Triumph: Marque of the Year at Vintage Motorcycle Days

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Triumph Motorcycles had an extremely successful event at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.  The event was a celebration of Triumph’s distinguished history, present success, and promising future.

Earlier this year, the AMA named Triumph the 2008 AMA Marque of the Year.  The highlight of the marque was an elaborate display of Triumph motorcycles, memorabilia, racing, and related activities at the Mid-Ohio event.  A “Marque of the Year Museum” was constructed commemorating Triumph’s notable journey through the ages.  Gene Romero and Bill Baird were on-hand as Grand Marshalls and conducted interviews, signed autographs and unveiled the new 50^th Anniversary Bonneville.  This was the first consumer unveiling of this new 2009 model.  Other activities included stunt shows performed by Kevin Carmichael, World-Champion stunt rider, VIP Triumph Demo Rides, a “Track Walk” with the entire Triumph team, movies featuring Triumph motorcycles, an owner’s group party, and a fireworks display. At one point during the weekend, Gene Romero, a former Triumph racer and the winner of the Daytona 200 in 1975, along with Mark Kennedy, CEO, Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. rode a pair of S-Works FX bikes on some laps of honor for the brand. They were also joined by seven time Enduro champion Bill Baird who rode the new Bonneville.

The celebration of the Triumph brand continued throughout the weekend with the racing efforts of the S-Works team, the D&D Cycles team and other teams racing Daytona 675’s and Thruxton’s. The AHRMA Sound Of Thunder races offered some worthy competition, and at one point, some twelve Daytona 675’s in the line-up. The Sound Of Thunder class is open to unlimited twins & singles, and it is the only class where the triples are allowed. Shane Narbonne, S-Works, jumped to the lead during Saturday’s race, held a steady pace and took the checkered flag.  A team representative said, “It was a well earned win, and the bike ran perfectly”.   Sunday’s race included Robbie McClendon (Daytona 675) and Doug Polen on a Ducati 1098R. Polen got the start with McClendon in second. Narbonne followed the pair for a lap and then made his move around McClendon, and set his sights on Polen.  Af a Superbike like battle between the two,  Narbonne made the move to pass Polen and went on to win the race! Robbie McClendon finished in second, and Tim Joyce in third, both riding Daytona 675’s.  Several 675’s finished in the top positions.

Shane Narbonne, S-Works team, did a promotional ride for the team and raced a 1972 Seeley framed 750 Triumph Triple in the Formula 750 class, where he finished 6^th both days. The bike belongs to Randy Baxter of Baxter Cycles in Marne, IA.

“Triumph’s recent successes and the launch of the 50^th Anniversary Bonneville made us a natural choice for 2008 Marque of the Year”, says Jim Callahan, Marketing Manager, Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd.  He continued, “with the help of the AMA, we invested a lot of time and resources to make this a true celebration for the Triumph brand and we are extremely pleased with the overall event outcome.  The number of enthusiasts who came out in support of the brand was awe-inspiring”.