Antique motorcycle meet nears

Kick up your kickstands and rev up your engines, the Antique Motorcycle Club of America is coming to Fremont.

This is the second year the national winter meet is being sponsored by the Omaha chapter and the first time it will be held at Christensen Field in Fremont. The Omaha chapter of the club has had a winter meet for members in Nebraska, western Iowa, southeast South Dakota and southern Minnesota for 27 years.

A swap meet with antique motorcycle parts and gear, vintage bike show and technical seminars will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $3 and children under 12 are admitted free.

“We promote and restore antique motorcycles,” said Scott Swaney, Omaha chapter treasurer.

The Omaha chapter has close to 90 members and the national organization has about 11,000 antique motorcycle enthusiasts.

For the Fremont event, there are no make or model restrictions, but motorcycles must be at least 35 years old to be displayed and entered into competitions. Entries can come from anywhere.

“We’ve got a tremendous response. There will be people from all over the country,” Swaney said. “If the weather is good, like it’s supposed to be, you’ll see some of these bikes around town.”

Bikes entered into competition are judged according to different requirements including quality of restoration. They will be on display both days, but judging will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday.

“There will be bikes there 70 years old with original paint,” Swaney said. “We call them survivors.”

Vendors at the event must be national AMCA members, but anyone can buy parts, attend the event and even show motorcycles. All parts also will be a minimum of 35 years old.

“As a courtesy, we will let people display their (antique) bikes,” Swaney said. “There will be a wide variety of stuff for sale and on display — all makes.”

Open seminars teaching people how to restore motorcycles and take care of them will be offered throughout both days. Food and soft drinks, including breakfast, also will be available.

“The whole idea is to have fun and promote this. The kids especially love to see the bikes,” Swaney said. “If you have any interest, this is really something to see.”