BSA Is Marque Of The Year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2009

February 13, 2009 - One of Great Britain's most storied motorcycle companies, BSA, will be the Marque of the Year for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2009.

This event is billed as "the world's largest gathering of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts", and is set for July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

"BSA's place in motorcycling history is impressive, with its well-known and well-raced BSA Gold Stars, Shooting Stars and more,'' said Tigra Tsujikawa, events coordinator for the AMA.

"We're glad to showcase the marque at this year's AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, and highlight the machines and people who made BSA famous."

Founded in the 1860s as the Birmingham Small Arms Co. to build weapons for the Crimean War, BSA branched out to motorcycles and was making machines entirely in-house by 1910.

Originally aimed at the utility and recreational market, the bikes became well-known to racers the world over after the factory entered a team in the Daytona 200 in 1954.  BSA riders swept the top three places in the race that year, and the marque got off to a great start in the U.S. market.

The BSA Gold Star 500cc single, in particular, has become one of the most iconic bikes in all of motorcycling and is still highly collectible today, with many beautiful examples still being ridden and parts that are still available.

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BSA 101: A short history of the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year

Humble beginnings led to seven decades of motorcycle excellence.

What do the Crimean War, the manufacturing of rifles, and the building of bicycles have in common?

They're all events that led up to the British Birmingham Small Arms Co. -- better known to the world as BSA -- producing motorcycles that ultimately became among the most iconic in the world.  The legendary brand will be honored this year as the Marque of the Year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, set for July 24-26 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

"Despite its rather unorthodox beginning, BSA endured and carved out an impressive place in motorcycling history," said Tigra Tsujikawa, marketing and special events manager for the AMA.

"BSA Gold Stars, Shooting Stars and other models rightfully earned a reputation for performance on the track, and played a large role in the brand remaining popular long after the factory shuttered its doors in the 1970s.  I'm personally looking forward to showcasing the marque at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, and highlighting the machines and people who made BSA famous."

The Birmingham Small Arms Co. was formed in 1861 by a group of gun makers to supply weapons to the British government during the Crimean War.  As the war declined, the company branched out into making bicycles, and by 1903 produced its first experimental motorcycle, along with automobiles.

Its first in-house motorcycle appeared in 1910, and a subsidiary, BSA Motorcycles Ltd., was created after the first World War saw the company move back into arms manufacturing for the duration.

Between wars, the company focused on refining its motorcycles into well-regarded, reliable transportation that sold well in England, where BSA boasted that one in four motorcycles on the road was made by their company.  From the beginning and throughout its history, BSA made a splash with the evocative names it chose for its motorcycles: Blue Star, Empire Star, Golden Flash, Road Rocket, Spitfire, Thunderbolt and Lightning are among the most well known.

Perhaps its most famous model was the Gold Star, "born" in 1938 but refined after WWII.  It was named after the Gold Star pins awarded to motorcycles that lapped the famed Brooklands track at more than 100 mph, and would ultimately become the bike of choice among England's young rockers, who stripped them of unnecessary parts and hot-rodded them into café racers.

During the 1950s the company turned to racing, fielding teams in the Junior Clubman class at the Isle of Man TT.  By 1956, BSAs made up 53 of 55 entries in the class.

Looking to replicate its sales success with racing in the United States, the factory entered a team of racers in 1954 in the Daytona 200, which, at the time, was held on the beach course.  Aboard a mixture of single-cylinder Gold Stars and twin-cylinder Shooting Stars, BSA riders swept the top five places in the race, cementing the brand's image in the U.S. as a performance machine.

By the 1960s, small, reliable, oil-tight Japanese machines were gaining momentum.  To strengthen its position, BSA merged with Triumph, and had mild success with its Rocket 3, a three-cylinder bike that shared its engine and drivetrain with the Triumph Trident. Nevertheless, by the 1970s, performance Japanese motorcycles had displaced BSAs in the minds of many motorcyclists.

Following a merger with the Norton Villiers Triumph Group, the combined company stopped producing BSA-branded machines in 1973.

Still, BSAs endure today as both competitive vintage racers and, along with other British brands such as Triumph, staples of the modern café racer culture.

To learn more about BSA history, see numerous machines in person -- both on display and on the track -- and maybe even add one to your own collection, there's no better place than the country's largest celebration of motorcycling heritage: 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

The weekend will include highlights such as vintage racing and North America's largest motorcycle swap meet.  Also on tap are demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs, and guided rides through the rolling Ohio countryside.  The Classic Clubs this year will be the Sandcast Only Owner's Club (SOOC), and the International CBX Owners Association.

This year will be particularly special because it commemorates the 85th anniversary of the AMA, and will feature a parade of classic motorcycles representing each year of the AMA's 85 years.  Museum staff has compiled a list of significant models produced since 1924 for the parade.  Volunteers with bikes on that list are encouraged to contact the Museum for information about participating.  Information is at www.motorcyclemuseum.org

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefits the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.  The goal of the Museum, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling.

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AMA Announces 2009 Vintage Motorcycle Days in July

October 1, 2008 - The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that the 2009 edition of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will take place July 24-26, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days has grown to become America's grandest celebration of motorcycling heritage, and features numerous activities inspired by all eras.

The weekend is loaded with highlights, including the world's largest motorcycle swap meet, where collectors from throughout North America spread out over 35 acres to sell everything from fork boots to books to complete bikes.

Also on tap are demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, bike shows, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame auction, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, club corrals that feature both marque and regional clubs, and guided rides through the rolling Ohio countryside.

In addition, the weekend is scheduled to feature a full slate of American Historic Motorcycle Racing Association competition, including road racing, motocross, observed trials, cross country and dirt track for both vintage and post-vintage motorcycles..

All proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in nearby Pickerington, Ohio.

2009 marks the 18th year of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and the event's 15th year at the world-class complex of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

In 2008, nearly 70,000 attendees converged on Mid-Ohio for the mid-summer extravaganza, which featured Triumph as the Marque of the Year, and AMA racing legends Bill Baird and Gene Romero as co-Grand Marshals.

Tickets for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2009 will become available from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course beginning on Nov. 30, 2008, at www.midohio.com or by phone at (800) MID-OHIO.

More announcements regarding the details of 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be made soon, including the Marque of the Year, the Grand Marshal honoree and additional activities and exhibitions. For more information visit the Vintage Motorcycle Days website.

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