Page 52 - 2019 Laconia Rally News

TOHE NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE
Triumph,
BSA and
Norton. Many of us got our start on smaller Japanese machines from the 1960’s but even earlier as well as much newer Japanese bikes on dis- play may remind you of your beginnings.
ne of the best moments
of a walk through a motorcy-
cle museum is coming across
an old leather jacket or photo
or a motorcycle that relates
to your past or that of a
friend or family member.
The National Motorcycle
Museum has almost 500
bikes and thousands of
pieces of memorabilia, toys
and ad artwork; some will
likely “speak to you.” At
this museum, interpretive
exhibits built around a fine collection of machines and historical objects are from around the world. And changing exhibi- tion topics have included the custom bikes by Arlen Ness, drag racing machines, land speed record streamlin- ers, police and military bikes, plus motocross, enduro, hillclimb, board track and dirt track racing motorcycles.
While the National Motorcycle Museum has, at last count, 498 motorcycles on display, what is really exceptional about this
Most special Museum exhibits are in place one year and often include machines and memorabilia on loan to the Museum. In fact, since the Museum opened in Anamosa in 2001, most of the motorcycles in the National Motorcycle Museum have been loaned by supportive collectors. With each visit you’ll see some old favorites
museum is its memorabilia. Literally thousands of printed documents like advertising posters, manuals, post cards, photos and even original paintings are on display plus riding gear and race tro- phies. The 600 piece toy collection includes tin and cast iron and some great and rare pedal cars. Over 60 19th and early 20th Century bicycles and early advertising art are on display as well. There’s even a fully restored Shell Motor Oil service station in the Museum.
like Steve McQueen’s Indian Chief chopper and Tom Reiser’s Chevy V8 drag bike, but some new features, too, like the famous Cal Rayborn/Dennis “Bub” Manning streamliner and Salt Ghost, a gritty Triumph dry lakes racer with a great history.
Plus, J&P Cycles is just up
the road one mile. Eastern Iowa’s small towns have great character and welcome motorcyclists into their establishments. Most shop- keepers in the region know of the National Motorcycle Museum and J&P Cycles, founded by the late John Parham. In fact, the National Motorcycle Museum was voted
the Iowa Tourism Outstanding Attraction for 2015. Located just outside downtown Anamosa, it’s an easy walk from the Museum to a
When you plan a visit know that the Museum is set in the beautiful bluffs of the Mississippi River and fine winding roads offering great scenery abound.
The mission of National Motorcycle
Museum, Anamosa, Iowa, is to pre-
serve and present the great history of
American motorcycling. Museum
exhibits represent machines made everywhere in the
world; machines we have ridden here in America for over 120 years. Merkel, Thor, Excelsior, Curtiss, Reading- Standard are among early American brands on display in
the Museum, but Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcy-
cles are best represented. European makers like Ducati, Moto-Guzzi, Parilla, BMW are here, plus British marques such as Velocette, Brough, Vincent, Douglas and of course 50
diner and two fast-food restaurants and other retail.
The National Motorcycle Museum is open daily, year around, closed only on New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Seasonal daily hours are on the Museum website as is a short video tour to give you a taste of Museum exhibitions. Go to nationalmcmu- seum.org to plan your trip. H