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MountainFest 2008 first report

R

rocketman

Guest
Well another great Mountainfest event is over and again I had a great time. Since I was working the show this year I got a VIP pass that got me in to the display as they were setting up Thursday, and Mylan Park without paying (the only venue that had a cost) but I never made it out there since I was shooting both the vintage rides and the vintage racing on Sunday. Again they put on a really great show and its a very well organized event, working behind the scenes this year was really interesting and has given my a better appreciation of the level of effort that goes into this. Just about everything is paid for by the sponsors, which keeps most events free of charge, but that takes a lot of work to pull off!

Took the R100/7 this year and although she is 30 years old with 175K she ran great the whole way out and back. Did about half of the 220 miles on the slab, mostly the section across the top of MD that goes over the mountains. Although she pretty much topped out at 70-75 going up them loooonnng uphill climbs with throttle full open, she just purred right along and even after 5 hours of hard riding with me and all the gear, she still maintained a even idle of right around 900 RPM when IÔÇÖd pull over and riding around once I got to Morgantown.

This year I stayed at the Hotel Morgan downtown and got a really great panorama shot of almost 300 deg. of the town from the roof garden. The hotel was built in 1923 and was (and still is) the tallest structure in the main downtown area. Morgantown sits in a nice little valley surrounded by hills, right along the Monongalia River which forms the first leg of the 3000 plus miles of navigable river systems that flow into the Mississippi river and down to New Orleans. Still plenty of shipping along it and the lock system is still maintained by the Corps of Engineers.

In total I took around 850 shots which will take a while to process but IÔÇÖve got a few for now.

This year I got to go on both rides and Friday there was a reception at a hill top lodge just outside of town for the lenders, (folks who had bikes in the vintage display) and the VIPÔÇÖs at the end of the Friday vintage ride, so I got to met and get to know some of the folks I had seen from last years ride. I also got the long distance award for furthest travel on the bike ridden in the rides and got my copy of the book from last year featuring a page of my shots from last years vintage ride. IÔÇÖm in print!! Ye Ha!

And this year I saw 7 or 8 BMWÔÇÖs, so thatÔÇÖs double the number from last year, at this rate BMwÔÇÖs may take over the event! Ha Ha!

So here are few shots till I process more..

A really kool hill climbing bike with a Honda 750 motor that has won a number of championships dig the tiny gas tank, holds just enough for one run
MF-1.jpg


I got a new filter for the camera called a ÔÇ£StarÔÇØ filter which did some effects with hightlights/point light sources/reflections

A stibe sidecar

MF-2.jpg


An interesting side note on this, while flipping thru the channels in my hotel room, I cam across an MTV video of a rap group doing a number where they were riding around in a mid 60ÔÇÖs /2 with one of these stibe sidecars! Have no clue as to the name of the group, but I found it an odd combo, rap signers and an old /2!

This is one of my favorite shots so far

Star2-sm.jpg


A self portrait of sorts

self-2-sm.jpg


Another self portrait taken in the mirror-walled elevator of the Hotel Morgan

self-3-sm.jpg


The instrument cluster of the Suzuki RE-5 Rotary, always thought this was pretty kool

MF-3-RE5.jpg


And a shot of the RE-5 motor

MF-4RE5.jpg


HowÔÇÖd you like to maintain this ÔÇ£chainÔÇØ? From back in the day when motorcycles where just bicycles with a motor attached, this one being one with the engine that made mass production motorcycles possible, the Otto Cycle four stroke engine.

MF-5-belt.jpg


They also had some great posters hung in the main exhibit hall, this was one of my favorites. Ah, for the simpler days when there was no fear about being called out on the ATTATT issue (since there was no ISSUE! Ha Ha!) Now, thatÔÇÖs how to go riding, whatever you happen to have on at the moment, and donÔÇÖt forget to stop and light up now and then to further enhance the ride! Ha Ha!
I guess for me one of the things I enjoy most about the vintage events there and in general, is that the owners and riders of these machines seem to cross all boarders, interests and groups, in other words, diversity, where the machines bring us together in a common bond that goes beyond brand, lifestyle or background, the brand becomes secondary, something I often find lacking in groups centered around a specific marquee.

Motorcycling back in this day and age must have a total hoot!

MF-6poster.jpg


ThatÔÇÖs all for now, once I get some more processed and up on my site I post a few more and a link to the rest.

RM
 
But have you tried the Niagara Falls Custom bike museum? Clasic Pig man

<img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/mrich12000/IMG_0109.jpg">


1923 BMW Single

<img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb140/mrich12000/IMG_0114.jpg">

Like to have gone to that rally, hope to do the Salty Fog .
 
Nice report, Rocket. I wasn't there this year, I left town to get away from it, and the noise, actually. The last couple years I would check out the vintage display area and did really enjoy that. You're right, and I gotta hand it to them at Triple S HD, they do a great job with Mountainfest logistics.
 
Nice report, Rocket. I wasn't there this year, I left town to get away from it, and the noise, actually. The last couple years I would check out the vintage display area and did really enjoy that. You're right, and I gotta hand it to them at Triple S HD, they do a great job with Mountainfest logistics.


Actually downtown was pretty quiet for the most part, which did surprise me, I guess most of the bikes stay around the Waterfront and Mylan Park area, but I hear you on getting away from it, you should see what its like in DC during the Rolling Thunder event! Yikes! you want to hear loud!!! I stay away from that like the plague! Ha Ha!

While I'm not much into the chrome and cruisers as a personal ride, there are some pretty kool ones to be seen, some of the custom jobs are pretty amazing, can't imagine riding them any distance, but it is fun looking at and shooting them. Talking with the folks that put it on, Mountainfest LLC, the number of sponsors is amazing for such a realatively small city, some work pretty much behind the scenes, I only hope they can maintain the quality of the vintage side and continue all of the events without incidents. I guess time will tell....

RM
 
I hit Mylan Park on Saturday for about seven minutes and headed back home (donÔÇÖt do crowds). In the evening I headed down to the waterfront, caught a few bands and then took in the fireworks display. Enjoyed looking at the vintage bikes on display and some good conversations with new friends. I feel the individuals behind the scenes did one heck of a job. The festival layout reminds me of the University with its various satellites throughout the city of Morgantown. To me this is what keeps it interesting and gives it distinction. I wanted to see the vintage race Sunday but didnÔÇÖt make it. The sad part is I live .5 mile from the race (my windows rattled for four days).

Kennis

....................................................................<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/thelightzoo/HoldingTank/photo?authkey=Z67mDpiyHHQ#5228679901307467330"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/thelightzoo/SJAAquGn9kI/AAAAAAAAD3A/YKnrGzq3C9w/s400/IMG_8278.jpg" /></a>
 
What artist painted that image of the woman/cigarrette/motorcycle?
I can't quite see the signature and thats the uncroped image. I'll ask the co-ordinator of the vintage events and see if he can track down the owner and let you know.

I really love that old MC artwork and old adds, I have a poster in my office for a Zundapp KS601 Green Elephant side car rig with the rider (female) and driver sitting a field next to the bike, he's got on shorts and is smoking while she is also wearing shorts a mid-dirf(sp?) open jacket and little bra top and high heels. It is SO 50's its a scream!

When men were men, and motorcycles could hardly get out of their own way! Ha Ha!

RM
 
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