Gear up to welcome an innovative museum that is sure to thrill motorcycle enthusiasts and the non-riding public alike: Motorcyclepedia in the city of Newburgh is going to open up a new world for those who love to ride ”“ and those who love a living history experience in all its metallic glory.
Jerry Doering and his son, Ted, have assembled what is surely one of the most comprehensive and compelling collections of motorcycles ”“ from the first Indian motorcycle built in 1901 ”“ to an eclectic collection of bikes built by the creator of Rat Fink the late Ed “Big Daddy” Roth ”“ at the height of the ”™60s counterculture frenzy.
The Doerings have some unique history to share with the two-wheeled and occasional three-wheeled wonders on display in the museum”™s 85,000 square feet of space on Newburgh”™s Lake Street (Route 32) ”“ from a motorcycle in the motorcade escorting President John F. Kennedy that fateful day in Dallas to a bike purported to be Charles Lindbergh”™s. The Doerings have a box of documentation supporting its ownership by “Lucky Lindy” they received when they purchased the bike ”“ “and we”™re fairly sure it”™s authentic ”“ we just have to sit down and go through it,” Ted Doering said.
The Doerings have been repairing, getting replacement parts shipped all over the world and collecting and scouting out all types of motorcycles and memorabilia for a combined 100 years. “That”™s a lot of history,” said Doering, whose father, Jerry, started his motorcycle repair shop in Newburgh in the 1940s. Along the way, the senior Doering instilled the same fascination with motorcycles in his son.
The Doerings bought the former Miron Lumber building in 2003, unsure of what they would do with the cavernous space. “We thought about leasing it, and for a time, we had our offices here and used it for storage,” Doering said. The idea of turning their collection of motorcycles and memorabilia into a museum sparked the father and son team to see if they could make it happen.
“We applied for a charter with New York state”™s Board of Regents as well as 501(c) 3 status,” Doering said. “Then, we had five years to fulfill the board”™s provisions and make a compelling case for creating a museum dedicated to the history of motorcycling.” The Doerings have managed to accomplish that by retrofitting the former construction supply building into a two-story museum filled with amazing motorcycles, posters, books, comics, toys and art mingled with news clips reflecting the times the bikes were popular.
From pictures of servicemen in World Wars I and II on motorcycle patrol, to a poster of Elvis Presley ”“ himself a dedicated Harley-Davidson collector ”“ from the movie “Roustabout,” each motorcycle has a story, and there”™s a news clipping, movie poster or other significant artifact that reflect a sign of its time. Don”™t leave out Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda or Jack Nicholson who made motorcycle madness peak when “Easy Rider” debuted in 1969 ”“ or daredevil Evel Knievel ”“ who literally catapulted motorcycle stunt riding into a daredevil art form.
“The early ”™60s featured a lot of B-movies with biker babes and rowdy guys,” Doering said, “but then, we also have the magic of “Big Daddy” Roth”™s amazing creations and movies like ”˜The Wild One,”™ ”˜Electra Glide in Blue”™ and the all-time classic ”˜Easy Rider.”™”
The museum”™s lower floor offers more bikes from all over the country and of all makes ”“ from Victory to Harley-Davidson to a Vespa with a sidecar ”“ but the piece de resistance is the Motordrome, which the Doerings bought in Germany and shipped to the states to its new indoor home.
The Motordrome is complete, its circular pit standing ready for daredevil riders who literally ride up the walls at top speeds. Doering will have the Motordrome’s entire set-up ”“ riders included ”“ as part of the museum”™s attractions when it officially opens its doors April 16.
It won”™t be all history, thrills and fun facts at Motorcyclepedia. The museum will offer Smartrider, a Department of Motor Vehicle approved driving school that will give lessons and issue motorcycle licenses for riders who pass the 3-day safety course.
“This is a great addition to the museum and to the county,” Doering said. “Currently, you have to go to Smartrider in Poughkeepsie or in Rockland Community College. We paved the entire back lot of the building to accommodate the training and driving lessons; and the classrooms are in place and ready. It”™s a great addition to the museum and gives potential riders the opportunity to take classes and get licensed here in Orange County again.”
Smartrider is approved by the U.S. Motorcycle Safety Foundation ”“ and the goal is to promote safety, as more and more men and women are taking up riding. “Learning how to drive safely and responsibly is important,” Doering said. “I”™ve seen people wearing sandals or shorts on motorcycles ”“ it”™s not safe or smart. Taking safety courses gives people an opportunity to learn a lot of the do”™s and don”™ts of the road, down to riding gear.”
The Doerings, who spent more than  $500,000 remodeling the interior of the building, aren”™t thinking of profits when they talk about the soon-to-open museum. “We love what we do,” he said. “And to be able to share this with the public is a dream come true.  I think our visitors ”“ whether they ride or are just interested in history or the artwork, posters and artifacts we have on display ”“ are going to enjoy visiting Motorcyclepedia Museum as much as we enjoy being here every day.”
Good luck to Jerry & Ted Doering on this great gift to the Hudson Valley’s collection of unique and interesting museums.
cant wait for the museum to open i see bikes i followed for years and ted aan jerry found them too but not all .thanks jerry for inviting me to that meet 30 some odd years ago withe the hit an miss motorcycles and tractor i dont even know where i was going but it was so good im stilll wright behind that red van on the highway following ya all to those great fun meets thanks again walt an kathy c