By Todd L. Jameson

Sometimes, great things come about in strange ways.

A good example is the beginnings of the Pioneers of Hoosier Motorcycling, one of the most popular and fastest-growing historical motorcycle preservation movements in the nation.

Officially launched in 2015, the Pioneers feature moderated interactive panel discussions, personal interviews with those who helped motorcycling take hold in Indiana, and a massive display of vintage motorcycles and memorabilia.

All this takes place at the Indiana Motorcycle and Powersports Expo, where the Pioneers greet 30,000 to 35,000 people during the show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

AMA Board Member Gary Pontius was invited to speak on a panel three years ago, and the experience prompted him to stay involved with the effort.

“This was always a grass roots effort that really took off,” Pontius said. “You have to be there to understand the level of interest we see during the show. So many people are now a part of it.

“The intent is to stimulate interest in motorcycling, to reinvigorate riders who may not be active and to attract new riders. We are trying to steer the effort toward younger people.”

The Pioneers of Hoosier Motorcycling was born from a marketing campaign.

Bob Schulteti, a founder of the Pioneers and owner of the Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson dealership, invited those attending the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis to the old 701 S. Meridian St. shop to see some great vintage bikes and take a trip down memory lane.

“I don’t know the exact numbers, but we had a lot of people come by,” said Schulteti, a well-known racer on the Midwest circuit in the 1950s and 1960s. “From then on, I knew we needed to figure out a way to keep this going.”

Enter Kevin Renfro, president of Renfro Productions Inc., show producer of the 29th Annual Indiana Motorcycle and Powersports Expo.

“When I learned of Bob’s experience during the Super Bowl, we wanted to help showcase these Pioneers and their collections,” Renfro said.

The Pioneers of Hoosier Motorcycling debuted at the 2015 Indiana Motorcycle and Powersports Expo, organized by a volunteer committee that was composed of founding Pioneer members Bob Schulteti, Kenny Stoughton, Rick Moore, Larry Roberts, Rex and Dottie Bridgford, Russ VanderVeen, Vera Shugert, Roy Garrett, Sherry Long and Sandy Kite Hunt.

Fast-forward to 2020, and the Pioneers of Hoosier Motorcycling is bigger and better than ever.

ABATE of Indiana has always been a big part of the show, and its executive director, Jay Jackson, serves as a moderator for the Pioneer sessions and as a committee member.

“Although the Pioneers of Hoosier Motorcycling is about honoring and preserving our history, it has also been strongly focused on encouraging younger people to love the open road and become motorcyclists,” Jackson said. “Bob Shulteti said it best: ‘The young riders of today are the pioneers of tomorrow.’ And we never want to lose sight of that message.”

ABATE of Indiana also provides a Tiny Tots Riding Experience free of charge to children attending the Expo.

All interviews and moderated panels have been captured on video with the goal of creating a documentary.

“We want to share the Pioneers story with as many as we can,” Pontius said. “Whether or not you have a love and connection to motorcycling, the Pioneers tell a compelling story of breaking new ground, perseverance, and history that is of interest to a broad audience.”

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Where to find the Pioneers

The Pioneers of Hoosier Motorcycling returns to the 29th Annual Indiana Motorcycle and Powersports Expo on Feb. 14-16, as part of the 66th Annual Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show, which runs Feb. 14-23.

The hours are 1-8 p.m. Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 15, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 16.

More information is available at www.indianamotorcycleexpo.com or at www.facebook.com/PioneersHoosierMC.