Riders rally for annual event

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34th annual Greene County Motorcycle Swap Meet takes place

Video courtesy of WCTV, Riley Holsinger

February is an early time to start thinking about riding motorcycles in chilly southwestern Pennsylvania. Not in Greene County though.

This year marked the 34th year that the Deter family has hosted its Motorcycle Swap Meet event on the first Sunday in February.

“The reason that it is done at this time of the year is because when it started, everyone worked on their own Harleys,” Event Organizer Melody Deter said. “They didn’t take them to a shop, so they came here to buy parts to fix their bikes to take them to Daytona Beach Bike Week.”

Robert “Bobby” Deter first started the event in 1988 out of his love of motorcycles and especially Harley Davidsons. Bobby Deter passed away May 26, 2020, but his family continues the event in his memory.

“We’re very grateful,” Melody Deter said in response to what it meant to still have the event. “We even have the same vendors coming that started out with him. It’s great.”

The Greene County Motorcycle Swap Meet first started out to provide a way for members of the community to find parts to fix their bikes, but ultimately expanded overtime. Now, the event has an assortment of vendors in attendance to sell off goods.

Hosted at the Greene County Fairgrounds, the event also raised proceeds to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the American Cancer Society.

“It’s two good things to donate to,” Melody Deter said.

Melody Deter sees an often misrepresentation of the motorcycle community.

“I think the motorcycle people are misjudged in a lot of ways. They think of the gangs, they’re not all gangs, they’re everyday people that have jobs and families,” Melody Deter said. “They’re wonderful people. If you ever need that’s who you want. 

The comradery between those involved at the Motorcycle Swap Meet is an area in which Melody Deter treasures.

“We have lots of friends and family come here and it’s like a little reunion,” Melody Deter said. “It’s great because this is sometimes the only time that we see them is once a year.”