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RETROTOURS NEWSLETTER WINTER 2015-2016
Hope you had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
The 2015 season ended just over a month ago and I’ve been recuperating, but now it’s time to look ahead. First though I must apologize for not having posted ride reports after each ride. I just did not have the energy or ambition to keep up but with winter coming I plan to post the 2015 ride reports to www.retrotours.com over the next several months. Here is a brief synopsis of the past season.
There were 12 rides on the schedule and 10 of those ran. Additionally, 2 custom tours were added so in the end there were a dozen outings. Did you know that RetroTours can design a tour for you or your club to suit your timetable and desires?
In all, 63 riders and 4 passengers (yes, it is possible to carry a passenger on certain tours) were on the road for a total of 31 days, running over 23.000 miles collectively. We had some electrical gremlins, a flat tire, a broken cable and a few minor spills, but everyone made it home safely. We discovered amazing roads, experienced true adventure and thoroughly enjoyed the company of like minded individuals. Sometimes we rode fast (relatively speaking) sometimes not so much and no tow vehicles or ditched equipment were involved. It was a very good year. The 2016 schedule will come to you in the next Newsletter before being posted on the web site, but a preview follows:
July 8-10th is the 4th annual AHRMA road race and swap meet at New Jersey Motorsports Park. A 2 day Saturday-Sunday RetroTour will return again in 2016. Each day involves under 100 miles of riding on little known back roads. After a full day at the track on Saturday walking through the open pit lanes, gawking at exotic (and not so exotic) antique road race equipment and riders, spectating and carousing the swap meet, we'll enjoy a nice dinner out before retiring for the night in a private Jersey Shore beach house; bathing suits recommended. Sunday includes a 90 minute ferry boat ride across the Chesapeake Bay.
THE MILE at Springfield, Illinois is a must see spectacle. From comfortable bleachers you will enjoy a clear view of the entire oval dirt track as AMA superstars blast down the front straight at 120 mph then toss it sideways into the broad 180 degree turn, steel shoes down, broadsliding within inches of competitors. Photo finishes are the norm. There are two events in 2016: May 29th and September 4th, both holiday weekends; I'm leaning towards Memorial Day if there are a couple of hard core vintage bike enthusiasts out there who can join in. We'll need 5 days and will ride 400 miles on each of four of those days. Holiday traffic will not even be noticeable as we traverse the length of Pennsylvania and Ohio on secondary routes. If you haven't been to The Mile before you should really consider this one.
The Rattlesnake Enduro is July 24th, deep within the remote mountains of central PA. We'll ride 150 miles to Bloomsberg on Friday and visit Bill's Old Bike Barn Saturday morning. Continuing north we reach Renovo, PA at sundown where we spend 2 nights at the unique, quirky, Yesterdays Hotel, popping up to the Enduro for breakfast Sunday and passing through the Grand Canyon of PA with a remote dirt road thrown in for full vintage effect. Monday we'll hightail it home, possibly with a short ride across the mighty Susquehanna on the oldest continuously operating ferry boat in the America's.
DRUM ROLL.........The Barber Vintage Festival is October 7th-9th In Leeds, Alabama. RetroTours has visited the Barber 6 or 7 times over the years--I admit to loosing count-- and we're due to return. A route has been developed which incorporates a taste of the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Dragon, The Cherohalla Skyway, The Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, The Foothills Parkway and more. We'll have 2 full days to enjoy the museum and festival but the 4 day run down and back follows the length of the Appalachian Ridge and really is amazing, consisting of four 350 mile days in each direction. Of course you will need to be physically fit and a competent rider for this trip. Pricing will be adjusted to make the trip more affordable but there are limited spots available so if you have an interest arrange your calendar and get in touch ASAP. If you want to "roll your own" (ride your own bike) for this trip you can, so long as it was manufactured between 1970 and 1985 (so we can maintain a compatible pace). If you have a serious old bike addiction this 3,000 mile high voltage adventure will change your life.
CHEERS!
joel @ retrotours
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