Ask 100 riders what makes a great motorcycle event, and you’ll likely get 100 different answers. Maybe racing gets your heart pumping: road racing, flat track, motocross, hare scrambles, trials. Maybe you like more of a hands-on experience, with professional workshops, group rides, demo rides, or track days. Perhaps your perfect day is a vast swap meet, wandering row after row through hundreds of vendors, searching for hidden treasures. Or maybe it’s all about the camaraderie, ogling motorcycles of all types representing more than 100 years of riding history, meeting Hall of Fame inductees and other motorcycle royalty, feeling the rumble of the Wall of Death, or joining ad-hoc “run what ya brung” barrel racing as the sun sets over a packed campground.

For us at Turn 14 Distribution, it’s all of the above. As a company built by and for enthusiasts, we don’t just attend Vintage Motorcycle Days. We’re proud to support it, elevate it, and help keep its culture thriving. Whether it’s backing racers, connecting builders with the parts they need, or spotlighting future legends, we’re here to preserve and grow the community that makes motorcycling special. Vintage Motorcycle Days isn’t just a destination. It’s a reflection of everything we believe in.

THE LEGACY OF VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS

Whatever your version of two-wheeled perfection looks like, Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Presented by Turn 14 Distribution has something for you. For more than 30 years, this event has brought together racers, builders, and die-hard enthusiasts at the sprawling 380-acre Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. What started as a humble swap meet has grown into a must-visit celebration of motorcycling culture that also benefits the AMA Hall of Fame Museum in nearby Pickerington.

The swap meet is now the largest in the world, drawing close to 900 registered vendors and tens of thousands of attendees across three days. This year, as the presenting sponsor, more than 70,000 riders, racers, fans, and volunteers joined us. Supporting Vintage Motorcycle Days means more than just a logo or booth. It’s our way of investing in the heritage, people, and passion that fuel the industry we serve.

SUPPORTING THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

We worked closely with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and other partners to help make this year’s event bigger and better. Joy Burgess, Director of Marketing and Communication at the AMA, captured it perfectly when she said, “We have more of everything. We have more racers, we have more types of racing, more vendors, more sponsors.”

From expanded vendor areas and new builder showcases to tech demos and hands-on workshops, we’re proud to play a part in creating those unforgettable moments. We want attendees to get up close with the machines they love, meet the builders behind the bikes, and walk away feeling inspired.

At this year’s event, our 40-foot booth space brought our passion and purpose to life. We displayed cutting-edge safety and performance gear from our premier partner brand, Dainese, including its Smart Air Vest and Leather Racing Suits. Attendees had the chance to see the gear up close, ask questions, and better understand the technology trusted by riders worldwide. We also showcased a lineup of Hondas spanning multiple eras: a 2012 CRF110, 2005 CRF150F, 1993 XR200R, and a 1999 CR125R. 

Throughout the weekend, numerous dealers stopped by the booth to reconnect, explore new opportunities, and get a closer look at how we continue to support the enthusiast community. More than a static display, our booth served as a hub for connection and education. We were there to help riders bridge the gap between the products they rely on and the passion that drives them, making it easier to ride smarter, safer, and with confidence.

A TRUE COMMUNITY GATHERING

One of the things that makes this event so unique, and why we wanted to support for 2025, is the overwhelming sense of community. It’s not about status or what you ride. It’s about showing up and sharing a love of motorcycles. We’ve seen it all: kids on their first mini-bike rides, seasoned racers reliving their glory days, passionate vendors offering one-of-a-kind parts, and seasoned pros sharing knowledge through open workshops. Teenagers making their first road trip on two wheels. Veterans hunting for the final piece in a years-long restoration.

For us, this is what it’s all about. We’re proud to help nurture this culture, both through the products and services we offer year-round and through hands-on involvement at events like this. We want to make it easier for riders to find what they need, connect with each other, and keep their passion alive.

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION  

If you really want to see the future of motorcycling, just look at the kids. River Gianfrancesco, who manages manufacturer demo rides across the country, said it best: “It’s a family-friendly experience, and probably the only place where you can see young people learning how to ride responsibly, which helps perpetuate the positivity of motorcycling as a family sport.”

Joy Burgess added a memory that has stuck with us: “A little girl, maybe five years old with pigtails, just roosted by me in a golf cart, the happiest kid in the world. We have a dedicated kids’ area, and it’s incredible to see them out there on their own hay bale track.”

We support programs like these because we believe in building a better future for motorcycling. The kids riding today are the riders, builders, and creators of tomorrow. That’s why we’re committed to making events like Vintage Motorcycle Days accessible, educational, and welcoming for every generation.

CONTROLLED CHAOS AND LASTING IMPRESSIONS  

If you ask first-time attendees what surprised them most, the word “overwhelming” comes up again and again, but always in a good way. Ken and Cathy Byrne came mostly for the swap meet, but quickly realized there was much more to take in. “I never expected it to be this big, with this much different stuff going on,” Cathy said. “But we’ve met so many people, and they’ve all been so open and welcoming.”

Ken added, “The traffic of motorcycles is unbelievably chaotic. But the thing that amazes me is that nobody here seems to be angry. Everybody is zipping past each other; it’s a courteous chaos. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Their friend Jim Markus agreed. “It’s organized chaos, but everybody is so friendly. I’ve had such a great time.”

If there’s one piece of advice Ken has for newcomers, it’s this: “You’ve gotta have a pit bike. It’s a whole different experience when you have a little bike to ride around, and that was our one mistake, trying to do this on foot.” They’re already planning to return next year, better equipped and ready for more.

From barn finds and vintage restorations to track builds and custom classics, we’re here to keep the culture rolling. Vintage Motorcycle Days is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. It’s not just about the bikes. It’s about the people, the connections, and the stories that come with them.

If you missed this year’s event, don’t worry. Whether you’re rebuilding a legend or starting fresh on your first ride, we have the parts, the partners, and the passion to help you along the way. Reach out anytime.