Racer, writer, editor and all-around motorcycle enthusiast Dain Gingerelli will join us as our special guest for the 4th Annual Motorcycle Classics Ride ‘Em, Don’t Hide ‘Em Getaway at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, Aug. 9-11, 2019. Regular readers will recognize Dain as a long-time contributor to Motorcycle Classics. Dain started riding young, his first bike a 1965 Honda S90, which he later traded for a 1967 Honda CB77 Superhawk. In 1968 he began road racing. Still too young to get a competition license, he competed under his brother’s name until the end of the year. Running his first full season in 1969, he ended the year as high points rider in the AFM’s 200cc production class. Fresh out of California State University, Fullerton, in 1970, Dain put his new communications degree to work as a stringer for Competition News. By 1971 he was working at Hot Bike, and over the years he was the editor of six different magazines. Dain’s most memorable years in the industry were spent as Sport Editor at Cycle Guide magazine from 1979-1987.
The racing and winning continued while he worked, and in 1975 Dain was the AFM and CMC 250cc Production-class champ. In 1986, he helped set four FIM endurance speed world records with American Honda (24 hour, 12 hour, 6 hour and 1,000 kilometer). Dain’s racing background also allowed him to test a variety of the top race bikes of his era, such as Kenny Roberts’ 1977 Yamaha TZ750 road racer, Freddie Spencer’s 1980 Honda CB750 Superbike and Eddie Lawson’s 1984 Yamaha YZR500 road racer. Over the years, Dain has also been the author or coauthor of about half a dozen motorcycle books and another 10 automotive books.
Ride ‘Em schedule
Friday night we’ll kick the event off with a welcome reception and dinner. After a big breakfast together Saturday at the resort’s Slopeside restaurant, we’ll gear up and head out for the Saturday ride. We’ll plan on a midday lunch stop, followed by the afternoon ride back to the resort. Saturday night we’ll gather for a special banquet dinner, with an interview with Dain Gingerelli, discussing his long racing, riding and writing career. After another breakfast Sunday morning, we’ll head back out for another ride through the Laurel Highlands, probably returning to the resort midday.
Need a bike? Ride sponsor RetroTours has a limited selection of classic 1970s motorcycles available for rent, including bikes from Ducati, Triumph, Norton, Yamaha, Honda, BMW and more. Check out the 25-strong stable at retrotours.com, but don’t wait too long, because rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Want to pile on even more miles? RetroTours will lead a 600-mile round-trip tour to Seven Springs from its headquarters in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, through the backcountry of Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Contact the fine folks at RetroTours, or visit their website for more info on the round-trip ride.
Friday, Aug. 9:
5:30-7 p.m.: Reception at Seven Springs Resort in the Foggy Goggle
Saturday, Aug. 10:
7-8:30 a.m.: Breakfast at Slopeside Restaurant, Level 4 in the main lodge
8:30-9 a.m.: Prepare to depart Seven Springs for Saturday ride
9 a.m.: Depart Seven Springs for ride
1 p.m.: Lunch in Oakland, Maryland
5-5:30 p.m.: Arrive back at Seven Springs Resort
6:30 p.m.: Dinner with special guest Dain Gingerelli in the Foggy Goggle
Sunday, Aug. 11:
7-8:30 a.m.: Breakfast at Slopeside Restaurant, Level 4 in the main lodge
8:30-9 a.m.: Prepare to depart Seven Springs for Sunday ride
9 a.m.: Depart Seven Springs for ride
12 p.m.: Arrive back at Seven Springs Resort
1 p.m.-on: Self-guided tours of surrounding area