By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Fort Hays Disabled American Veterans will host the second Veterans Vintage Bike Show July 9 and 10 at the Unrein Building at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.
The event is a fundraiser for disabled veterans. Fundraising along with a donation from the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation help purchase the DAV a new van.
The van is used to transport veterans to Veterans Administration medical appointments. The DAV is considering purchasing another van for use by veterans in western Kansas, Pat Martin, volunteer, said.
All bikes entered in the show must be 1987 or earlier and can be foreign or domestic models.
Martin said he hoped the event will draw vintage bike entries from across the Midwest.
Martin, a Vietnam veteran, owns a '72 Harley Iron Head; however, it's in pieces and still being restored.
He hopes he and his son can tackle the "basket case" this winter and have the bike ready for next year's show.
"I think it comes from your childhood," Martin said of his passion for old bikes. "A lot of people who are into older bikes can remember back to days when they were growing up on the farm and the old motorcycles that your dad or your granddad had."
Some vintage bike owners have inherited the bikes from family members.
"What we found the first time around that we did this was that it wasn't so much the motorcycles, but the stories behind them," Martin said. "People who have these motorcycles have a story to tell."
The bike entry fee is $35 — $25 if you pre-register. Registrations are being taken now. For more information or to register a bike, you can contact Martin at 785-269-7879 or at [email protected]. The event's website is www.oldbikez.com.
Rare motorcycles from the Mike Bahnmaier collection will be on display. Bahnmaier has an extensive vintage motorcycle collection with bikes on display at both the St. Francis Motorcycle Museum and the Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette.
General admission to the show will be $10; youth 14 and younger will be admitted free.
The event will also have a parts swap meet that will be sponsored by the Free Tomorrow Motorcycle Club. Organizers are also gathering donated items for a live auction that will include items such as gift cards from local businesses and a barbecue grill.
Weaver's BBQ will sell concessions. A beer garden, which will be outside, will be sponsored also be sponsored by the Free Tomorrow Motorcycle Club. Limited free camping will be offered at the fairgrounds by registration.
Four local riders from the Cross Country Chase will be in attendance with their bikes and chase vehicles.
The American Legion Riders will do a Sunday memorial run. The VFW will host a cornhole tournament on Saturday. Registration is at 10 a.m. Games start at 11 a.m.
The American Veterans Kansas will host a short poker run starting at 11 a.m. Saturday that will be a fundraiser for the Soldiers' Home at Fort Dodge.
Good Time Motorcycles has donated shirts to the event. Those shirts will be sold for $25 each with proceeds benefiting the DAV.
The Christain Motorcycle Association will provide free breakfast for those who have bikes entered in the show on Sunday morning.
The event is hosting a scavenger hunt for children. They are encouraged to look for the event's mascot bison, Alf. Wooden nickels will be distributed to children in the area prior to the event. If the child returns the nickel at the bike show, they can get a free ice cream at Vernie's.
Local organizers of the event are part of the Sunflower Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America.