As a small boy, Hill Country Motorheads Motorcycle Museum owner Pat Hanlon fell in love with motorcycles by watching in absolute awe the soldiers at Fort Bliss riding on their 1960’s -70’s Triumph’s, BSA’s and Harley’s. Being from an Army family of seven and having very few luxuries, Pat pooled lawn mowing and paper route money and bought a new “old school” minibike from White’s Automotive for $99.00. Pat discovered the thrill of off-road and dirt track riding and was quickly off to the El Paso desert to explore. The minibike was not the best choice for desert riding and unable to afford a “real” European motocross bike, Pat saved enough money to purchase a Suzuki TS90, modified it and was soon racing around the El Paso, TX circuit. This TS90 was shared every other Sunday race with Pat’s brother Mike and the brothers would pit for each other for two race seasons. Eventually they bought their own bikes & raced successfully throughout the 70’s and early 80’s.

When the motocross racing career ended, Pat raced enduros and began collecting and restoring vintage bikes. The collection, of course, started off with 1970’s motocross bikes and then expanded to offroad, enduro, flat track & trials bikes. The street and road race bikes were included later and the collection grew to 75 bikes.

Early 2014, Pat and wife Janell decided it was time to move from Midland, TX to the beautiful Texas Hill Country. After visiting with friend Tom White, former owner of Early Years of Motocross Museum, Pat decided to fulfill his dream of owning a museum and being a firm believer in “show them, don’t hide them” started searching for a location for the museum. In late 2014, the current museum location, which was previously a Ford dealership and later a church, was purchased. Intense renovation of over 3 years was completed and the collection of then 75 motorcycles was transported by a caravan of friends from Midland to the museum.

Hill Country Motorheads Motorcycle Museum opened its doors St. Patrick’s Day 2018. Today, the collection surpasses 300 with the museum rotating exhibits displaying approximately 150 bikes of the collection at a time as well as numerous “on-loan” bikes from friends and family. Exhibits are curated in an educational focus of motorcycle history and information of motorcycle brands from around the world. Approximately 45 brands of mostly 1960’s – 80’s are represented and the exhibits aren’t limited to one style of riding or racing.

Hill Country Motorheads Motorcycle Museum’s mission is to exhibit, restore and preserve vintage motorcycle history. By holding the Texas Motorcycle Revival event, the museum promotes motorcycle vintage history in an innovative and attractive way to make it appealing to all ages and to develop different levels of interest.

The bike pictured below is on display at the museum and is an exact replica of Pat’s original Suzuki 90 race bike, including the factory 100cc hop up kit and expansion chamber, 21” wheel and extended wheelbase.