Calgary’s Heritage Park has a “living history” mandate.
They understand that exhibits with some human interaction help paint a clearer picture about the past.
That’s why on Aug. 3, the park will be hosting the second annual Riding Through Time display. Presented by the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group’s Rocky Mountain (Calgary) Section, the exhibit will include machines from the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s – up until 1975. Owners will be present to tell their stories and share their passion. That’s exactly what Heritage Park appreciates.
This all started last year when Janice Whitby, secretary of the Rocky Mountain Section, approached the park about hosting a motorcycle display.
She was met with enthusiasm.
Janice Whitby, of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group, Rocky Mountain Section, and Riding Through Time show organizer, poses with a 1971 Yamaha JT1, just like the one she found under her Christmas tree when she was 10 years old.
Handout, Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group, Rocky Mountain Section
“For us there was some excitement around doing something different that was related to transportation,” says Heritage Park’s special events coordinator Jo Morris. “Heritage Park’s transportation focuses on horse drawn wagons, vintage cars and the steam locomotive. A vintage motorcycle display offered park visitors another perspective.”
In 2013, Whitby’s vintage motorcycle group and Heritage Park set up the first Riding Through Time display.
“Within 45 minutes of the gates to the park opening up, we were swarmed by guests,” Whitby says. “It was a lot of fun for everyone involved. We wanted to reach out to people who may have an interest in motorcycles but don’t regularly attend some of the city’s big motorcycle events.”
Whitby has been around powered two-wheelers her entire life. In England, her grandfather used an Ariel Square Four with a Watsonian double-adult sidecar as daily transport.
Her parents moved from England to Canada in 1957, and back home their transportation had been a Norton ES2. In Calgary, the Whitbys were a motorcycling family, and when she was 10, Whitby and her brother found a 1971 Yamaha JT1 under the Christmas tree.
Whitby and her husband, Fred Johansen, joined the CVMG in 2004.
1937 Indian
Handout, Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group, Rocky Mountain Section
The CVMG is essentially an umbrella group with sections spread across Canada. The group is not about representing just one make or model. Rather, the CVMG welcomes all nationalities of production.
According to the group’s webpage at www.cvmg.ca, the club currently has more than 2,100 members, and between them, they own more than 7,000 motorcycles covering 200 different makes.
Whitby explains how she came up with the idea to approach Heritage Park, “We’d been at a club meeting, and the discussion turned to how we needed to attend more events where we could display our bikes, and talk about our vintage motorcycle hobby with a broader cross-section of the public.”
Keeping in mind the types of events the group often attends, such as shows and displays where gearheads are already present, Whitby thought about Heritage Park.
“We tend to stick to show and shines, but I thought Heritage Park would be a great location to put ourselves in front of a whole different group of people, and mostly families,” Whitby says. “The vintage bikes always seem to strike a chord, and even if no one in the family currently s, most of them know or knew at least one person who at one time, did.
“For example, I had a Motobecane moped there last year. One gentleman saw it, and told me a story about how in France his father had ridden a Motobecane back and forth from the train station to get to work.”
This year’s Riding Through Time exhibit will be held Sunday, Aug. 3, at Calgary’s Heritage Park.
Handout, Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group, Rocky Mountain Section
Last year, there were machines on display ranging from a 1913 Ariel to a 1951 Vincent Black Shadow, and everything in between right up to 1975.
Anyone in Calgary, or for that matter western Canada, with a vintage motorcycle made prior to 1975 is welcome to come out and display it at Heritage Park – it’s not restricted to CVMG members. However, prior registration is required, and once in the park no later than 9 a.m., the machines cannot be moved again until 4:30 p.m.
One of Heritage Park’s premiere attractions is Gasoline Alley. A massive collection of petroliana and automobilia, it’s worth the price of admission alone.
“Gasoline Alley is a diamond in our treasure chest,” Heritage Park’s Morris says, and adds, “Riding Through Time is a new gem in the chest.”
For more information or to register for the event, send an email to Whitby at rms-secretary@cvmg-rms.ca. Please reference Riding Through Time in the subject line.
Greg Williams is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Have an auto related item to share for the column or What’s Next? Contact him at 403-287-1067 or gregwilliams@shaw.ca. Visit his website at gregwilliams.ca.
WHAT’S NEXT
To see your event listed, email the details, at least three weeks in advance, to gregwilliams@shaw.ca.
July 27: Marv’s Classic Show and Shine in the town of Black Diamond, about 45 minutes south of Calgary. All makes and models, street rods, classics, antiques are welcome, $10 registration. Show runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 1st St. S.W. between Centre Ave W. and 2nd Ave. S.W. There’ll be an Elvis impersonator, 1950s live band on hand. Call Marv at 403-933-7001 for more info.
