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Who We Are - Past & Present 2013 marks the 82nd Anniversary of the Peoria Motorcycle Club. It also marks the 66th year – beginning in 1947 – that PMC has held a National Championship TT. Most likely, our founders never dreamed we’d still be going this strong after so many years. The Past . . . Great organizations are normally founded on having a vision - a clear vision - a vision for what can be done, when you don't limit yourself. We like to believe that the Peoria Motorcycle Club (PMC) is a great organization. That's due in part, to knowing with complete certainty that the club was founded on a clear vision of what could be done. Thanks to brothers Bob and Bruce Walters, and Bruce's wife Gladys, we had visionary leadership during the club's formative years.
Be sure to check out our list of past champions, and our photos of historic PMC racing action. To help appreciate the historic nature of this event and what it has meant to a lot of people, take a look at recent comments left in the Visitor Book. The Present . . . PMC is still committed to the original vision and mission of its founders. Our top priority is to support AMA dirt track racing by hosting the finest TT races in the world. Our success is driven by our desire to uphold the history of the sport, and to ensure its existence going forward. We deliver on this goal by providing a family-friendly atmosphere, which promotes motorcycling as a sport and a lifestyle. Our final goal is to introduce more people to the sport we love, and to bring motorcyclists and their families together. PMC has a limited membership, and right now we're at full capacity. In fact, we have people on a list, waiting for an opportunity to join. Among our members, we have individuals who:
As you can tell, we love to ride motorcycles. But, you may be wondering what brands we ride. Even though there's a lot of good 'ol American pride among our membership, and a lot of us own Harley Davidson motorcycles, we enjoy riding and racing so much that almost every brand is represented. The collectors among us have some pretty obscure and obsolete iron in their fleet, which of course is to be expected. But the bikes that members actively ride include: Aprilia - Beta - BMW - Buell - Ducati - GasGas - Harley Davidson - Honda Husqvarna - Kawasaki - KTM - Moto Guzzi - Suzuki - Triumph - Victory - Yamaha Go to our Links page to learn more about these forms of riding and the brands shown here. The Future . . . As members of the local community, PMC cares about the growth and development of the Peoria area. Many of our members give to their individual communities through volunteer efforts. As a club, we can provide a place to share information regarding events designed to help good causes. Click here to learn more about how PMC is Caring for Peoria. | ||
Bob, Bruce and Gladys moved from Galesburg to Peoria in 1931, to open the new Walter Brothers Harley Davidson dealership. While living in Galesburg the Walters trio organized the Galesburg Motorcycle Club, where they promoted riding and racing. Because they were such enthusiasts, it was only natural for them to take an active role in the Peoria Motorcycle Club. 
Most people - many who spend their whole life around the Peoria area - don't realize the huge impact Bruce Walters had on the sport of motorcycling. Local people, who know anything at all about motorcycles, know that Peoria has a Walter Brothers Harley Davidson dealership. The ones who have been around long enough, know that the dealership used to be downtown on Jefferson Street. What the majority don't know is, Bruce Walters played a significant role in the evolution of dirt track racing at the national level. The AMA approached Bruce, who was already an accomplished dirt track racer himself, to organize, promote and officiate the first Daytona race, when it was actually held on the beach. Bruce Walters was inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and into the 
Over the years, PMC's greatest claim to fame has been our AMA Grand National Championship TT Race, which we have held every consecutive year since 1947. This annual event is the longest running dirt track race in the world.
PMC members also get together with friends who aren't in the club, to go on special rides. The group shown here gets together twice a year for a 4-day 'Flat River' trip, where they camp and ride off-road at St. Joe's State Park in Missouri.
