Motorcycles and Moss At the Simeone

By Larry Nutson
Senior Editor, New York Bureau
The Auto Channel

The fifth annual Classic Motorcycle Show at the Simeone Automotive Museum in Philadelphia runs from August 24th to September 6th. This year the honored marque is Norton. Over 50 motorcycles are on display and the show includes flat track racers, Art Deco-inspired motorcycles, and a selection of classic machines and memorabilia. In addition to Norton, bikes from Triumph, BSA, Harley-Davidson, Yamaha, Bultaco, Matchless, Yankee, AJS, Velocette, Ossa, Indian and Gilera marques are displayed.

The show launched with a Kick-Start Party the evening of Saturday, August 24th featuring Guest of Honor Brian Slark, 2012 AMA Hall of Fame Inductee and Technical Director of the Barber Museum in Birmingham, Alabama. Cook Neilson, a 2011 special guest, former Cycle magazine editor, Winner of the 1977 Daytona Superbike Race, and Bonneville Salt Flat Record holder was also among the honored guests.

After appearing at the Simeone Museum, the bikes move out to appear at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, September 8th. This is one of the best shows in the U.S., so be sure to put it on your calendar.

On the same day, the favorite cars of Stirling Moss were displayed and driven in Simeone’s monthly demo day. Few drivers in the 1950s generated public adoration like Stirling Moss. He was part rock star, movie star and super athlete. Cars he has placed on his “top 10” list of the favorite cars he raced in his career were examined and exercised for the Saturday noon-time crowd, namely a 1953 Jaguar C-Type, a 1956 Jaguar D-Type,
a 1956 Maserati 300S,
and a 1958 Aston Martin DBR1.

For those of you who followed the recent action at the 2013 Pebble Beach show, the Simeone’s 1937 Bugatti Type 57G “Tank” was part of the unveiling of a new Bugatti model at this year’s The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering. Bugatti introduced the first of six Legend Editions: the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille. Based off of the 254 mph world’s fastest convertible, the Grand Sport Vitesse Legend Jean-Pierre Wimille is styled inside and out with cues from Jean-Pierre Wimille’s Le Mans winning 1937 Bugatti 57G Tank, which is part of the museum collection. Only three of these Legend Editions will be built and we are told all three are sold.

If you are planning a visit check the museum’s web site www.SimeoneMuseum.org.

© Larry Nutson