Riding Into History

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Riding Into History is a non-profit event founded in 2000 by Billy Aldrich. It was created in order to celebrate the heritage and history of motorcycles, and also to raise money for breast cancer charities. It has now become one of America’s premier motorcycle events and the attendance figures have increased every year.

1 History
2 Activities
3 See also
4 Sources
5 External links

[edit] History

Billy Aldrich’s is the founder and former president of the Atlantic Beach Vintage Motorcycle Club (ABVMC), Jacksonville, Florida. His wife, Jacky, survived breast cancer, and inspired him to found the event. Its name implies a trip into the past history of the motorcycles.

Since its inception, Riding Into History has been held at the World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida. It has received widespread coverage and articles have been written about it all over the world. It was also nationally featured on the Speed Channel.

The profits go to Buddy Check 12, a partnership between Baptist Health and First Coast News. This organization creates a link between women who call each other on each 12th of every month to verify that their partner has done her self-breast check thus enabling early detection of the disease. More than ½ million women in the country are participating in the program. The event, featured on Channel 12 TV in Jacksonville, was originated by Jeannie Blaylock, the news anchor for First Coast News.

[edit] Activities

Riding Into History is held every year on the 3rd Saturday in May. The organization is independent and run by volunteers from the ABVMC and the BMWNEF (BMW Motorcycle Owners of North East Florida). It includes many events including:

Concours d’Elegance

This competition attracts between 300 and 400 antique and vintage motorcycles each year. Collectors from all over America bring them to the show, and they are displayed around the lake in the World Golf Village and are awarded according to different classes.

Charity Rides

These are for any motorcycle riders who wish to participate in the charity. They ride from either Jacksonville or Daytona, Florida, to the World Golf Village to see the Concours.

Bikers’ Ball

This ball takes place in the evening and it includes live music, silent auctions and a guest speaker. The latter are always celebrities in the field. Craig Vetter was the 2004 Grand Marshal of the event; he is a famous motorcycle designer and author, Dennis Gage (2005) is the producer and host of TV shows on the Speed Channel, Peter Egan (2006) is an author and columnist for Cycle World Magazine and finally Kel Carruthers (2007) is a former world champion for motorcycle road racer.

Historic Ride

This New event from the year 2006 is set on the Sunday morning. The participants, who entered their motorcycles in the Concours, take their own motorcycles from the World Golf Village to downtown St. Augustine, for a brunch. The goal is to present the antique and vintage bikes to the public and to enjoy riding into history.