On May 16th 2015, Classic Cycle Events hosted the 47th annual Hanford Vintage Motorcycle Rally. Held at the King's Fairgrounds in Hanford, CA and in conjunction with a motorcycle parts swap, this show has always been a vital stop on the swap circuit. Real pickers arrive the day before and wait in line to be the first in and the first to score crusty gold, mined from the local central California valley. Friday nights are spent talking about old bikes and bbq'n a few dogs and tossing back some brews with the boys, both young and old. The fact the show and swap takes place in a grassy section of the fairgrounds gives it a back east feel that many of the other California swaps don’t posses.
After a night spent sleeping in the dirt, the gates open up to spectators looking to grab what’s left of the parts for sale and lay eyes on some of the killer show bikes that make their way to the event. As people pour in, the bikes quickly get mobbed by guys talking about how they used to have this same bike but theirs was different. Marshall Baker, the man that hosts the show, gives out a few awards in predetermined classes of bikes ranging from early dirt bikes to later model Brit bikes. The show concludes about noon and most of the vendors clear out a little bit earlier after having hopefully sold what they brought and loaded up with more junk for the following years meet.
-Otto
