NEWS FLASH...
every month we get a few emails from readers asking if we can list their poker run or bike show in the calendar. We always say, “Yes, send over the info and we would be glad to.” However, there is a catch: to make the newsstand in time for your event, we need to get the info at least three months ahead of time. If you want us to post your event info, we need time to do so. E-mail any info to baggersmag@sorc.com
Right about now, a lot of us are putting our bikes away for their long winter’s naps. As the weather cools off, so does the riding season, and with it, the schedule of bike events. It’s a great time to tweak your bagger in anticipation of rides to come in the following year. That’s why part of this month’s calendar is focusing on swap meets.
NOVEMBER 3-6
Lone Star Rally
Galveston, TX
This is the 10th anniversary of the Lone Star Rally. The event is free to the public and is a family-friendly festival. They will have plenty of vendors as well as demo rides,
attractions, and two stages with live music. For more information, visit lonestarrally.com.
NOVEMBER 6-8
Grand Canyon and Red Rocks Motorcycle Tour
Phoenix
Ride some great two-lane twisties on your way to the Red Rocks of Sedona and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Travel through historic Prescott and experience “Whiskey Row,” then on to Jerome “The Living Ghost Town,” through beautiful and spiritual Sedona, then on to the spectacular Oak Creek Canyon. From there, this guided ride goes to Flagstaff and on to Williams located on historic Route 66, and home of the famous Grand Canyon Railroad. You can then spend a day at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The return trip to Phoenix will be another scenic adventure as the journey makes the gradual transition from mountain landscapes back to the desert floor. For more information, visit twistedtrailz.com.
NOVEMBER 11
Veterans Day Ride to Arlington National Cemetary
Gaithersburg, MD
Battley Harley-Davidson will host the Veteran’s Day Ride to Arlington National Cemetery. Riders will meet at Battley H-D in Gaithersburg Maryland, at 7:45 a.m. Kickstands will go up at 8:30 a.m. sharp. Coffee and donuts will be provided by Battley H-D prior to the ride. For more information, visit battley.com.
NOVEMBER 18-20
Progressive International Motorcycle Shows
San Mateo, CA
When the riding season is winding down, this international show series is ramping up. Each year it tours large cities across the U.S., giving us plenty to drool over while
our bikes are hibernating until spring. This year’s series kicks off in San Mateo, with manufacturers from the whole range of riderdom showing the public what’s coming
in 2012. There’ll also be plenty of demos, stunts, and bike shows to keep you entertained. For more information, visit internationalmotorcycleshows.com.
DECEMBER 4
Sumter Swap Meet
Bushnell, FL
Sumter Swap Meets (formerly Webster Swap Meets) are in their 18th season, with a new location at the Sumter County Fairgrounds, just a couple miles north of the Webster Flea Market. To get the best spaces register now via U.S. mail (you can get the pricing off of the website). It is an extra $10 if you register at the door. For more
information, visit floridaswapmeets.net.
DECEMBER 4
So-Cal Cycle Show and Swap Meet
Long Beach, CA
The So-Cal Cycle Show and Swap Meet is a virtual supermarket for bikes at Long Beach Veterans Stadium. With hundreds of vendors selling all brands of new, used, and vintage motorcycle and bicycle parts and accessories, the event has become a must-visit for the collector or rider. From shops liquidating excess inventory to the hobbyist selling leftover parts from his latest project, you can find phenomenal deals on hard-to-find items. The meet encompasses all areas of the cycle hobby, including apparel and gear at low swap meet prices. You can ride your cycle out and show or sell it among hundreds of others in the Bike Corral area located inside the event or reserve a vendor space to sell parts, tools, or cycle-related merchandise. For more information, visit toppingevents.com/socal_cycle.asp.
DECEMBER 4
Jeff Williams Motorcycle Swap Meet
Oklahoma City, OK
This event takes place each month. The $20 fee is for a 10x10-foot booth that includes one admission. Additional people are $5, additional booth space is $15, $7 if you need to rent a table, and electricity is free. Setup starts at 6 a.m. For more information, visit jwswapmeet.com.
DECEMBER 18
Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meets
St. Charles, IL
Buzz and Pixie Walneck started their classic motorcycle business in 1978 and put out a flyer on what used parts they had for sale. It eventually grew into Walneck’s Classic Cycle Trader magazine. They started putting on a motorcycle swap meet at Santa Fe Speedway in Chicago right around 1980. It’s grown steadily since then and now Walneck’s promotes 16 motorcycle swap meets per year in the Midwest. You’ll find new and used parts for American, British, Japanese, and Euro bikes. For more information, visit walneckswap.com.