Staff photo / Andy Gray Bruce Williams of Cortland talks about his 1969 BMW R69, which is the first street legal motorcycle he purchased. It’s one of 30 bikes featured in the National Packard Museum’s 26th Motorcycle Exhibit — “My First Bike.”

Motorcyclists never forget their first bike.

For its 26th Motorcycle Exhibit — “My First Bike,” the National Packard Museum focuses on the bikes that turned people into motorcycle riders, enthusiasts and collectors.

Jim Iacozili, chairman of this year’s exhibit, said, “We tried to get some things that created your first love, your first interest in motorcycles, whether it was the guy down the street that had an old Triumph when you were a young kid and thought it was cool or the early Honda Dreams, which were the first Hondas over here. Maybe it was ‘Happy Days’ with Fonzie coming in on a Triumph Scrambler, which we have something similar to that.

“We do have a lot of exhibitors that have given us their first motorcycle that they still own, but it’s really what created that interest and planted the seed that you have in motorcycling. Back in the day, we’d go to East Palestine to watch the hill climbs, and we have one of those Harley Davidson Hill Climbers coming for the exhibit this year.”

It was a neighbor with a Triumph who ignited Iacozili’s interest, which started with Honda mini bikes and grew bigger from there.

Bruce Williams of Cortland, who’s been involved with Packard’s motorcycle exhibits for decades, is displaying the first street-legal motorcycle he ever bought, a 1969 BMW R69. He had a homemade scooter with a lawnmower motor growing up and a trailbike after that, but one day a friend lent him his brother’s BMW.

“I went down Mahoning Avenue to the bank and came back and said, ‘I want one of those,'” Williams said.

While the motorcycle exhibit usually has a theme, not all of the vehicles have to fit it. A special bike for this year’s show is one created by Knievel Custom Cycles in Hermitage, Pa., for former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly in 2008. The current owner won it in a raffle. Proceeds benefited Hunter’s Hope Foundation, which was started by Kelly in honor of his son, who died at age 8 from Krabbe disease, a rare neurological disorder.

“The bike has been on display at the (Pro) Football Hall of Fame (in Canton),” Iacozili said. “So even if you don’t have an interest in motorcycles, this thing is signed by over 40 NFL inductees into the Hall of Fame.”

This year’s event features 30 motorcycles, with one coming from as far away as Florida. Some of the bike owners have participated since the beginning; others are participating for the first time.

Jarred Mitchell of Warren left his contact information with the museum after attending the show a couple of years ago. Iacozili and Williams said they keep those contacts on file and reach out whenever they might have something that fits with that year’s theme.

Mitchell said the camaraderie of interacting with other motorcycle enthusiasts appealed to him, but he also appreciated the contributions that places like the National Packard Museum, Packard Music Hall and Packard Park make to the community.

“There’s a lot of good going on for all the negative we hear about this area,” Mitchell said.

If you go …

WHAT: 26th Motorcycle Exhibit — “My First Bike”

WHEN: Saturday through May 30. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: National Packard Museum, 1899 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren

HOW MUCH: Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for military, $8 for senior citizens, $5 for children ages 7 to 12 and free for children 6 and younger. For more information, go to packardmuseum.org or call 330-394-1899.

MOTORCYCLE LINEUP: The bikes featured in this year’s show are a 1909 Pope, 1912 Harley Davidson Belt Drive, 1917 Harley Davidson, 1918 Excelsior, 1923 Scott, 1926 Harley Davidson, 1938 Indian Four, 1939 New Imperial, 1941 Harley Davidson, 1947 Harley Davidson WL, 1949 Indian Arrow, 1949 Harley Davidson Panhead, 1950 NSU Quick 98, 1953 Ariel Square 4, 1957 Triumph Flathead 500, 1957 Harley Davidson Hill Climber, 1960 BSA Goldstar, 1965 Triumph Tiger Cub, 1965 Triumph T100C, 1966 Honda CA160, 1968 Harley Davidson Dresser, 1970 Kawasaki Bushmaster, 1971 Yamaha HT1, 1971 Honda QA50, 1972 Yamaha JT1 and 2008 Knievel Chopper.