Panther Stalks Rhinebeck

RHINEBECK, NY – It may have been parked next to a pricey and elegant Brough Superior, and a few feet away from a much-coveted Vincent, but Jimmy Sabino’s 1937 Panther Model 100 was likely the motorcycle that attracted the most attention today on opening day of the Rhinebeck Grand National Meet at the Duchess County Fairgrounds.

The 600cc “sloper” was a product of Phelon & Moore, a company that built motorcycles in Yorkshire, England from 1904 to 1967. Sabino, who lives in Marco Island, FL, acquired his two years ago from a collector. “It’s a low-torque motor designed for sidecars,” he said. “It’s a good running bike. I’ve had no problems with it.”

Sabino’s Panther is an exquisite example of old British iron. Not only does it have a right-foot shifter, but it also has a decompressor lever in front of the shifter which opens the valves and making for easier kicking when starting it.

The Panther was just one of thousands of vintage motorcycles being shown and sold at the two-day Rhinebeck show, which concludes Saturday. As always, the centerpiece of the show is the Motorcycle Timeline. While the number of bikes displayed on the timeline and elsewhere wasn’t huge, that number should pick up tomorrow when judging occurs.

This year’s show was three weeks later than in years past. Show chairman Dan Henke said the shift was made “so we can get away from Americade and Laconia,” two events that draw huge crowds of motorcyclists to Lake George, NY and Laconia, NH. “Americade really hurts us,” he said.

Part of the allure of the Rheinbeck meet are the vendors and their old parts. Keeping old bikes on the road was the focus today. “We’re emphasizing tech seminars. We have a big emphasis on restoration,” Henke said.

For some sellers, it was a day to catch up on reading. That’s what Jim Chivers of Hinsdale, MA did while hoping to sell two old Harley-Davidson Sportsters – a 1980 XLH and a 1961 XLCH. He acquired the orange and cream XLCH in 2002 from “a friend of a friend. It’s been pretty much in storage,” he added. The maroon and grey XLH was purchased for his wife in 2001, but she’s now riding something else.

As the Panther proved, the Rhinebeck show is a great venue to see brands and models that aren’t often seen out on the road. Indeed, lined up side-by-side inside the exhibit hall were Puch, Sears and Zundapp motorcycles. Not as expensive or as flashy as the Panther, but worth gazing at nonetheless.

The threat of thunderstorms – and a tornado watch issued for parts of CT issued in early afternoon – forced an early departure from the show. There’s always next year…