Rhinebeck, New York, annual vintage bike show and swap meet

[Rocky]

Four of us left by car last Wednesday for the annual vintage bike show and swap meet at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds near Rhinebeck, New York. The event didn't start until Friday so we took is easy getting there.
The first time I went was six years ago and this would be the third time I've gone. Every other year is often enough so it doesn't get stale.
It's a massive event and must take an enormous amount of planning and volunteers to pull it off, but I'm sorry to say that it's in quite a severe decline and we'll probably not go again since it's so far away. This year it was about half of what it normally is.
Harley-Davidson comprised about 95% of the event with other brands making up the last 5%. That got weary in a hurry which was a bit disappointing.
Newburgh just to the south houses a wonderful motorcycle museum (Motorcyclepedia) so we motored down there to spend a few hours before heading home.
Before leaving the area we went over to the Rhinebeck Aerodrome where they fly planes from before WWI and during that war. Nothing was flying as they only hold the air show on the weekends, but a volunteer took us behind the public areas and showed us things we wouldn't have seen otherwise. They built and exact flying replica of the Spirit of St. Louis which we didn't know about and were pleased to see, inspect and touch.
The fellows I traveled with are great companions and we had loads of laughs and told lots of stories on the long drive.
I have a lot of pictures that I'll transfer to the PC and post later after I get myself sorted out and back to normal living

 

[shanered6]

sounds good !

 

[Rocky]

I'll start off with some pictures from the bike event. It was Harley-Davidson overload and not a brand I am interested in so here are a few Indians and others.
An overview as you enter the fairgrounds.

This fellow rode this contraption around the grounds. Here he is kick-starting it.

The first Hesketh I ever saw.

These are the ones I found most interesting. I'll post some museum pictures later.

 

[Rocky]

These are from the Motorcyclepedia museum.
A couple of the guys are mourning the death of a Yamaha impaled on a tree

The Indian timeline is still on display as it was when we were there six years ago. One model from every year of manufacture.

 

[Rocky]

This is the Wall of Death. They have three of them.

A wall of probably priceless comic books.

I am familiar with Iver Johnson firearms, but I didn't know they also made motorcycles.

A very odd machine. The driver sits in the sidecar and the engine is mounted outboard.

Captain America replica. They have a section devoted to choppers and odd creations, but they didn't interest me very much.

 

[Rocky]

The Rhinebeck Aerodrome gift shop and inside museum is in one location and the airfield is nearby.
These are a few shots from the museum which has non-flying planes, cars and motorcycles.

The instrument panel of the Spirit. No forward view. Only a small periscope screen and side windows.

That's it folks.

 

[shanered6]

Absolutely brilliant Rocky love someof those bikes ...... but i have to say i liked the old by planes more some really old planes there and very historic , a great post

 

[Qship]

Wow. Pretty cool.
Lots of interesting stuff.

 

[harper6t]

Very interesting both the swap and the museum. I would love to attend a big swap like that one, but I think I'd have to book a 40 foot container to get all the stuff I'd want to buy back home to Australia.

 

[Rocky]

Thanks guys!
The last time we visited the aerodrome we saw the air show and it was awesome to see those old planes flying again.
Many are from the very early days of flight and are just wood, wire and canvas - but they fly! Amazing!

 

[DaveM]

Well you got some great photos of other brands and the museum photos were outstanding. Seems even if you just went to see the museum and the rally was second it was a worthwhile trip.

I stopped going to rallies some years back because of the same thing they just don't have what they used to have, then I suppose things are so expensive these days it puts the brakes on what they can have.

 

[Rocky]

Going back to the museum was an after-thought. It wasn't an intended visit, but since we were so close, why not or wish we had.

I talked with a local about how the show/rally had gone down.
He said that started last year due to in-fighting among the organizers or some such similar organizational problems.
It almost didn't happen this year, but was tossed together and it showed.

I didn't go there to buy anything as I didn't need anything. I just went for the experience and entertainment - but there was no entertainment, no company vendors (oil, parts, etc.).

I have no regrets at all, but I've been there three times now and probably won't go again.

 

[Greyfell]

[QUOTE="



The first Hesketh I ever saw.

View attachment 42430
[/QUOTE]


A Hesketh, eh? A very snazzy bike!

 

[keystiger]

great pics!!!!! thank you ROCKY for taking us along!!!

 

[Rocky]

Thanks keys.
Part of the fun is looking back at the pictures and reliving everything we did.

 

[triumph david]

Rocky, thanks for those pict. every one of those are great!