Vintage motorcycle show in Dania Beach displays bikes from polished perfection to come-as-you-were

Reflection in tank of 1954 BSA Gold Star; this motorcycle took third place in the Miller 500 at Daytona in 1954.

Not a single Royal Enfield motorcycle was on display Saturday at the Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show, and mine wasn't eligible to enter. The show, at Frost Park in Dania Beach, Fla., was for motorcycles more than 35 years old.

My 1999 Royal Enfield Bullet still has a way to go. I hope it's still running at 35. For that matter, I hope I'm still riding it when I'm 84!

There were plenty of other great motorcycles to see. Here are photos of some of my favorites:

1908 Indian board track racer entered by Sherry and Ed Mechan of Sea Ranch Lakes.

 This pristine Indian board track racer got plenty of attention.

1911 Indian Twin entered by Alexander of North Miami Beach.

"What an adorable little toolbox," one woman enthused about the tiny leather box atop the tank on this blindingly bright Indian. I had to agree.

1967 Norton P11 entered by Bill Scherer of Fort Lauderdale.

Just as bright and just as red was this Norton, with lovely pipes curved to run inside your calves. Must be good for keeping warm on a cold day.

Veteran rider aboard veteran Indian motorcycle.

 This weather-beaten Indian parked at the swap meet wowed the crowd when it started on the first kick. "Nothing wrong with that engine," the man declared. "I use that bike every day."

1943 BSA M20 entered by Mark Tortora of Fort Lauderdale.

The prop rod on the side of this BSA M20 exceeds the concept of "kick stand" by a good margin. It must provide tremendous support.

1972 Triumph Tiger TR6R entered by Tim Purvis of West Palm Beach.

To my delight, a good number of motorcycles were deliberately unshiny. Check these dusty dials and wrap-around cables. The fun is in the riding, not the cleaning.

1947 Triumph 3T entered by Roger Rodriguez of Hialeah Gardens.

I even admired the rusty barrel of this Triumph twin. This motorcycle has not hidden from the elements.

1970 Triumph TR6 rat bike entered by Larry Wingett of Sunrise.

You can't top this prize winner, in the "Rat Bike" category, who plopped a (fake plastic) dog plop on the seat as a finishing touch. The kickstand of this motorcycle was secured by a sort of auxiliary spring the manufacturer never dreamed of.

Just part of the crowd visible up one aisle of motorcycles.

The Dania Beach Vintage Motorcycle Show is not a gated affair, so there are no numbers available, but everyone I talked to thought the crowd was bigger than ever at this Fifth-Annual affair.