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The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine
AMCA Legends Chapter Meeting By: Wally Wersching he Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA) was formed in 1954, and now has over 12,000 members in the USA, Canada, and Europe. The AMCA’s goal is to restore, preserve, and operate motorcycles that are at least 35 years old. To be a member, it is not a requirement that you own an antique bike (or any bike for that matter) – just have the enthusiasm for, and love of old bikes. On the AMCA website www.antiquemotorcycle.org, there are over 60 chapters listed, and the number is constantly growing. I attended the first meeting of the Legends Chapter in Upstate South Carolina on September 19, 2015 at the Peach Blossom Diner in Spartanburg. The article I wrote about the meeting was also the first article that I had published in the Carolinas’ Full Throttle magazine. Over the years, I have come to know the members of the chapter by attending their events. I enjoy seeing and talking about the old bikes. It reminds me of the time when I used to ride my old Harleys. It was a different time in my life – a fun time! I went to the chapter’s website (amcalegendschapter.com) to learn about their upcoming meeting on Sunday, May 31st at the Grapevine Restaurant in Boiling Springs, SC. I decided to
go. I awoke early on Sunday morning, and after eating breakfast, I headed south to get on I-85. I-85 was beautiful with almost no traffic early on a Sunday morning. I followed I-85 until I exited onto Rte. 9 north. The Grapevine Restaurant was on the right after a mile or so. I pulled into the back parking lot and parked along the back curb where the club usually parks. I was early about 8:20am. They don’t go in for breakfast until 9:00am and have the meeting at 10:00am. I wanted to greet them as they rode in and give each of them a copy of the April and May issues of the Carolinas’ Full Throttle magazine. The first club member to arrive was the Vice President, Ken Berry, riding his old Flathead Harley. I knew it was him even before I saw who it was. His bike has a distinctive sound.
We talked for a while until he had to go inside to set up for the meeting. Then a couple rode in - the husband on his old Shovelhead Harley, and the wife on a Harley trike. We talked for a while until they went inside to meet a friend who had come earlier. They were going to attend the meeting and join the chapter. Next, the president of the chapter, Bud Blair, rode in on his classic Knucklehead. He and his old Harley are sort of celebri-
