Car, boat, airplane or motorcycle, if it has an engine, it is going to pique the interest of a true gearhead. Such is the case with the latest installment, “The Motorcycle” at The Lyon Air Museum.
The museum is located at the Orange County airport in Santa Ana, California and is very impressive even without the bikes. So how did motorcycles infiltrate aviation’s hollowed ground? It helps when the air museum president, Mark Foster has his 1972 Husqvarna parked alongside his Shelby Mustang, Cobra and 50’s vintage Cessna 0-1 Birddog. Mark fully recognizes the symbiotic relationship between all fans of internal combustion powered vehicles. Land, sea or air based, it really doesn’t matter to fans of things that go fast. Blending motorcycles with WWII aircraft is brilliant on many levels, not the least of which is the visual contrast. Add to that the expansive, wait, make that cavernous space that this hangar provides and you have an environment that motorcycles are rarely showcased in. To say it works is an understatement. It is as unique as it is breathtaking.
The motorcycles are as eclectic as the setting, both in history and provenance.One might expect to see a Steve McQueen Husky on display but not in the back of McQueen’s actual 1949 Chevy pickup. Then there is Paul Newman’s ’69 CZ, that he rode in the movie “Sometimes a Great Notion.”Even John Wayne’s Honda SL350 is in the house!
Beyond the celebrity-owned bikes are a variety of machines from early 1900’s board track racers to a late 60’s Jawa speedway bike. Evel Knievel Stratocycle next to a 300 hp2015 Kawasaki Ninja. A trio of Vincent Blackshadows parked in formation across from Hitler’s parade car. Up on the mezzanine is an amazing collection of 50cc grand prix road race machines. The list and the discoveries go on and on, everywhere you look and everywhere you wander.
This is a quality over quantity display but the overall size and scope take real effort to absorb in just one visit. Our best advice is go more than once. Then keep an eye on their ever changing calendar of events. (www.lyonairmuseum.org)
Don’t live in California but might have cause to visit the Golden State? Choose to fly into SNA over LAX. SNA (Santa Ana/Orange County/ John Wayne airport). Even if it is just for a long lay over. The museum is literally on the opposite side on the runway from the airline terminals. 5 min Uber/Lift ride and you are there.
We hope this is a mash up trend that gets serious traction with other museums in the future because it really works!
