Dave Aldana, one of motorcycle racing’s most popular riders, and a co-star of Bruce Brown’s epic moto-documentary On Any Sunday, will be Grand Marshal for the 2021 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Royal Enfield, July 23-25, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Aldana replaces fellow On Any Sunday legend Mert Lawwill, who unfortunately had to back out due to a scheduling conflict.
“With the theme of this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days being On Any Sunday — which is far and away America’s favorite all-time motorcycle movie — things are going to be extra special,” says Aldana. “For the fans, for sure, but also for me, as my memories of that 1970 season and that movie are so powerful. I can’t wait to reconnect with all the great motorcycling folks who come to Mid-Ohio each year and celebrate what Bruce Brown achieved, along with so much motorcycle history. VMD is such a great event!”
Known worldwide for his trademark black leathers with a white skeleton print, Aldana will do more than simply meet and greet fans and sign autographs at this year’s event. He’ll also compete in the AMA’s vintage dirt track program on Saturday evening at the nearby Ashland Country Fairground.
Aside from Aldana’s presence and a scheduled screening of the movie on Friday night, AMA VMD 2021 will also feature several motorcycles from the fabled film, including a real-deal Husqvarna Malcolm Smith rode in the movie, Mert Lawwill’s KR750 dirt tracker (which he rode during the 1970 season) and a Cal Rayborn Harley-Davidson XRTT 750, also seen in the footage Brown shot.
There’s also the biggest swap meet in North America, with parts and bikes and memorabilia from the past 120 years of motorcycling. Add all that to the scenic Mid-Ohio grounds, plenty of food and refreshments, lots of camping and vintage motorcycles as far as the eye can see, and you’ve got what’s considered one of the very best events in all of motorcycling!
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, which houses the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and other thematic exhibits that celebrate motorcycling’s heritage. The museum was founded in 1990 to provide a permanent home to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which celebrates and preserves the rich tradition of motorcycling in America through the recognition of the sport’s greatest heroes. Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days are donated to the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization tasked with funding the operation of the museum and Hall of Fame activities.