Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club Turns 40

While it may be a stretch to consider any U.S. market Japanese motorcycle “vintage” in 1977, the Japanese Vintage Motorcycle Club has been around that long. And they’ll be celebrating the anniversary at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in Lexington, Ohio, July 7 - 9. Founded in 1977, the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America (www.vjmc.org) is the premier worldwide club dedicated to the preservation, restoration and enjoyment of vintage Japanese motorcycles. The club defines “vintage” as bikes that are 20 years old or older.

“The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of North America looks forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary with a large display of vintage bikes, club merchandise, magazines and a members rally at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days,” said Sean Carrigan, club board member and national field representative coordinator. “Don’t miss our big tent in the infield and club booth in the swap meet.”

Carrigan said the club will have “a super rare 1950s Miyapet model by Miyata Manufacturing Co.” on display. “Miyata built the first Japanese motorcycle in 1913,” he said.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days — an annual fundraiser for the nonprofit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame — features vintage motorcycle racing, bike shows, seminars, demo rides, live music, the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, a swap meet with nearly 1,000 independent vendors and much more. The full schedule of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days events is available at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com.

Tickets are available for purchase at www.americanmotorcyclist.com or at the gate. A weekend pass is $60, a single-day admission for Friday or Saturday is $40 and a single-day admission for Sunday is $35. Kids 12 and under get in free. AMA members get a $15 ticket discount through June 5.