STUNNING PICS: Rare bikes at vintage motorcycle show

Few things make heads turn as classic motorbikes. Jyotsana Gupta visits the Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Show in Jaipur.

The year 2013 could not have kicked off to a better start for the bike enthusiasts of the country. We had barely come half way through the month of February when the invitations for the third majestic gathering of motorbikes were sent out.

Just a fortnight ago, the beautiful state of Goa got the opportunity to play host to two of the most magnificent events of the bike world; first, the maiden National HOG Rally of India, organised by the Harley Davidson group from January 31 to February 1, 2013, and then, the exhilarating 2013 India Bike Week, which kept the biking spirit going for the following two days, over February 2 to 3, 2013.

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And then the time came for the bike mania to move on and set its camp up against an altogether different backdrop, in a completely different part of the country, surrounded by an entirely different environment. Preparations had been in full swing for days in the picturesque city of Jaipur to give a grand welcome to some of the most celebrated bikes of all times as they were put up for display at the 2013 Vintage & Classic Motorcycles Show.

Put together by the Convoy Control Club -- a bikers' group dedicated expressly to vintage bikes, this was the second time that this exclusive motorbike event came to town, having been organised for the first time in 2009.

The 2013 edition of the Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Show had been scheduled to take place on the 16th and 17th of February, 2013 while the Khasa Kothi Hotel had been selected as the event venue. Over these two days, the entire Pink City, along with countless visitors from other parts of the country, got to enjoy the company of more than a hundred classic legends of the world of motorcycles, built during times as long gone as those between the years 1930 and 1980.

Although each and every one of these vintage bikes had a special historic value of its own, each one being truly one of a kind, there were a number of models that still outshone the others on historical grounds, having been created during the time of the two World Wars and hence carrying that distinct martial feel about them that is so highly appreciated by hardcore bikers.

Amongst the huge number of motorbikes that participated at this event, the visitors at this grand gathering got to lay their eyes on some pretty unique models, which have been there for decades now but have not been subjected to any sort of modification or overhauling, keeping their antique character perfectly intact.

Other than these, 7 special participants that had just been back from the 2013 India Bike Week also walked down the red carpet at the show to work the same magic over Jaipurites that they had worked on the Goans a few days back. To add to this fabulous show of flair and flamboyance, the Jodhpur Harley Davidson Group rode to the event to add their own marvels to the group.

Featuring some very sensational rides from prominent bike marques like BSA Motorcycles, Indian, Royal Enfield, Triumph, James, Excelsior, Norman and, of course, Harley Davidson, the 2013 Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Show was inaugurated by none other than the Governor of the state of Rajasthan, Her Excellency Margaret Alva, herself.

To grace the occasion with their esteemed presence, Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur and Hon'ble Narendra Singh were also there, serving as chief guests for the show.

As far as the second day of the event is concerned, its biggest highlight was the great procession of vintage bikes, comprising of more than a hundred models, that set out from the event venue at 2 pm after being flagged-off by B L Soni, Commissioner of Police, Jaipur City. After taking a round trip to the Jawahar Circle, this wonderful rally returned to the Khasa Kothi Hotel around 4 in the evening for the award ceremony that was held there.

The jury for these awards comprised of the President of the Jaipur Golf Club, Thakur Vikram Singh, and the Owner of Oriented Restorer, Satish Jangir, who selected the best from all the contenders in various different categories of bikes.

So, there was a lot to enjoy for the country's bike fanatics over these two days. The organisers of the show, the Convoy Control Club, had high hopes for this event, expecting a turnout of more than 100 motorbikes this time as against the 70 that had dazzled the previous edition, back in 2009, and they were fulfilled quite nicely when a total of 105 bikes participated in the show.

Working without any sponsorships, except for the one for the venue extended by the Department of Rajasthan Tourism, the solitary goal that this dedicated group of bikers planned to achieve with this vintage bike show was to promote the fan-dom for classic bikes and gather as much support for preserving their heritage as possible.