DIXFIELD — The first annual motorcycle swap meet, hosted by the Dixfield League of Riders at the American Legion, was forced to shut down early Saturday afternoon due to inclement weather.
The swap meet was scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but Ed Ellis, director of the Dixfield League of Riders and first vice commander of the local Legion post, said they had to shut down early after the rain began coming down harder.
Earlier in the day, outdoor vendors had to fight against sporadic bouts of rain, which didn’t stop residents from stopping by and checking out the motorcycle parts on sale.
Dixfield residents Doug Duguay and Dan Richard set up two tables indoors with several crates of motorcycle parts on display.
Duguay said he has been riding motorcycles “forever,” while Richard said it’s been 20 years since he started.
“We’re old geezers,” Duguay said with a laugh.
Duguay and Richard both said that this was their first time participating as sellers in a swap meet, although they’ve attended swap meets in other towns.
“I never really had enough parts to go participate in a swap,” Duguay said, “but after 40 years, you start accumulating parts and you’ve got to get rid of them somehow.”
An East Dixfield resident who referred to himself as “Crazy Charlie,” had a table set up outdoors. He said he finds swap meets to be helpful to motorcycle enthusiasts.
“I’ve been riding since 1963 and I’ve been to a bunch of swap meets,” Charlie said. “I’ve built an entire motorcycle out of parts I bought at swap meets.”
While the vendors sold motorcycle parts, Legion members cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for those in attendance, with all money raised going to the American Legion and the League of Riders.
“We’ll probably kick 10 percent of what we make over to the hall, and put the rest toward our motorcycle club and the different charities we support,” Ellis said in a previous interview.
Shortly after shutting down the swap meet, Ellis said he and the rest of the Dixfield League of Riders would meet to reschedule the event.
“I think we’re eyeballing a day in August right now,” Ellis said.
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- Dixfield residents Doug Duguay, left, Dan Richard, right, and a friend who asked to remain unnamed set up a table covered with motorcycle parts inside the American Legion on Saturday afternoon as part of the Dixfield League of Riders first annual motorcycle swap meet.
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