FEATURE
2017 AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS
P78
It's beautiful; the scenery's beautiful, the
countryside, the people—great people; they
love to have a good time, for sure! It's a
huge event. I've never been to a motorcycle
event [with this many people]; there must be
10,000 people here!"
Official estimates put the weekend total
closer to 30,000 plus.
"I hope we can come back."
On the road race side of things, 72-year-
old Floridian "Doc" Batsleer exemplified
the legions who come back year after year.
Besides being among the oldest competi-
tors, he probably rode the oldest bikes as
well—1934 and 1935 Indian Scouts with
45-cubic-inch (750cc) V-twins featuring
common-at-the-time three-speed gearboxes
that you shift with your left hand while oper-
ating the clutch with your left foot.
A veteran of many forms of motorsports
competition, Batsleer revealed his unique
philosophy regarding vintage racing. "It isn't
(Top) It doesn't get more vintage than a pair of Indians
with hhand-shifting three-speed transmissions. The
yellow one is a 1934 while the one behind is a 1935,
both owned and raced by 72-year-old "Doc" Batsleer.
(Above) The Moto Armory AMA Vintage Off-road Grand
Championship Trials also featured non-championship
support classes.
