It seems that Cabin Fever is still gripping Johnny’s Vintage Motorcycle Company (JVMC). To bring our temperatures closer to normal, we made a field trip Saturday, February 19th to the Classic Events Swap Meet at the Medina County Fairgrounds! We had a space there. “Tropical Medina” is beautiful this time of year, especially if you are in the middle of sixteen thousand square feet of old bikes and parts.
The meet was indoors in the Community Center Building at the Medina Fairgrounds and is produced by our friend and contributor, Will Stoner. Will has been in the swap meet biz for over twenty years. He now calls his company Classic Events, so if you see that name or “Classic Swap Meets” you know you’re going to a show for motorcycle enthusiasts, run by motorcycle enthusiasts. For more info on other Classic Events, go to
www.classicswapmeets.com.
Although we have been going to swap meets longer than Will has been producing them, we changed things up this time. Instead of just bringing old parts to sell or trade, we had a display of some of our “Homegrown” parts and other quality items, supplies and services we offer at JVMC. Along with the new stuff, we brought a few of our project bikes. These special machines are all equipped with our top quality, American-made-to-our-specifications parts. The customers there were able to see firsthand how our pieces turn a good project into a great one.
The whole JVMC crew was on hand to chat with the visitors. Johnny, Hilo, Mindi and Mark answered questions and offered tips to help our customers make their bikes road burning show winners.
Saturday’s weather was “beautiful” for Medina, Ohio in February: sunny, forty degrees and a twenty five mile per hour wind! Those balmy conditions brought out several outside vendors, in addition to the full house of sellers inside. Sales were brisk with many interesting pieces changing hands. Among the bikes and bits going to new homes were a Kawasaki A-9, Penton parts, a Royal Enfield gas tank and H-D Servi Car fenders.
The bike show always brings out exciting pieces of history, fettled by expert hands. This show was no different. Master wrench Steve Bensen worked into the wee hours of Saturday morning to finish Larry Barnes’ spectacular 1948 Indian Chief. Their work was rewarded with the Best of Show Award.
The swap meet was a hint of spring in the gray Ohio winter. There are other signs of spring too: The shop is buzzing with activity; customers are filing in, the phones are ringing and the restoration department is in top cog in full song! We hope to hear from all of you too. Stop by the store, check out the web site and our eBay store or send us an e-mail at info@johnnysvintagemotorcycle.com.