At The Sand Mountain Dragway 3
Article By: Roadside Marty
Photos By: Kustom Jeff Daily
Originally Published In The April 2013 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine
Swap meets can be a very valuable source of parts for anyone building a bike or someone just trying to sell off some parts they aren’t gonna use. Either way, I’ve been to a lot of them over the years and one thing that I’ve noticed is that most of the vendors are selling take-off stock parts (nothing wrong with that by the way) or imported leather goods along with mostly useless trinkets. When I heard Rickey and Michael Lewis were putting together a swap meet, I immediately made plans to attend, and man, am I glad I did! This swap meet reminded of the early days when my dad and I would go to swaps and you could actually buy or trade parts. This is exactly why Rickey and Michael started the Bama Swap and Drags. Rickey, who’s been wrenching since 1974 and opened Rick’s Cycle Parts in 1992 and Michael, who started Violent Choppers in 2002, saw a void and decided to fill it.
Michael says, “Swap meets to me are just a reunion of parts’ hoarders! I’ve grown up going to swap meets with my Pops and seeing the same old greybeard, greasy vendors year after year. The way I look at swap meeting, is it’s not so much about buying low and selling high, it’s about getting rid of parts you aren’t using and turning them into something you can. I love the feeling of getting up before the sun just to look at old parts with a flashlight and getting the best deal you can!” I’m not the only one who thinks they got the right combo because I’ve seen people from all over come for this event: Tim Buechele from Hammond, LA, Rod Davis from Stripped Down Cycles in IL., Phil from Endless Cycles in Atlanta, Ben Jordan from N.C., “Around the World” Doug Wothke, Bean’re, The Haints, as well as most of The Inbreds RC out of Birmingham; it’s always great to see these guys!
So if you’re looking for a great mix of motorcycle parts as well as vintage car parts, the Bama Swap and Drags is where you want to be. This time around it’s gonna be Easter weekend–March 30th & 31st at the Sand Mountain Dragway in Section, AL. They will provide entertainment all day long with “Run Whatcha Brung” racing. This will mark their 4th time having the event and I for one am not going to miss it! For more info regarding vendor spots or anything else, you can contact Michael Lewis at (256) 630-8129 or visit www.bamaswapanddrag. blogspot.com. Hope to see all of you there!
