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 Vintage Torque Fest 2011
Photos by Chadly Johnson
This year's event was held at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Maquoketa, IA. due to the fact that last year's event was packed to the gills and needed more room. The main thing that makes Vintage Torque Fest different from any other show out there is the fact that participants are allowed to go out on the dirt track and make laps with their own cars. This unique aspect of the show is only available at two other shows in the world - one outside London, England and the other is by Gettysburg, PA. The average Joe may not realize that the cars that come to Torque Fest are driven. Very few are trailered to the event. This is another part of what makes these drivers unique.
In addition to moving to a much bigger facility to accomodate all the spectators, there is room to put all the hot rods and custom cars on the grounds. The mindsetof coming to a car show that is 4 miles away from your house, getting out the lawn chairs and sitting behind your car staring at the bumper for 7 hours is NOT what this particular group has in mind. This type of festival attracts those that are obsessed with the past, or at least certain aspects of the past. And these people are full of energy and interested in having a good time. The attitudes that you may find at some car shows are not present at this type of show. One of the reasons is that there are no trophies given at Vintage Torque Fest.
All this car stuff aside, there is the motorcycle portion of the show known as the Pre-75 Motor Psycho Round Up. Choppers, bobbers, and customs were the bikes featured in the Cycle Source sponsored area of the indoor part of the Torque Fest. Bikes had to be old-school/traditional looking choppers, bobbers, or pre '75 cafe racers. All pre-1965 STOCK motorcycles were welcome. Jap bikes were allowed - no crotch rockets though. Other rules were:
1. No art bikes
2. No stock bikes
3. No twin cam Harleys
4. No new Indians, Buell, Big Dog, or West Coast Chopper/OCC style bikes
5. No aluminum wheels
6. No wide rear tires
7. EVO bikes were OK - just need to be TRADITIONAL STYLE!
The whole idea was to allow bikes that fit the spirit of the show. From the pictures Chadly Johnson got, there were some spectacular rides that showed up.
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