Photo: AMA
Craig Vetter’s Fuel Economy Challenge will run again at the AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio.
Vintage Motorcycle Days is a popular event for many Canadians who want to race their old-school machines, or see others in action, but Vetter’s contest isn’t about top speed. It’s about riding your machine (powered by gas, diesel or electricity) on a 77-mile round trip, and seeing who spends the smallest amount on fuel.
“The winner will be the one that consumes the least fuel as measured in dollars,” Vetter said in a press release. “Last year, Fred Hayes won by getting 162 mpg on his diesel-powered bike, which translates to 2.3¢ per mile.”
That means the contest has come a long way; the first year it ran, the bikes were barely competitive with a Honda CRF230L off the showroom floor.
The Challenge runs on July 11, with the winner announced on July 13. The ride starts at the Bellville, Ohio, Comfort Inn & Suites at 8:30 a.m., and heads to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington before returning to Mansfield. There is a riders’ meeting at the motel at 6:30 p.m. on the night before. For more details, check out Craig Vetter’s website.
