Jerry Doering inside his new motorcycle museum.
By Brendan Coyne
A dazzling display of several hundred motorcycles took center stage as the Motorcyclepedia Museum opened on Lake Street in Newburgh with free admission to celebrate the grand opening.
Jerry Doering, who turns 84 in June, has been collecting motorcycles all of his life. On Saturday he realized a long-time dream as he and his son, Ted, open a motorcycle museum on two floors of the former Miron home supply store (the Miron sign still stands).
Peter "Pit" and Esther Lengner pose in front of the Wall of Death.
On Saturday, visitors got a chance to see demonstrations by Peter “Pit” Lengner from Germany who rode the world’s smallest motorcycle in a 20’ wooden cylinder, the “Wall of Death,” speeding around the cylinder to the top. The display is part of the museum but Lengner and his assistant, his wife Esther, were scheduled to return to Germany where they have another Motodrone for shows around Europe.
A replica of the first motorcycle, which was made in 1885 in France by Daimler.
Doering started riding an Indian Scout in 1944 on Mount Airy Road in New Windsor. The exhibit includes a June 15, 1947 photo of him on a motorcycle, taken by the legendary sports writer Bo Gill.
“In those days, I rode with no plates, no license,” Doering recalls. “I didn’t need them.”
He used to ride on a former horse track behind the Meadowbrook Lodge in New Windsor and was a member of the Miracle Riders Motorcycle Club of New Newburgh
Motorcycle that was in President Kennedy's motorcade when he was assassinated in 1963.
The museum has many historical vehicles, including the motorcycle Charles Lindbergh traded for an airplane and a motorcycle from the motorcade traveling with President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963. A replica of the world’s first motorcycle, an 1885 Daimler made in France, with a wood frame, is also on display. Another section features some 40 motorcycles from members of the Antique Motorcycle Club of American.
The museum also includes exhibits of military motorcycles, sidecars and trikes. Colorful album covers of motorcycling songs, posters from movies about motorcycling, such as Easy Rider, and comic books with motorcycle themes splash on the walls.
Ted Doering with a solar-powered motorcycle.
Doering has had all sorts of jobs. After starting out on the family farm on Mount Airy Road, he repaired and built motorcycles in a number of shops over the years. He also worked in the electrical shop at the former Firth Carpet Company in Cornwall.
But motorcycles have been his passion and starting Saturday, he will share his passion with the world.
The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $10, $5 for children under 12.
To learn more about the museum, call 845-569-9065.
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