Steamboat Motorcycle Week was a favorite event of many a motorcyclist. Starting the second Wednesday after Labor Day in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the events included a dual sport national (AMA), vintage dirt track, trial, motocross, road rally, and road races (ARMHA), a concours d'elegance, and modern road racing (MRA).

Bikes of all kinds, old, new, dirt, sport, touring, European, Japanese, and American could be seen on the track and in the streets. It was a lot of fun just to walk through the parking areas at the track or along main street on Saturday evening to see what people were riding.

Probably the most interesting events were the road races held on a 1.8 mile street course at the base of the ski area. Saturday was for the ARMHA vintage bikes such as Norton, BSA, Triumph, Matchless, and Indian. Sometimes exotic bikes like a 6-cylinder Honda GP bike showed up. On Sunday the MRA modern road racers took to the streets on their Kawasakis, Hondas, Ducatis, etc. There were plenty of great places to watch the races, several of them right near the track. With a pit pass you could see the bikes up close and to talk to the riders.

A quick word about the weather. The past several years it was sunny and warm during the races. During other Septembers there had been heavy rain resulting in snow down to about 7000', which means snow on the road over Rabbit Ears Pass. It was always wise to watch the weather forecasts and to come prepared for hot or cold, wet or dry.

Unfortunately, after 18 years running (1981-1998), Steamboat Motorcycle Week is a thing of the past. Heavy development and building of condos within the area used as a race facility have ended this great event.  The vintage auto races which were held on Labor Day weekend 1984-1998 on the same street course have also come to a halt. The only racing left in Steamboat will be in our memories.

- Randy Bishop, Littleton Colorado