BY DAVID DROSCHAK
A piece of living history will roll into Apex this September as the Motorcycle TransAm, a coast-to-coast endurance race featuring motorcycles more than a century old, makes its first-ever stop in the “Peak of Good Living.”
The event kicks off Sept. 4 at the Apex Town Hall Campus parking lot, where as many as 35 vintage motorcycles—some dating back to 1911—will arrive throughout the afternoon. Apex is one of only three stage stops in North Carolina for the race, alongside Statesville and Maggie Valley, giving residents a rare chance to see these antique machines in action.
The 4,000-mile journey begins at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head on the Outer Banks and concludes at Oregon’s Heceta Head Lighthouse. For race director Kelsey Jackson, Apex offered the perfect blend of history and charm for the first stop. “We were kind of looking for a neat little town with some history,” Jackson said. “We really liked the Apex vibe, so we reached out, and everyone there has been so accommodating. It was a perfect fit for us.”
The local stop has been organized in partnership with the Apex Chamber of Commerce. Executive director David Bohm says the event is as much about community as it is about motorcycles. “We’re going to help celebrate the riders, and it’s going to be a cool community event,” Bohm said. “It is things like this that keep shining the light on Apex.”
Motorcycles are expected to begin arriving around 3 p.m., with riders available to answer questions, take photos, and share stories about their bikes. “These vintage bikes are kind of like glorified bicycles,” Jackson says. “We want the whole town to come out and see this. It’s special for people who don’t get to see these bikes all the time; it’s incredible to see them on the road.”
Riders will spend the night in Apex, lodging at local hotels and working on their bikes into the evening in preparation for Stage 2, which begins at 7 a.m. on Sept. 5. Jackson encourages the public to stop by and watch the mechanics at work.
Competitors are traveling from across the U.S. and as far away as Canada and Italy, united by a passion for antique motorcycles and the comradery these events create. “We all feel so passionate about keeping antique motorcycles on the road, keeping them racing and running,” Jackson said. “There’s such comradery at events like this, and it’s always a really great time.”
