A motorcycle road event, usually several days in duration, in which the participants travel through the countryside and stop at a different destination each night. The implication is that you are traveling without time or distance constraints.
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The1955 and The Last Gypsy Tour
To explain what a gypsy tour was each state would have what was called a gypsy tour where all the motorcycle riders in the state would meet at one race track (flat track) and we would party all week end have English trials with slow races obstacle courses, etc and the flat track races where as the winner would go to Daytona and race with all the other state winners. The year was 1955 and I had a splendid ride my little Triumph T100-C I had just returned from Africa and while I was gone I left the bike with Jack Kulan and I had everything possible chromed on the cycle including the little nuts on the sprung hub about 50 of them and had the bike repainted. The chrome cost as I remember $169.00 which was a month’s pay and the paint job was $50.00. It looked so beautiful at night that when people were coming up behind it the light reflecting off the little nuts on the sprung hub looked like diamonds. Everyone said it was the most beautiful bike at the gypsy tour and I got an award of a gypsy tour belt buckle.
There was talk that this would be the last gypsy tour in the country as the AMA was not going to sanction the tours this was caused by the Hell’s Angels in California crashing into several motorcycles on the gypsy tour coming from the opposite way on the top of a hill. As a matter of fact this is shown on television the history channel.
Another terrible mistake was selecting the city of Sarasota to have a gypsy tour of thousands of motorcycle riders trying to emulate Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin in the Wild One. As matter of fact I would venture to say we laid waste to the city racing up and down the streets, side walks and quaffing enormous quantities of beer and liquor. Then we went to the flat track races and our friends Tommy Morris and Johnny Wilson were racing together after that we partied to the wee hours of th morning and being as we were using our name of the Golden Eagles we cleaned up the motel rooms we had engaged.. Of course we had about ten people in each room but that was to be expected.
is was the year that Jack Kulan built up a T100 C for the 200 mile race and Johnny Wilson would ride it. It sounded so great that I told Jack that win, lose or draw I wanted the bike after the races. The picture on the front of the book shows Johnny Wilson riding the tiger leading the entire field by 100 yards. The fool had it made if he would just slow down a little bit but he would not watch the rev counter and over reved the engine and slung a rod on the third lap. I was sick and went and helped Jack push the bike back and I told him I did not care fix it I wanted it anyhow.
The trip back to Tampa was great and it turned out to be a rode race with about 50 motorcycles running and it’s a wonder no one got killed. We all survived and met at the Sea Gull upon our return. Life was great in those days. and we started planning for the Florida Gypsy Tour and Flat Track Races in Sarasota in a couple of months unbeknown to us it would be the last Gypsy Tour in the United States. One thing lead to another Sarasota was an old persons eveny and they would not be too happy with us racing thru the town and tearing it up. —-Again?
Thomas Kaye. TK
Hey Mike;
When the tour went through Lowell it went to Crystal Lake for a day and night of TT races. On Sunday they went to Ionia for flat track races at the Ionia Fair grounds. They all entered Ionia from the north in parade formation. My father was also a member of the AMA and the Ionia motorcycle club back in the 30’s to the early 60’s.
Hey, does anyone have any information about the 1955 Michigan Gypsy Tour or know someone who does? My father-in-law passed away recently and we were told he rode with in 1955 and it passed through Lowell, Michigan where he was from. We have a belt buckle of his from the ride. Any leads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Mike and Lori.
Hi Hal. What a great memento you found! Here is some additional info on the history of Gypsy Tours and its relation to the AMA. (You’ll need to scroll down if you don’t want to read the whole article). Best, MCG
I found a medal that my grandfather had from (I think)1917 that read ‘motorcycle Gypsy Tour’. On the back was engraved ‘perfect score’. Can you tell me where I might find any info on the history of the tour, membership records, etc? I’d really like to find out more about it. I also have a picture of my grandfather posing with his bike. Thanks, Hal Sherwood