totheCaliforniaScienceCenterinLosAngelesand"Discovery"willbeattheSmithsonian.AndyouknowmyfriendsIthinkonmywaytothe13th.

RidingintoHistorynextyearIwillgobyandvisittheoldspacecraft,seemsonlyfittingthatitshouldsitonly90milesfromSt.Augustineforhistorymustbevisitedwheneverpossible. Thesewarriorsofspacewillneveragaingettodowhattheyhadbeenbuiltfor,becom-ingstaticeducationalunitsforaninterestedpublic.ForyouseemyreadersIwasonmyownmissiononeIhadbeenonin2009butwastoooverwhelmedtoseethedetails,muchlikeapersonsfirstspaceflight.Itstrulythe

secondtripyouenjoy,youno-ticethings.You’realittlemorerelaxedandyouhaveanideaofwhattoexpect.OverthenextcoupledaysIwouldbeloadingmy1946MotoGuzzi,my1973Condora1966GileraandthebikeIwouldtruly"RideintoHistory"onFridaysvintage

ride,my1974MotoGuzziEldo-radoLAPDforIwasgoingtothe12th.AnnualRidingintoHistoryConcoursd'EleganceMotorcycleShow.400vintagebikesfromaroundtheworldcongregateeverythirdSaturdayofMay.Thisisaninviteonly,noentryfee,gatheringofthegreatestantiqueandclas-sicbikeseverassembledanditisheldoutsidetheoldestcityinAmericaatanamazingvenuecalledTheWorldofGolfVillage.Featuringa1mileinCircumfer-enceLakewherethisincrediblecollectionofmotorbikeswillbedisplayedtothousandsandthousandsofpeopleallpayingatendollarentryfeetosee.With

allthemoneydonatedtotheWoundedWarriorProject.ThistrulyamazinggatheringofthebestridesofhistorywasstartedbyBillyAldrichwhoorganizedthisafterhiswifewasdiagnosedwithbreastcancer.Decidinghewantedtomakeadifferenceinthisfighthewouldraisemoneyusingthiseventforbreastcancerresearchandearlydetection.Hiswifeisfineandwithanothersponsorpickingupthatchar-ityRidingintoHistoryturnedtoraisingfundsforanothertrulyworthycausetheWoundedWarriorsProject.Thisisanonprofitorganizationwhosemissionisto"Honorandempowerwoundedwarriors"oftheU.S.ArmedForces.Itprovidesservicesandgoodstogetreturningwoundedveteransgoingagainandtore-enterthecivilianwayoflifeafterbeinginjuredinservicetoourgreatnation.BillRob-inson,LarryMeekerandJohnDusshavebeenaninvalu-ableassettothesuc-cessofthiseventwith$25,000dol-larchecksthisyearandlastgiventoagreatcause,welldonemyfriends. IhadmissedthisvintagerideonFridaythelasttimeIwashere,andsinceIwasbringingmytwomilitarysinglesupfortheshowIthoughteitherwouldbegreatformy"RideintoHistory"afterallitstatedonthesign-upsheet,"AleisurelyridetolunchinSt.Augustine".ButaboutamonthbeforeIreceivedane-mailfromRidingintoHisto-rythatmademere-thinkthisapproachwhenIsawitwouldbea60mileorsorideandaspeedof60ish.Mphshouldbemaintained!Thiswouldbetheupperlimitsofmyold

Fran Haasch & Mr. 500

Classic Bike Ramblings warmachinesandalthoughIridethesebikesoftenIdon'tenjoythrashingthem. Iwasassuredbymultiplee-mailsfromRIHmybikes"wouldworkontheride"andIbelievedthembutIthoughtitunfairtotheoth-erbikesinthevintageridetobewaitingonme.AndthefactthatKevinSchwartzwastheGrandMarshallofthisyear’seventandleadriderandplanner,wellitmademethink"howcouldthispossi-blybealeisurelyride"?WithaformerGPWorldChampionattheheadofourpack!Kevin

SchwantzwasbornJuly9th.1964inHouston,Texasandridingmotorcyclessincetheageoffour.Hewasbestknownforhisaggressiveallornothingracingstyleandforbeingworldchampionin1993.Kevinhad105GrandPrix

Racesinacareerthatspanned1986-1995hewouldamass51podiumfinishesand25wins.RacinghisentirecareerforSuzukihewasoftendis-advantagedthathisbikeswereneverquiteasfastashisrivalsHondasandYamahasButhiswinatallcostsattitudemadehima

crowdfavoriteamongGrandPrixfansworldwidebutalsomadeforsomespectacularcrashes.HislastlappassofrivalchampionWayneRaineytowinthe1991GermanGrandPrixwithhisrearwheelfishtailingalmostonthevergeofcrashingwastypicalofKevin’s"Itsfirstor

last"ridingstyle.in1993hewouldwinthe500ccWorldChampionship.Acrashladen1994seasonwithafewdecadesofinjuriescatchinguptohimandwithhisrivalWayneRaineybeingparalyzedinacrashinthe1993ItalianGrandPrix,wellhewouldretireearlyinthe95season.HeisthesecondmostsuccessfulAmericanroadracerbehindoneofhischiefcompetitorsoftheeraEddieLawson.TheInternationalMotorcyclingFederation(FIM)inararemovewouldretirehisracingnumber(34)tohonorhiswinsandworldwidepopularity.KevinwouldrunacoupleyearsintheAustralianNASCARchampionshipsinthe90ties.AndthenreturntotheUSAandcompetein18races(withtwotoptens)intheNASCARBuschSeries.InductedintotheAMAHallofFamein1999andtheFIMwouldnamehimaGrandPrix"Legend"in2000.Henowrunsanamazingrac-ingschoolatBarbersMotorsportsinGeorgia. SoasIthoughtmoreaboutitIfiguredourleisurely60milevintageridemayhavea"quicker"pacethenmy70

yearoldsingleswouldlikeandasanewfriendofmineonaveryoldAllstatescootertryingtoridewiththishistoricpackwouldfindoutearlyonintheride.ButmyGuzziLAPD850wasagreatchoicefortherideandtheshow. Well,ontoour"RideintoHistory".OnceagaintheRIHorganizationwasimpec-cable.WemetattheRenais-sancehotelsnorthparkinglot,andthebikeswereputinto4orsoorderlyrows.ItwasagreatcollectiontoridewithBSALightning’s,a47Harley,afewBMWR/90'sevenatwostrokeKawasakiH-1over50

bikesinall,itwouldtrulybe"RidingintoHistory"andwassuretobeepic.AfterabriefsafetyridersmeetingweleftonanamazingloopingandwellplannedridewithKevininfrontonabeautifuloldGS1000Suzuki.RidingintohistoryalsosentamultibiketraileralongasarescueshipbutI’mhappytoreportsheremainedemptyofbikes.Wemadeafewstopstosoakinthehistoryofoursurroundingswhereacouple6voltcoilsgavecrankykickstartsfortheirown-ersandonestopwheretheownersquitkickingandwentforthealwaysoptional"bump"start.Butmypals,whenyouareridingintohistoryitmeansyouhavetoimprovise,manyadaymyantiqueshavegottenmehomeusingsometinfoil,sandpaperorabungeecord.Greatthingabout"lowtech"youcanactuallygetyourselfoutoftrouble.Unlikeacoupleofourshuttleflightsthatwere"RidingintoHistory"whereallthesemillionsofbitsof"hightech"mustwork,there’snotmuchroomfortinfoilonaspacecraft.ThefirstwouldhappenonJan.28th.1986the"Challenger"(STS-51)wouldcomeapart73secondsafterlaunchendingthelivesof7braveastronauts.ColdtemperaturesandafailedO-ringwouldtakeherout.Itwouldbe7yearslaterthatsevenmoreastronautswould"RideintoHistory"foronFeb.1st.2003the"Columbia"(STS-107)woulddisintegrateduringre-entry.Damagetothethermalprotectiontilesonliftoffhadalreadydoomedthisshuttledaysbefore.Someridingintohistorydonotreturnmygoodreaders. When50orsovintagebikesandtheirownerspulledupatHarry'sinSt.Augustine,abouta1/2milefromtheoldfort.Itseemedaperfectsetting,allouroldwar-riorspointedouttothesea,theyandthefortsoldrustycannonsreadytoodobattleyettoday.Iamsohopingouragingironandsteelmachinesoutthereweretell-

ingepicstoriesofpastmissionstoeachotherasmuchaswe,theircaretakerswereatouramazinglunch. Withthatitwastimetoridethe15orsomilesbacktoTheWorldofGolfVillageastheGrandMarshall’sDinnerwasthatnight.Uponget-tingbackfromonerideIdecidedtounloadmy1946GuzzitotakeitforaspinaroundtheGolfVillage,roadstailoredmadeforthisoldthumper.AroundthehotellateFridayafternoonanamazingarrayofbikesarepullingontothepropertyforthebigshowtomorrowanditsreallyhardforaguylikemetogetmuchforwardprogressmadeatthetaskathand.Somanytrulyinterestingbikesandlikemindedfolkstochatwith.Interestingthingaboutthecollectorsofhistoricorclassicitemsthere’snooneupsmanshipbeitcoffeegrindersormotorbikesthere’scamaraderiealikemindedness.Nojealouslyofwhatonemanhas,maybeabitofawebuttheguywitha1924BroughSuperioror1912HarleylooksattheotherpersonsVespaorMotoGuzziwiththesamerespectandinterest.It’s

atruebrother-hoodatRidingintoHistoryfromthefellowparticipantstovolunteers.Allthebikesarecool,specialanddeservingofafewminutesofattentionortheswappingofastoryortwo.OnesuchmanImetwasMr.JackWells.MyinitialmeetingofMr.Wellswas

atmyfirstRidingintoHistoryin2009.Ipulledmy1946militaryGuzziintotheunloadingareaandhegreetedmeandhelpedmeoffload.AcrossbetweenoneoftheZZTopbrothersandacoolSantaClaus.Ithoughtwhatahelpfulvolunteerandhereallythoughtmy

oldGuzziwasgreat.Hesaidhelikedmilitarybikes.OnlylaterdidIfindoutthattheamazingcollectionofWWIIGermanandAmericanmilitarybikeswereinfactownedbyhim.TherewereenoughWWIIvintageNSU,BMW,ZundappsandHarleyWLAs'torecreateafew

battlesofthisepicwar.ManypullingoriginalwheeledcannonsandtrailersthatMr.WellshaspurchasedinEuropewhenavailable.AretiredairlinepilotheisoneofAmericaslargestandasIhavefoundoutmostrespectedvintagemotorcyclecollectors.Fromhis1912Abingdon

KingDick,tohisGuzzistohiswarmachinesheisonecooldude,IwanttobeJackwhenIgrowup,fornotonlyisheanamazingcollectorofbikesIlike,heisjustoneeasygoingandgreatguy.Here’stoyouJack,keep"RidingintoHistory”.Youknowit’sagoodthingforAmericathattheretiringshuttlesdon'thave2wheelsIthinkJackwouldhaveone. Ofcoursethereisafewexcep-tionstoanyruleofthoughtandasIwasgettingmyoldGuzzireadyforitsrideaguywithatrailerfullofshinyTriumphshadpulledin,youknowtheoverrestored,stainlesssteelspoked,powdercoatedframe,003milesontheodometerkind.Wellhesaid"You'regoingtoridethat"?Theshowstomorrow".ItoldhimiftheoldgirlstartedwewouldbeonanepicridetotheFountainofYouthwhereboththebikeandIwouldliketogetsomelostyearsback.IkindoflaughedashepulledhisdetailingbucketoutandIthoughttomyself”Ifullyintendedmybiketoberidingintohistoryandnotashewouldbe"pushinghisbikeintohistory"andwiththatIpulledoutoftheparkinglot.IrodeovertoaShellStationwhereatthepumpswithmewasa1950ArielSquareFour,anearly60ties.BSAandaearlyVespaScooter.Weallrodeoffasequals,nobodybetterthanthenext.Andthatmy78loyalreadersiswhatIdigaboutthisevent,itspeople,itslocation.Itisverypossiblythenumberonevin-tageConcoursd'Eleganceinthenationbutitsnotpreten-tiouslikeotherConcours,itsbillionaireswithamazingbikesdowntoguyswhohadtobudgetforayeartobehereandallofusinbetween.It’sanamazingcollectionofpeoplewithalikemindandcausesmuchlikewhathadtohappeninourspaceprogram.Somanycompetitivetypesputtingitalloutofmindforacommonthoughtandmakinganamazingeventhappen,beitashuttlelaunchoratrulyoneofakindvintageevent. Ihadnotpre-registeredfortheGrandMarshall’s

DinnerandreallyonlywantedacoupleofMr.500'spatent-ed"TrainWrecks"andtominglewithsomeofmynewbud-diesfromthemorningvintageride.SomeofthepastGrandMarshall’stohavehostedthisdinnerincludePeterEgan,MertLawwill,CraigVetterandDennisGage.AndtherewasthefactthatIhadadatelaterwithaformerexoticdancerIknewfromalongtimeagobutthat’sawholeotherridinginto(mypast)historyby-line. MyinquisitivereadersitwasanamazingdinnerlayoutonceagainrunwithNASAlikeprecisionandfriendli-ness.WithsilentauctionitemsfromarestoredStingraybi-cycletothenewestDonBradleyRidingintoHistoryposter.Donhasbeendoinganewposterforthiseventforthepasteightyears.TheyaretrulyworksofartasDonhimselfputit"Theartisjustanexpressionofmystrangeimagination,whichIhaveplayedwithmostofmylifeIamfascinatedbyfemalesandantiquemo-torcycles.Thedrawingsareawayofcreatingandcombiningthetwoinafun,fantasyworld.Ifindthatdo-ingapainting,althoughtwodimensional!ismentallysimilartorestoringortakingalongjourneyonanoldbike,justinadifferentmedia".DonhasbeendonatinghistimeandartworktoRid-ingintoHistoryforthepast8yearsandcontinuestocomeupwithamazingposterartofamazingladiesridingVincentBlackLightning’s,BMWR11'sandNorton’stonameafew,IwasthinkingI'dliketoseealadyashuttleandbikecombo,

welllikemywritingshowsIlikedifferentalso. WellIhadafew"TrainWrecks"inJaxBeachwiththeaforementioneddancerandgotinabout3:00amheyIhadabigdayaheadofmeIhadtogetinearly,andasIpulledintothehotelthelothadbecomepackedwithallshapesandsizesofbikehaulers,trailersandevenrentedU-haulswithplatesrepresentinghalftheUSAandCanada.IcheckedmytrailerandbikesandasIwalkedbacktothehotelroomIlookedupatthemoonandthoughtwhataviewthe"Endeavor"musthave,hurtlingaroundtheearthat17,500mphastheyridetheirchosenmachinesintohistory.AndasIlookedatallthosetrailerscontainingsomuchofmotorcyclingpast,

Ithoughttomyselftomorrowmyoldwarriorsyouwillbethefocusandtopicofsomanywhowillcometolookathistoryandbetrulyamazedatwhattheywitness. Its7amSat.May21st.andasmypalBeetlejuicewouldsay"It’sShowtime!”Aswitheverythingaboutthiseventtheloadinginof400vintagebikesin21/2hours(thegatesopentothepublicat10:00)isawelloiledmachineandanenjoyableexperienceforall.Withover100plusvolunteersonhand,allcheerful,knowledgeableandverynonconfrontational(youknowtheseevents).Thereisnochaos.Allthetrailersbeingdirectedtospots,rampscom-ingdown,volunteershelpingwithunstrapping,rollingbikesuptoregistrationandwatchingour"stuff"andletmetellyouwevintagecollectorsarenotonestolet"others"wheelourbelovedpiecesofhistoryaround,buttheseguysknowwhattheyhaveintheirhandsanditshows.Thishas

Jack Wells

Kevin Schwantz

gottobethewayitisbeforeashuttlelaunch,alotoftrustandsomanygreatpeopleworkingsowelltogetherwithallthe"attitudes"leftathome. Sincethisisaninviteonlyeventandmostbikesarepre-registeredyoupickupyourheadlightstickerwithyear,makeandclassandasal-waysyougetaridingintohis-tory"freebie"achair,orcoolerjustacoolthankyouforbeingheregift.Youaregivenamapofthelakeanddirectedtoyourclasslocation,youhavetheoptionofriding,pushingorhavingavolunteerhelp

youplaceyourbikesintoposition.Ialwayschosetotrulyridemineintohistory.Theirischeerfulandfriendlydirectionat

everyclasssectionandbetween7and10amallbikes,vendorsandjudgesareinplace.Twocharityridesendintheparkinglot

onefromJacksonvilletheotherfromStAugustine.Andsometimesmyfellowridersthevisitorsparkinglothasitsownamazing

bikes,kindofashowwithinashow.Manyinterestingven-dorslinetherowsofoldbikes,onetryingtobringagallantoldwarriortheUSSCharlesF.AdamstoJacksonvilleHarbor,J&PcyclesamajorsponsorandtheChromeDivaswhohelpandhandedoutabouta"million"bottlesoffreewatertoaverythirstycrowdofvisitorsandparticipants.TheBMWNorthEastFloridaclubdoessomuchinpromotingandrunningthiseventtheycannotgowithoutmentionhere.AbouthalfwaythroughthedayKevinSchwantzwouldbeautographingDonsposters,andassortedphotosandhats,alltobenefittheWoundedWarriorProject.Theimmensetaskofjudg-ing400bikesin30plusclasses(allofwhichdeserveanaward)fallstomultipleteamsofjudgeswhostartat10:00amwhenthegatesopenandthelastbikehasbeenplaced.Withsomeclassesgoing60bikesormoredeepandveryfewawardsgivenout,wellittrulymeanssomethingtohave"placed"atthisevent.ItsinterestingherethatlikeAMCAshowsthesejudgesreallylooktotheoriginalornearoriginalbikesfirst.Alsotherareordifferentbikesgetsecondlooks,itmustberefreshingtothejudges(andthepublic)whenconfrontedwith20restoredBMWsorTriumphsthatalmostlooklikecopiesofeachother,butthere’sroomforeveryonethereandallhaveafightingchance.Manyparticipantshavechairsortents,eagertotalktothepayingpublicabouttheirbikes,abouthistory.Imyselftrytoportrayasmuchtothepublicthroughmydisplaysandsignage,asIwantthemtoknowwhatmakesthisbikespecial,itshistory,itscharacterandthat’sthetruereasonwearealltheretogivethepublicashow,alookat

ourbikesahistorylesson,likeouroldspaceshipswillsoonbedoingachanceforthepublictoseerarethingsupcloseandinperson.Theyhavespentthetimeandmoneytocomeseeus;weoweittothemandthechar-itysomanyaretryingtoraisemoneyfor.Ijustlikelookingateveryoneelse’sbikes,Ijustcan'tsitthereandchatmyhistoricpals,thereistoomuchtosee,todoandtoexperiencebothattheshowandatTheWorldofGolfVillage.Thejudgingteamsgetitnarroweddownandthenbringintheleadorheadjudgestogooverthechoices.Afterabout60orsoofthemhuddletogetherit’sannouncedthatthetrophieswillbeawarded.Thereare4majorawardsandthenfirstinclassandawardsofmerit,usually2or3perclass.It’stoughtogetonebutwhenyoudoit’sthehighlight.Foritsrecognitionthatyouhavesomethinghistoricandofinterestonanationallevel,somethingyouthemotorcyclescaretakerknewallalong.About4:30orsoafterthelastawardisgivenoutandthehandshakesaredonethemassexodusbeginsassmoothandasorderlyas10hoursearlieranditsworthnotingthatmanyofRIH'svolunteersandstaffhadbeentheresince5:00am.Ialways

wait,Imalwaysthelastbikeout.About6:00pmIstartmybikesupandgroupthemnearmybigtrailer.There'sonlyafewofusleftJohnDussandLarryMeekertwooftheeventsbiggeststars,foldingtables,loadingtrucksandJackWellsinhisimmensefourdoor"Peterbuilt"bikehauler,loadinghisamazingcollectionofagingiron,andmewithmyfew

misfitsofhistoryreadytogohometoSt.Petersburg.ItseemedlikeaproperendingthislastgroupofustotogethermenandmachineswhotrulyrepresentthespectrumofRidingintoHistory.AsIpulledontoI-95headingsouth"SpaceOddity:MajorTom"byDavidBowiecameonitwasdarkandIswearIthoughtIsawtheEndeavorgoby......7menRidingintoHistoryandbothofuswereabout200milesfromhome.

Robert"AllisfairinLove"DeMossTrophyCount:526

P.S. If you would like to contact me and discuss any article or ideas for future atricles you can e-mail me at

mr500@FloridaFullThrottle.comTo view some cool videos from riding into His-tory or see the entire article online please visit www.FloridaFullThrottle.com and click on the Mr. 500 link