MotoStars exhibit opens

From the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum

PICKERINGTON, OH – The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has officially opened the new “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit.

Many well-known riders who loaned motorcycles and memorabilia to the momentous exhibit were in attendance for the grand opening celebrations last Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28, including actors Tom Arnold and Perry King.

Even a beloved “Peanuts” character made an appearance. A five-foot tall statue of Snoopy as “Joe Motocross” was a highlight of the “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” Charity Auction that took place Friday evening. The auction of the Snoopy statue and a 2006 Honda motorcycle ridden by actor Francesco Quinn in the Quentin Tarantino-produced biker movie “Hell Ride” raised over $14,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Additional proceeds from the auction benefited the non-profit Museum.

After the VIP gala and charity auction on Friday, the grand opening celebrations continued on Saturday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, panel discussion and autograph session.

Over 100 well-known riders are profiled in the new “MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” exhibit. Two riders who recently loaned motorcycles to the exhibit are Jim France, vice chairman/executive vice president of NASCAR and chairman/CEO of International Speedway Corporation (ISC), and actor Robert Patrick, currently starring in the television show “The Unit.” France loaned the exhibit his 1976 Bultaco 250 Astro dirt track racer for display, while Patrick offered his 2001 Harley-Davidson Willie G. Switchblade.

“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” curator David Morris worked with movie studios, motorcycle manufacturers, racing teams and legendary motorcycling event producers to secure exclusive machines, memorabilia and images for the exhibit. Visitors to the grand opening of “MotoStars” viewed the Triumph Bonneville Scrambler ridden by Tom Cruise in “Mission Impossible III” alongside a 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster autographed by Cher for the Children’s Craniofacial Association at the legendary Buffalo Chip campground at Sturgis.

“MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles” will be on display through the spring of 2009. To plan your visit, log on to http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/.