National Competition. Eustis is just outside of Orlando and always happens at the beginning of Bike Week. For three days we get to talk shop, look at some amazing vintage machines, see a few parts, eat and drink to our heart's content, and enjoy the great Florida Spring weather. The event is hosted by the AMCA Sunshine Chapter so sunshine is a reasonable expectation.

We always seem to have the same spot back on Alley Cat Lane so we can spread out the big trailer, all the parts, and the line up of beautiful 1965 Panheads we call our own. This year was especially exciting since we had a brand new entry, three bikes going for a national Senior Award, and two more going into the Winner's Circle. We were planning on bringing home lots of trophies and that's exactly what we did.

The judging doesn't happen until Sunday, so we have all day Friday and Saturday to hang out and enjoy the festivities. My favorite conversation was with one of our Panhead friends named Ross. Ross has bee riding for about a million years and he always has great stories to tell. He has been riding the same Panhead for over 600,000 miles! Granted, there have been numerous tear downs and rebuilds but it's the same bike. He told us of one test ride after a rebuild that started in St. Petersburg, FL and ended up in Alaska. Some test.
 
Our partner in crime, Doc Schweinler, was there to help us man the shop and to start the judging process on our newest creation. He sent me a chopper he bought in California that looked like it could win any rat bike contest out there. It had a rebuilt 1965 Panhead engine and drive train on a good frame and that was all I needed. Seven weeks and a lot of wrenching later, we were putting the final touches on this Hi-Fi Blue beauty. The bike won a Junior First on its first outing and scored somewhere around 97 out of 100. I think we're getting this 1965 Panhead thing down. Just look at the line up of beauties.

George Marakas

On Sunday, we had all the bikes lined up and ready for inspection. I had a chance to do some judging and worked with a senior judge named Don Spence. Donny knows his way around a Panhead and taught me a lot in just the short time we were together. I'm looking forward to working with him again real soon.
 
Chief Judge, Kevin Valentine, presided over the judging festivities and he and the great ladies from the Sunshine chapter counted everything up to make sure everyone's score was accurate. When it was time for trophies, they kept calling

Don Spence

Doc Schweinler

our name and we kept going up to get them. Man, did we have fun.
 
All in all, Eustis was exactly what we expected it to be: fun in the sun. keep your eye on the current events link from time to time. Kyle and I will be posting our adventures as we have them.

The bike won a Junior First on its first outing and scored somewhere around 97 out of 100.

Kevin Valentine, and some of the great ladies from the Sunshine chapter.

Let the judging begin!