Swap Meet Treasure

 Tyler Wheeler from Blue Collar Textiles scored a real badly beat up, duct taped together seat from the swap, and sent me photos today of how he transformed it into this show quality seat. He totally took it apart, sandblasted the pan, put all new hardware in it, refoamed it then sewed up this new cover for it, just an example of what could happen through the Kelowna Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet

Even I managed to take home a pretty good haul! Got my soon to be born son his first dirt bike, and about 60% of a triumph 650 (maybe 40% actually, but who doesn't love a good project) I didn't even spend a dime of any of it either, just good old fashioned trading my old stuff for someone elses old stuff, that's the beauty of a swap meet, buy, sell or trade, most people will leave happy!

Can't wait to put on another swap, see what other gems turn up! (Hopefully a 650 BSA Frame for my desert racer project wink wink)

Upcoming Events

Here's a couple of great events coming up soon in Saskatchewan. 

 First up is the Kook Out in Regina, Swap, BBQ and Bike show all in one, should be a blast! Check out the flyer for details and contact info. 

 The second event is the Chop Meet in Saskatoon, my pals Brian and Jordan work really hard to bring you this event, this year being even bigger and better than before, swap meet, ride in chopper show, biker games, party with live bands and lots of beer. Check out chopmeet.wordpress.com for more info. 

Swap aftermath and news

The Kelowna vintage motorcycle swap meet was a ton of fun, the turnout was definitely quality over quantity, a lot of good folks that love motorcycles. Young and old, just getting into it or seasoned swappers with decades of experience. The temperature got near 40 degrees celcius, but the people still looked through bins of parts that burned to the touch. It seems everyone bought, sold or my favorite, traded parts for what they needed.

I want to thank everyone that came out, to buy, sell, trade and just say hello. Couldn't have done it without all of you. Thanks to The Rutland Centennial Park for letting me host the event, Rick and Alf from the Park for all their help and support, my wife for her endless support, Tyler Wheeler from Blue Collar Textiles for helping set up and tear down tables, and for everyone asking me to put on more swaps and especially for the suggestions of how to advertise to get more people out. 

Now for the news, I can't say much yet, but I have been asked to work with a vintage car show this fall, that hosts an auto swap meet and wants to add a motorcycle section, as well as a bi-monthly mini swap at the flea market. I'm still putting parts away and organizing my new stuff, but will be working to make these other swaps happen, and hopefully get more and more people out and bring more vintage motorcycle enthusiasts together.   

Blue Collar Textiles

Tyler Wheeler from Blue Collar Textiles, an up and coming upholsterer from Red Deer, Alta, is going to be a vendor at the Kelowna Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet, this Saturday! 

He will be selling aprons, dopp kits and other textile goods, be sure to stop by his booth and chat with him about your motorcycle seat needs, maybe he'll be doing the seat on your next project. 

O'Keefe Ranch Vintage Motorcycle Rally

 Spent all of Saturday in the heat checking out vintage motorcycles, museum artifacts and more importantly vintage flat track racing at O'Keefe Ranch, just outside of Vernon, BC.

 Myk Rok's Triumph, last years 500cc winner. 

 This BSA belonged to a member of the Prince George British Motorcycle Club, Curtis I believe, who was racing a 441 BSA, that he told me was a basket case in February when he got it, and had just finished building it just before the races! We had a good chat waiting in line for hot dogs, and he was telling me that they just built a flat track up in Prince George. 

 The "Indian Reservation"
I heard in previous years there was 15+ Indians parked here, this year only four made it out. 

 Another "Indian" late 70s early 80s kids dirtbike, I don't know much about these besides what I've read in ads in old Cycle Magazine copies. 

 A nice little Jawa CZ, the guy racing it was as big as a Sequoia but didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up with his class in the time trials. 

 500 cc first heat, Myk Rok, and Dean in the lead, he took this heat. 

Keddie Brown in the lead in his 500cc heat, we left before the finals but he recollected that in the final heat he had an opening for the lead but the window closed and he went down, smashing his finger. They restarted, but Keddie was put to the back of the pack. 

It was a pleasure watching all these guys race, hopefully next year I might take a shot at it.