Nostalgia is a powerful thing. We long for how things used to be (or at least how think they used to be). It’s no different for lovers of vintage motorcycles. Vintage bikes offer a glimpse into the past. The designs and mechanics were far simpler and are foreign compared to modern bikes. These motorcycles offer up history lessons and are symbols of their time.

Through the years, motorcycle shows have gone through evolutions as well. There are so many bike shows now that are large productions and huge festivals. These are great and every motorcycle lover should check them out. But the first shows were much more grass roots. They were often spread word of mouth. Bring what you built and let’s have a good time admiring everyone else’s machines.

That old school, grass roots vibe motorcycle show still exists. One of them is the Vintage Soul Motorcycle Show in Prior Lake, MN. Put on by Kevin “Teach” Baas and Wild Turkey Customs, this show embodies the vintage feel all around. With that backdrop being the local watering hole of Doherty’s Tavern, Vintage Soul is a heightened version of the Tuesday Night Meetup.

This year’s show was the 4th iteration and was the first year where the show truly had a name. In the past, the show was advertised with a few different names. This year though, Vintage Soul became official. It’s apt name with the show embodying the old school feel. All bikes on display were pre-1984. Classes were divvied up into Shovelhead, Panhead, Knucklehead, Flathead, Metric, Race, Sidecar, Special, and Rat.

Bikes from all makes and sizes were present. From a perfectly restored Harley-Davidson Topper scooter to custom choppers, all types of vintage motorcycles were on display. The variety is one of the great aspects of this show. There are flavors for everyone’s interests and you can see just how motorcycles evolved through the years. In addition to the motorcycles, show goers were treated to live music, vendors, food, and of course beer. It’s at a tavern after all.

The popularity of this event has certainly grown since the first show, but it still has that local show feel. Who knows, maybe this will grow to become a mega event, but for now it is the perfect size to see all the bikes entered, yet still big enough to get a wide variety. If you’re in the Minnesota area, the Vintage Soul Antique Motorcycle Show is certainly worth checking out. If you’re not close by, scour your area for similar shows. These local shows are a great way to meet like-minded enthusiasts and admire some awesome pieces of machinery.