GREENFIELD — Thirty motorcyclists, all sporting bikes manufactured before the 1970s, lined up at the gates of the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Saturday, honking their horns in anticipation of their 45-mile ride.
The group represented a small section of the members of the Yankee Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America that convened over the weekend for one of nine national meets the group hosts every year.
“The most fun thing of this event is getting a pack of old bikes and just cruising,” commented Ken Herschfield, membership chair of the Yankee Chapter. “It’s like taking a step back in time.”
The group embarked on a 45-mile trip through Greenfield, Montague, Gill, Northfield, Erving and Sunderland where they waved to onlookers and gazed at Franklin County’s rolling hills.
“When I ride my bike,” Herschfield said, “I wave to everyone to show the joy of riding antique motorcycles.”
The Yankee Chapter, hosting the weekend’s event, is one of the largest chapters of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America. Founded in 1973, the chapter covers all of New England and has 380 members. Despite this chapter not being the oldest, the national organization was founded by six motorcycle enthusiasts, two of whom were from Greenfield, according to club member Dana Faucher.
Not only is there a draw of people to this event from far-flung states like Pennsylvania, but motorcyclists are excited about this area in particular as the original Indian motorcycle production plant was in Springfield. While Indian motorcycles are no longer produced in New England, motorcyclists love to show off their antique bikes from this company.
“You don’t have to be mechanically inclined,” Herschfield said. “I just love bikes and get help from my friend.”
For mechanics and friends of mechanics, the event served as a good spot to pick up parts for antique motorcycles. One hundred and fifty vendors came to the Franklin County Fairgrounds to sell coveted antique parts. Club members make lists of the exact parts they need, and scour the open-air market to find that special part.
About 600 people attended on Saturday. This meet has been hosted in New England for more than 50 years, with venue changes as needed, according to Herschfield.
It is not necessary to own an operational antique motorcycle to be a club member, Herschfield said; the Antique Motorcycle Club of America also welcomes enthusiasts.
“Those old bikes feel alive when you sit on them,” noted Will Lusignan, director of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America’s national board of directors, who had traveled to Greenfield from Wisconsin.
The club’s website, antiquemotorcycle.org, has more details about joining.
Bella Levavi can be reached at blevavi@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.