BACKROADS • JUNE 2021
Page 8
INDUSTRY INFOBITES MERT LAWWILL NAMED GRAND MARSHAL OF 2021 AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS Featuring an On Any Sunday theme, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will highlight people, machines, and memorabilia from Bruce Brown’s beloved moto documentary AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mert Lawwill has been named Grand Marshal for the 2021 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event July 23-25 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Lawwill, an AMA Grand National Champion (1969), won his first AMA national at the storied Sacramento Mile in 1965, the first of his 15 career wins. In 1969 he was voted the AMA’s Most Popular Rider of the Year, and he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. Beyond his racing success, Lawwill is perhaps best-known for his featured role in Bruce Brown’s legendary 1971 moto documentary On Any Sunday, which chronicled his bid to defend his AMA Grand National title throughout the 1970 racing season. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the classic movie, and the 2021 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event will feature an On Any Sunday theme to celebrate the beloved documentary. Along with having one of the movie’s stars, Lawwill, as Grand Marshal, Lawwill’s Harley-Davidson dirt tracker, and a Husqvarna Malcolm Smith rode in the movie will be on display, along with other movie memorabilia. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2021 will also feature a special screening of On Any Sunday in celebration of 50 years, bringing back the excitement and joy of riding to young and old who attend. “I’m excited to experience all the vintage stuff happening at Mid-Ohio this July,” Lawwill said when invited to attend, “and honored to be chosen as the event’s Grand Marshal — especially since the AMA will be celebrating Bruce Brown’s On Any Sunday moto documentary during VMD weekend! Being involved in that film was a great experience, and reliving some of it this July will be fantastic.”
News from the Inside The 2021 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event will also feature all the vintage-oriented happenings classic-bike fans love about the event, including off-road and road racing, Hall of Fame activities, the legendary swap meet, and more.
98 YEARS OF FUN IN LACONIA It was around this time, back in the early 1900’s, a small group of riders finalized their plans for the first ever “gypsy tour” to Weirs Beach, New Hampshire. Now, over a 100 years later, Laconia is getting ready for the onslaught of a quarter of a million riders for a nine day-long event centered in that same spot those pioneer riders first made their mark. The World’s Oldest Motorcycle Rally returns to New Hampshire June 12-20 and after a 2020 full of unrest, uncertainty and the unknown, they couldn’t be more ready! Make time to catch the action at the races and exhibitions at NH Motor Speedway, including the FIM North American Vintage Championships starting on Saturday, June 12 and ending with the 98th Loudon Classic on Sunday, June 18th. Entertainment will be happening all week at some of your favorite spots, such as the High Octane Saloon (formerly Broken Spoke Saloon), the Sucker Punch Saloon and NASWA Resort. Vendors will be set up throughout Weirs Beach and at NH Motor Speedway and Laconia Harley-Davidson. The spectator-friendly Tower Street Hill Climb Expo WILL be back on Tuesday, June 15 as well as the popular AMATEUR Gunstock Hill Climb, Wednesday, June 16th. Stay tuned for more details on these and many other events and keep checking their events page online: laconiamcweek.com/schedule-of-events
GIVI’S NEW CATALOG FOR 2021 It’s always fun to peruse motorcycle sites to piece together wish lists and ideas for loved ones when birthdays and holidays roll around. Givi’s new 2021 catalogue is just the place to do that, with lots of new products to enhance and farkle your special ride. giviusa.com/pages/2021-givi-usa-catalog
