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Vintage Iron, Modern Magic: 2025 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
AMA VMD packs a lot into a three-day weekend. Bike and people watching is part of the fun. (Photos by the author)
From the moment I crested the hill and saw row upon row of tent tops, trucks, RVs, toy haulers, motorcycles, quads, golf carts, minibikes, and pit bikes spread across the rolling green hills of Lexington, Ohio, I knew AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days was in full roar. Now in its 33rd year – and its 30th at the 380-acre Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course complex – the event felt more alive than ever.
Everywhere you look folks are having a good time.
This year’s VMD was held July 25-27 (Friday-Sunday) and drew upwards of 40,000 attendees and more than 300 roadracers, motocrossers, hare scramblers, trials riders, flat-trackers, and pitbikers. VMD is a high-energy, family-friendly, multigenerational, not-to-be-missed motorcycle festival that brings together vintage fans and general enthusiasts. Motorcycles of all ages, sizes, brands, and types buzzed around everywhere as kids, teens, adults, and seniors wandered from races to demo rides to seminars to bike shows to the swap meet and back again.
You could spend a full day just wandering around the swap meet.
Brad Lackey, the 1982 500cc World Motorcross Champion and AMA Hall of Famer, was this year’s Grand Marshal, and VMD commemorated two Suzuki milestones: the 40th anniversary of the GSX-R sportbike and the 50th anniversary of the RM motocross series machines.
These ladies were all smiles after their demo rides.
Among the OEMs offering demo rides was Royal Enfield, who also provided support for the Motorcycle Classics AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show presented by Royal Enfield (say that three times fast!). While at VMD, I gathered testimonials after attendees returned from Royal Enfield demo rides. Reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with riders expressing excitement about the brand’s resurgence over the past few years and praising its lineup of classic-styled, affordable machines. Many said they were ready to add a Royal Enfield as the second, third, or tenth (!) motorcycle in their garage.
Teach ’em when they’re young, and they’ll be hooked for life.
Royal Enfield had its full range of models on hand, including the air-cooled single-cylinder 350s (Meteor, Classic, and Hunter), liquid-cooled single-cylinder 450s (Guerrilla and Himalayan), and air-cooled parallel-Twin 650s (Bear, Classic, Continental GT, INT, Shotgun, and Super Meteor). You can read my review of the Guerrilla 450.
Most VMD attendees spectate, but more than 300 racers come to bang bars on the Mid-Ohio roadrace circuit and the motocross course set up on the rolling hills of the 380-acre campus. This is Doc Batsleer’s Indian Sport Scout, which he campaigned in the Class C-Hand Shift class.
AMA staff said that this year’s VMD broke attendance records. Both the swap meet and camping areas were sold out, and the energy across the grounds was electric. Everywhere you turned, something was happening. From racing to wrenching to teaching to socializing, the weekend was a full-throttle celebration of motorcycling heritage and community. And for enthusiasts of a certain age, the ring-a-ding-ding and blue smoke of 2-strokes took us right back to our earliest days of riding and dreaming.
Mud just adds to the fun!
At the heart of VMD was a full weekend of vintage roadracing on Mid-Ohio’s iconic 2.4-mile, 15-turn circuit. Races ranged from pre-war machines to rumbling sidecars and thunderous V-twin baggers. WERA ran a tight, exciting program, and the Bagger Racing League was a crowd favorite, with dramatic Production Stock and Super Street showdowns.
Out in the fields and woods surrounding the roadrace circuit were off-road races and trials competitions. On Saturday night, the Ashland County Fairgrounds hosted flat-track racing.
A motorcyclist’s best friend.
When the bikes weren’t on track, crowds packed the paddock area and AMA Hall of Fame Fanzone, where B’laster hosted stunt shows, rider seminars, and autograph sessions. One of the most popular attractions was the Wall of Death, which attracted shoulder-to-shoulder spectators all weekend long.
The Penton Owners Group hosted a large gathering of Penton bikes to honor John Penton’s 100th birthday, a fitting tribute since Mr. Penton passed away on Sept. 7, a few weeks after he turned 100.
Their shirts may say Triumph, but they took a shine to the Royal Enfields.
And then there was the legendary swap meet, also the largest ever with more than 860 vendors hawking their wares. It was a mind-boggling gold mine of rare parts, barn finds, memorabilia, and mechanical oddities. Rows upon rows of tables buzzed with collectors, builders, and bargain hunters.
Some of the most touching moments weren’t about horsepower, they were about heart. I watched parents teaching their young kids to ride in the grass and mud, helping them pop their first wheelie or get their boots dirty. It was a reminder that this event isn’t just about bikes; it’s about passing the passion on to the next generation.
He’s stoked to compete even on a wet track.
Even in the sticky 95-degree heat, even during the sudden lightning storms that delayed races and demo rides, the energy never faded. If anything, the weather added to the excitement. For many, the mud became part of the fun. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days reminded all who attended that motorcycling’s spirit doesn’t age, it just gains character. We’re already counting the days until next year’s event.
The 34th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will be held July 24-26, 2026, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. For more information, visit the AMA website.
The post Vintage Iron, Modern Magic: 2025 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days appeared first on Rider Magazine.
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