AMA Vintage Days - Mid-Ohio

myhondas · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:53 am Post subject:

Sat was hotter than hell and very humid. Not much worth spending $ on in the swap area. Everything was either JUNK or GOLD/SILVER/PLATINUM PLATED ( by the amount they were asking) . Cookout was great fun even with the rain. GOOD FOOD & GREAT COMPANY !...Had to leave Sat early evening because of a scheduled trip Sun. AM (which ended up getting cancelled).
Worse ride of my life!!!!
Dark with three MAJOR thunderstorms that had traffic (cars & semi's) slowing down to a crawl or stopping under overpasses. After making two underpass stops and one truckstop, I had to bite the bullet and just ride...my biggest fear was heavy standing water that I would not see in time if at all. Made the normal 90 minute ride in 3.5 hours with the stops and reduced speeds. Got home and was soaked head to foot even thru the light rainsuit I had on. Wind and rain was even whipping up inside my fullface helmet so that my visor was very difficult to see thru. White knuckled and tired, I crashed for the night. When I got up the next morn, it looked like someone poured a three gallon bucket of water on my gear where I had stripped it off the night before. I will definately chalk this one up in my logbook of bike tales to tell.

Bikegeezer · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:24 am Post subject:

The weather was a bit uncomfortable, wasn't it? Nice meeting you there. I left town 8 am Monday morning, drove straight through, and arrived back in Scottsdale 7:30 Tuesday night with a messed up back from sitting all that time. Horrible weather all the way back home. At one place near Holbrook, Az, Interstate 40 was flooded with boulders and tree limbs washed down onto the roadway. I'm really glad I drove my truck this year instead of riding a bike. You're right on about the swap area. I bought some tools from that vendor with the huge display of Harbor Freight quality stuff, but that's all I spent money on. Everything else I had an interest in appeared to be junk and/or way over priced.

CHocko - I know about the money not changing hands. I'm not sure whether it's due to the lousy economy or the fact that vendors are showing up with the contents of their dumpsters. Probably a combination of both. As for a vendor loading his truck with parts that no one is going to buy, that might be solved by loading with more desirable parts and/or pricing them to sell. If I wanted mangled parts rusted beyond use and priced like they were the last ones on Earth, I don't need to drive for four days to find that. Rolling Eyes

Stu

mopehead440 · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:05 am Post subject:

Another angle...I spoke with a vendor that has had the same bike for the third straight year for sale. I have attempted to buy the bike; three years running, and am within a small amount of his asking price. It's not the few dollars that separate us; it's his determination to not waiver a penny for three straight years. I have compremised in offers all three years, and he has not budged one ioda! I wouldn't buy this bike, if he dropped his price considerably; just principle; I can't imagine a vender carrying a bike around the country to various shows, and not be willing to negociate. Maybe he can carry it into oblivian. Hard headed just like me; I came home with dollars in my pocket; he loaded that bike for the umpteenth time. And so it goes!!!! Danny Mac.

Steve Searles · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:04 pm Post subject: Mid-Ohio Stories

OK guys. Let's tell the stories of Mid-Ohio this year. Here goes one for me. Signed up for the parade lap of history around the Mid-Ohio race course. The plan by my buddy Rick and I was to hang back and let everyone go and then run as fast as possible. Well we hung back so far that the track officials waved us forward and so we were at the back of the parade of 150 riders. We went as fast as possible and took the outside line most of the time passing bikes at an amazing pace. Back straightaway at 85 mph, corners at 65 mph and at one time dragging the left footpeg on my naked goldwing hotrod. Got to the front straightaway and cranked it in 4th gear and held it there until 105 mph was reached. Weaved thru the traffic for lap 2 and tried to catch Rick but to no avail. Finally the last corner was approaching and we saw the track official who were in front just as we had to pull off. This gives the phrase "PARADE LAP" a whole new meaning. Well worth the fee to play on one of the nicest road courses in the Mid West. FUN!!!

tory · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 1:43 pm Post subject:

I did enjoy the show.After a long hot ride down thursday we opted for the AMA hall of fame museum friday to cool down a bit.A definite must see.
We spent saturday at the event,I was very impressed as a first timer.As a "Larger" person I didn't quit make it all the way through the Swap meet with the heat but enjoyed myself non the less.

Stu,I did not get a chance to meet you unfortunately,As a winger and a vintage bike buff I was hoping for the opportunity.(I have met steve many times)But when I was by the swap tent somebody had you ear and I was cooking in the sun at that point.

Being as we stayed about an hour away,and planned an early start sunday to avoid the heat home,we also missed the cook out.But I believe the "Vintage Rice Burners" group was well represented by the atsma boys.There a great group of guys.

I do wish I had spent more time there,and will next year,as I know what Im am up against now.

Bikegeezer · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Mid-Ohio Stories

MR.CHocko · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:06 pm Post subject:

I know all about the have a bike for sale but it is not really for sale, routine. A lot of vendors do it at a lot of the big meets. Trust me like you I will not drive for 4 or 5 days just so that I can look at your junk, and like you I want to buy good parts. But unlike most people I am ACTUALLY willing to pay for them. The problem that most of us will be encountering is that all the good stuff that didn't go for much money is mostly gone. So what does that leave us with. The stuff is really expensive, and the junk that is really cheap. Now as a Vendor I am willing to bring the good stuff and I do. But I also bring some of my junk. Trust me my junk I will sell to you really cheap. Why? Because it is either try to sell it and see if someone may need a single CB500T carb body or V45 Magna carb parts, versus me selling it all for scrap. The thing is with most of the vendors today is they haven't figured that out yet.

mopehead440 · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:54 pm Post subject:

I didn't mean to stir the pot, 'till it got to stinkin'!

I have heard economic hard times till I can't stand it no more! As a business man, it makes more sense to take a little less profit margin on an item I've been toten around from meet to meet for three years plus; take that cash, and turn it in to more merchandise that will generate more profits. Any vendor that doesn't understand that philosophy, is doomed to failure. Keeping any merchandise, no matter how bad, or good, for an extended period of time, makes you lose money. Regardless of your expected profit margin, if you don't turn over your mechandise, and reinvest in more, you are on a downward spiral. Any vendor that carries the same items from meet to meet, and won't budge off the price, is on the fast train out!!

When you have the volume of customers, as you do at VMD or Barbers', they will dictate the market value of an item. The amazing thing about EBAY; as bad as I detest it; is that you don't have to establish a fair market value; your buyers' will do exactly that. One thing I like about Paul Millers' bikes on EBAY. He has the cahunnas to put them on with no reserve, and start the bid at 99 cents. You'll see this very seldom; most sellers don't have the balls! He has confidence in his items, and understands that he will get a fair price--no one is going to walk away with one for free!! Throw away the NADA and KELLY Price Guide! Your buying market will let you know the true worth, where you are, and at the time of sale.

Economic times are hard, but it has become an excuse, and a crutch, for sellers, (vendors), that aren't willing to work with the customers to make their business profitable. I collect vintage cars also, and I can assure you that there is no shortage of cash when it comes to desirable cars. They command just as high, or higher, than they did five years ago.

Lord have mercy.....I have done got cranked up!!!!! And so it goes....Danny Mac.

tory · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: Mid-Ohio Stories

MR.CHocko · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject:

Please do not get me started on Paul Miller. Mid-Ohio is supposed to be the largest meet in the country, and what happened there does not surprise me. When I go to a meet, I may bring some NOS Parts, in addition to my used stuff. I am going to sell the NOS stuff for below market value? NO I will not. The point I am trying to make is that this stuff is getting to be harder and harder to find. Because of this you have to pay for my time to find this stuff. With the car guys now getting into motorcycles and the Europeans coming here and buying this stuff in bulk, everyone has to realize that the prices will go UP for the good stuff.