Story and photos by Kevin Duke and Matthew Gustafson 

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
The diversity of entrants to our show was delightful, from a Victory Vision custom to a Trotta-framed chopper to a homebuilt trike creation powered by a Harley V-Rod engine.

Americade has been drawing riders to the picturesque area around Lake George, New York, for four decades, and it’s taken me that long to finally make the pilgrimage to check it out. Motorcyclists from the surrounding regions flowed into the lakeside hamlet for their own pilgrimage, with an estimated attendance of 60,000 visitors.  

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Bill Dutcher addresses the crowd during opening ceremonies at Americade, the event he and wife Gini (at center) founded 40 years ago. Their son Christian Dutcher (at right) ably carries on the Americade legacy.

While some rallies and events attract a finite scope of riders and bikes, Americade attracts all kinds. Harley-Davidsons were in the majority, along with a strong showing of Indians and even several Victorys. Honda Gold Wings were everywhere, joined by a sizable contingent of sport-touring bikes from BMW, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. Quite a few adventure bikes and sportbikes too, all there to join the revelry and ride the countless great motorcycle roads in the Adirondack region.  

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Lake George’s charming Beach Road avenue was a nice setting for our Bring It Motorcycle Show. The Street Glide in the foreground earned Day 3’s best American Bagger award for Sheana Holder.

This was Americade’s 40th year, and we decided to join in on the fun and add to the festivities with the Bring It Motorcycle Show. There are so many tasty bikes in the area, we invited attendees to bring it!  

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
On Day 1 of our bike show, Greg Burchard took our best American Bagger award for his Harley-Davidson Road King big-wheel bagger.
Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Duane Cipas took home some cash by earning Day 1’s Editors’ Choice award for his Eddie Trotta-framed chopper. Yours truly stands next to Cipas, Rider magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt, and Americade’s Christian Dutcher.

Our show was a co-production with our friends at Rider magazine and sponsored by partners IMTBike, SMK Helmets, and Spectro Performance Oils. For three days, June 1-3, we gave awards in five categories: American Bagger, American Cruiser, Japanese, European, and Old School (pre-1990). Additionally, we handed out a daily $250 prize for Editors’ Choice. All daily winners were invited to a grand finale to determine the Best of Show on Saturday evening. 

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
When it comes to custom baggers, we most often think of Harleys and Indians, and that’s why Darryl Colten’s relatively obscure 2008 Victory Vision earned best American Bagger during Day 2 of our show.

Related: Rider Magazine Insider Podcast Hosts American Rider’s Editor-in-Chief Kevin Duke

Meeting our readers and tending the booth occupied most of my time at Americade, but I was able to steal away time on Saturday morning to join the Ride for Kids, a charity ride that raises money for children with brain cancer. I borrowed an Indian Scout from the demo truck for a relaxing trip around Lake George, happy to help raise awareness for a worthy cause by riding a cool bike through the lovely area. The lush greenery was a pleasant change for this SoCal denizen.  

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Mike Sabatino cleaning up the reverse trike he manufactured himself using a Harley-Davidson Night Rod engine as its base. Its uniqueness earned it the award for best American Cruiser on Day 2 of our show.

The culmination of our event was an Industry Meet & Mingle celebration at the beautifully restored 19th-century Carriage House at Fort William Henry Resort that overlooks Lake George. The Best of Show winner was selected by industry reps and received $1,000 cash plus prizes from the show sponsors. 

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
The most visually impressive bike in our show was Adam Mitchell’s Harley-Davidson Road Glide. If the spectacular paint didn’t catch your attention, the 30-inch front wheel and turbo did! It earned our Editors’ Choice award on Day 2.

After nearly 100 votes were tabulated, it was the purity and simplicity of Keith Youngblood’s 1969 Triumph TR6R hardtail bobber that earned the grand prize.  

“It’s a highlight of my life,” Youngblood exclaimed. “I never expected to win!” 

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Keith Youngblood earned our Best of Show honors for his 1969 Triumph TR6R bobber, pocketing $1,000, a crystal trophy, and other prizes.

Youngblood’s vintage Triumph just edged out the bike with the best backstory, which belongs to Marine Corps veteran Hugh Smith. He uses his 2006 Yamaha Road Star V-Twin to help build homes for veterans with children. Smith dubbed his bike “Milwaukee Packout,” as he uses it as a worksite mule, and it’s fitted with Milwaukee toolboxes and even a battery-powered miter saw on the back! It won best Japanese on Day 3.  

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Former Marine Hugh Smith uses his Yamaha Road Star to help build homes for fellow veterans with families. Check out the miter saw!

We only had one Best of Show award to give out, but Smith’s story pulled many heartstrings at the event, including those of Americade’s chief, Christian Dutcher, who graciously dug into his pocket to gift Smith with $200 for a special award.  

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
We loved the garage-built creativity of Brandon Hamblin’s chopper that was built around a 1987 Harley-Davidson Sportster and random parts left over from other builds. It won best Old School on Day 3.

Find more motorcycle events coverage here.

We thank our show entries, our sponsors, and all Americade staff and volunteers for making our inaugural show such a success. We’ll be back next year, so Bring It! 

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
A trip to Americade wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Duffy’s Tavern.

See more photos from Americade and the Bring It Motorcycle Show below.

Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Nighttime action at Americade.
Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Just behind our booth was this panorama of Lake George.
Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Former cops, the Blue Knights, giving a briefing ahead of the Ride For Kids, which raises money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Most of our finalists were American bikes, but mixed in were motorcycles from Japan and Europe.
Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
My favorite bike at our show was this pared-down Electra Glide Deluxe brought by Jim Botsacos. Its brilliant-blue paint and lack of frills hide a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s stuffed with a Jims’ 143ci motor claimed to produce 190 hp and 183 lb-ft of torque!
Americade Bring It Motorcycle Show
Good night from Americade!

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