It’s year 25 for the Bison Classic Motorcycle Rally, held this year from June 27–29 at Cheyenne Park in Ste. Agathe. Everyone’s invited to register for the full weekend of events hosted by the Antique Motorcycle Club of Manitoba (AMCM).

“One of our members is a Red Seal certified chef, so on Friday night we have a chili supper, Saturday morning we have a prepared breakfast, and Saturday evening we have a formal dinner,” says David Leduchowski, AMCM chair. “Anybody can go onto the AMCM website and register.”

If you don’t care to register, Saturday’s show ‘n shine is absolutely free and is the most popular part of the event for non-AMCM members. It begins at 11:30 a.m.

Lunch will be available and all profits from food sales will go to help the Spina Bifida Association of Manitoba.

The AMCM includes about 130 members hailing from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and a few from Minnesota. This organization of classic bike enthusiasts has been going strong for the past 50 years.

In 2010, the AMCM merged with the Manitoba Motorcycle Club, which boasts an even richer history dating way back to 1911. Together they form the oldest motorcycle club in Canada, and the fourth oldest in the entire world.

For a quarter of a century, the Bison Classic Motorcycle Rally has given local enthusiasts an annual reason to get together and show off their beautifully restored vintage rides.

According to Leduchowski, there are usually anywhere between 40 to 50 motorcycles on display at this event and they range in age from 30 years to more than 100 years.

 “Anyone who is even mildly interested in old cars and motorcycles will be entertained,” Leduchowski says. “Last year a guy had a very rare French motorcycle from the 40s there.”

Returning this year is Ted Hector, an award-winning classic motorcycle rider who races at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

“He has a very archaic supercharged 1942 motorcycle,” Leduchowski says. “It looks like an aircraft. Stock out of the factory, that bike was capable of 50 to 55 miles an hour maximum. His [retrofitted] version made 129 miles an hour. He’s 72 years old now and he’s still racing.”

Winnipeg-based AMCM member Ross Metcalfe will be there as well, regaling attendees with his in-depth knowledge of the motorcycle scene in Manitoba dating back to the mid-twentieth century.

According to Leduchowsky, Metcalfe owns a collection of 30 antique bikes and a museum-worthy showroom.

“He knows [so much] about Manitoba motorcycle history,” says Leduchowsky. “He’s a fascinating guy to listen to because he knows all of these local characters going back to the 30s, 40s, and 50s. He’s actually a founding member of the Antique Motorcycle Club from 1956.”

Leduchowski himself is the proud owner of three antique bikes, including a 1966 Harley Davidson FLH, a 1984 FLHP police special, and a 1983 FLHT, one of the first of the modern-day Harleys.

“I’ve been interested in motorcycles since I was probably 13 or 14. I had one of those Princess Auto minibikes that had a lawnmower engine way back when I was a kid.”

On Sunday, local residents should keep their eyes peeled for a band of classic bikes participating in a poker derby. They expect to stop in Niverville in the morning to enjoy some ice cream treats.

Most of the AMCM bike owners get only a few opportunities per summer to enjoy their classic ride. Antique license plates are available through MPI for a special price, but this limits the bike’s use to AMCM-sanctioned events.