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AMA Communications
American Motorcyclist Association
American Motorcyclist Association
07/01/2008 - 12:24 PM
Pickerington, OH
The American Motorcyclist Association's (AMA) Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, July 25-27, is packed with classic bikes, historic racers and timeless style. Occasionally a machine appears at "the world's largest motorcycle swap meet" that embodies all three: Craig Vetter's Rickman-framed, Kawasaki-powered vintage race bike.
Vetter's bike is the real deal. "It has an AMA racing pedigree. It's original. It's flashy. Not many around like this," he said.
Vetter acquired numerous nickel-plated Rickman frame kits in the early 1970s for Triumphs, Hondas and Kawasakis. One of those frames found its way into a Vetter race bike, at the urging of Derek Rickman, who along with his brother, Don, invented the Rickman frames. Built for the AMA's Café Class, the bike was powered by a Russ Collins-tuned Kawasaki 903 engine, bored to 1,100cc, and fitted with a special version of Darryl Bassani's Quiet Pipe, and then-new V-rated Michelin race tires.
In 1976, Vetter took the Rickman to Daytona and put those tires to the test, scoring third behind Lang Hindle and Mike Baldwin in the Café Class. The bike was retired shortly after. In 1998, it was donated to the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.
But that's only half the story of this certifiably cool motorcycle. In late 2007, Vetter and Motorcycle Hall
"Rickman frames were about as exotic as an average American could expect to get," Vetter recalled. "I thought he was just going to polish it, but he's turned it into something that's just beautiful."
Simpson explained that a large part of the appeal for the Vetter Rickman comes from its rarity and styling. "The younger crowd entering our sport has a greater interest in things old than we did growing up," he said. "The interest in café-styled bikes has probably helped, as well."
Enthusiasts of all ages can see this rare machine for themselves at the café racer display at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, along with numerous other classic motorcycles of every brand imaginable at bike shows featuring American, British, European and Japanese bikes. There's even a show for everyday classic bikes called the "Ride 'Em, Don't Hide 'Em show", a perennial favorite among Vintage Motorcycle Days attendees.
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