This award is presented to BMW umbrella club members. The BMW MOA nominated Doug for this award which was voted on by the International Council of BMW Clubs for approval. Doug is the 6^th BMW MOA member that has been honored with this award.

It had been a year since I had visited Doug Morrison's museum in the making, and impressive as it was last year, it's amazing how much progress he has made. Doug is quick to mention how, when he and Melissa Ryan #93287 were looking for a property in December 2006, Melissa concentrated on the house, and Doug was looking for a building suitable for a museum. When they saw that the garage came with a house, they bought it. Melissa spent much of her time and energy making a home for the two of them, and Doug spent much of his time and energy making a home for the bikes. Yet they both found time to support each other and generate enthusiasm for both projects. The hard work has paid off as their home and museum/shop are reflections of their respective creativity.

            I rode up their drive on a brisk March morning, there was a mint 1997 KTM Jackpiner alongside a classic and pristine 1969 Triumph Bonneville outside the shop. Wait-I know this is about BMWs-there are plenty inside. Doug is definitely a multi-dimensional person. As anyone who has seen a post from Doug knows, his tagline is "I like bikes!"

            Doug's entry into his shop and museum is on the south side of the building, giving excellent light by which to work and extra warmth in the winter. I was greeted by a 1975 R75/6 that was originally sold to a person in Springfield, Vermont, from Lloyd Provin Senior's shop in Pittsford-it sits up on a bike lift and is his spring project. To a novice's eye, the bike looks pretty nice now; he says he'll have the restoration completed in a couple weekends. Then he excitedly showed me an R90S engine with the number 4950017. Unbelievably, someone cut up that bike before Doug got to it. Doug is restoring the engine and will put it on display as it was the 17^th R90S in the U.S. market.

            When you walk into the museum itself, the first thing you see is his 1982 BMW Krauser MKM right up in front of a long line of perfect looking and running motorcycles. The Krauser was imported to the states back in 1982 by San Jose BMW; rumor has it that only 13 made it into the country. This Krauser is a perfect example of one that had the 4-valve heads installed after the bike was imported. The bike has 2002 original miles and recently won Best of Show at the Larz Anderson Classic.

            Sitting next to the Krauser is a timeless 1991 K1, a 1984 R80GS Paris Dakar, a 1984 R100CS in Smoke Red, his 2008 HP2 Megamoto signed by Malcolm Smith and raced by Doug at Pikes Peak in 2007, and two unbelievable 1969 R69 US bikes, both with original paint-one in Granada Red and one in Turf Green. They were built eight serial numbers apart. A stunning 1960 R27 guards the red and green R69s. Also residing in this lineup are a 1991 MotoGuzzi 1000s and 1997 Ducati 900 SS/SP. This collection shows the twin diversity at its finest.

            Memorabilia is everywhere, including posters, a complete set of BMW factory drawings from the /2 era, and racing heritage from the seventies as Doug is a big fan of BMW in the racing arena. Rare Airhead racing parts and gas tanks line one of the walls. A year ago, Doug had a Boxer Cup with six miles on it-I asked him where that was. He said that he needed an HP2 Megamoto for the Pike's Peak Hill climb last year; Max Stratton got the Boxer Cup and Doug got the Megamoto; he commented on the fact that the Megamoto has a hand-built motor. The Boxer Cup now resides with a collector in Virginia.

            During his last year in college, Doug was riding a Honda CX500 (non turbo; he currently has a perfect example of a turbo across from the Dakar), and he traded it and $1 for a non-running R90S. He was told at the time that, "BMWs are like a disease; once you start down the road, you can't turn back." Over 60 BMWs have come and gone since then. He has bought and restored over twelve R90Ss and passed most of those on to others. Also, as part of this "motorcycle rescue" program, Doug has provided the BMW MOA with two grand prizes in the past:  an R75/5 and a '77 R100RS.

            "I buy bikes from people that shouldn't own them and sell them to people who should," Doug said.

            Doug expressed his appreciation for his friend and mentor Darryl Messerle, now living in Illinois, as he is a true artisan and the one who is responsible for helping, teaching and encouraging Phil Rose, Bill Nielsen and Doug about restoration. The aforementioned men all have a large presence in the BMW community, along with their exceptional machines that they've restored. Darryl once had a BMW dealership, and he is a master mechanic. Doug was effusive in his praise for both Darryl and for Max Stratton (Max BMW Motorcycles).

            Max has been tireless in his racing promotion, including the Rally Moto Series, Pikes Peak, Vintage Racing, and some local hill climbs. Doug's race bikes are on display at Max BMW Motorcycles in North Hampton, New Hampshire. Doug races a 1972 R75/5 in USCRA and a HP2 enduro in the Rallymoto series. Doug describes the original HP2 enduro as the toughest bike he has ever ridden. In his first Sandblast Rally, Doug went off course at speed and glanced off a tree, breaking the beak off his HP2.

            The story goes that Doug was about to call it quits when a KTM passed him. Doug (sporting a couple of cracked ribs) said, "No way!" He cranked up his HP2 and finished the race 6^th overall. I'm not sure who is the toughest-Doug or the bike! Doug says he'll have to get an HP Sport and then his collection of HP2s will be complete.

            Non-BMW or not, one can't help but to get excited seeing a KTM Jackpiner '97 1/2; it is #44 of 133 made. Doug said he'll ride that bike a couple more years. Next to it are a 1976 Honda TL 250 and a 1975 Honda XL 250. All are original concours bikes. Then there is a 1972 Penton Six Days residing in the dirt bike section.

            Doug brought me around back to the downstairs garage and storage. He thinks he has built the only known Husaberg F550C in its present form, weighing in at 240 lbs and 65 hp. It was a supermoto he converted with an off-road setup for Rally Racing, and he'll race this bike in the fall. Then there's the Bultaco 125 Alpina, further back another TL 250 awaiting restoration-and way back in a corner a one-owner R90S awaiting its turn in the shop. Doug adds the fact that so far only about half of his bikes have been transported up here to Vermont from his house in Massachusetts. Although he has plans to knock out a wall upstairs so he can display more of those bikes when they finally arrive, it looks to me like he'll need a work crew to help with an addition to his building. There is a lot of talent among the BMW Motorcycle Owners of Vermont and the Yankee Beemers, two clubs in which Doug has been an integral part. Perhaps it's time for a good old-fashioned Vermont barn raising.

            What does Doug do in his spare time? He is an avid trail rider, and having Vermont as your back door the riding options are endless. Also, if you haven't already guessed it, he races, and he is an instructor with Fishtail Riding School. He's a long-time NETRA enduro rider and more recently finished #1 in the RallyMoto Series, Heavy Division (800CC and Up)-and 2^nd overall. He plans to continue racing BMWs as, being over 50, he can now ride the super senior class in NETRA and will do so on a BMW G450X, while also competing in RallyMoto and a recently established local hill climb series at Burke and Okemo Mountains in Vermont.

            Doug said that anyone is welcome any weekend to stop by, hang out and have a cold fresh beverage from his fridge that has amassed over 40 years of decals. Typically, if anyone wants to stop by while touring in Vermont, send Doug an e-mail at for directions and to see if he and Melissa are home-he might be out riding or racing somewhere. This museum is definitely worth visiting, and I recommend you put this on your "do not miss" list for when you are in Vermont.

Here is a current listing of Doug's BMWs:

1960 R27

1960 R60

1967 R50

1969 R69US Red

1969 R69 US Green

1972 R 75/5 Race bike

1974 R90S

1975 R90S

1975 R75/6

1977 R100RS

1982 Krauser MKM

1984 R 80GS

1984 R100CS

1987 K100RS

1991 K1

2006 HP2

2008 HP2 Megamoto

2009 G450X