Ep 18. Ready to Race

In season 18 episode 18 of American Pickers titled "Ready to Race", Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, two best friends and professional antiques collectors, are back on the road again, scouring through dusty barns, abandoned warehouses, and back alleys of America's heartland in search of valuable collectibles. The episode follows Mike and Frank as they travel to Pennsylvania to meet up with a guy named Tim who has an impressive collection of rare vintage motorcycles.

Upon arrival, Tim shows the guys around his sprawling property, which is filled with all kinds of interesting things, including antique gas pumps, vintage signs, and old car parts. But what really catches their eye is Tim's incredible collection of vintage motorcycles. The guys are amazed by the sheer number of bikes that Tim has, and they're especially impressed by a rare 1962 Ducati that he's willing to sell.

While they're checking out the Ducati, Tim mentions that he's a big fan of flat track racing, a high-speed sport where riders race around a dirt oval track. Mike and Frank immediately perk up at the mention of racing and start asking Tim if he has any other racing memorabilia. Tim leads them to his garage, where he has a whole wall filled with vintage racing helmets, leathers, and trophies. Mike and Frank are in heaven, and they start carefully examining each item, looking for anything that might be valuable.

Eventually, Mike spots a vintage leather jacket that catches his eye. He pulls it off the wall and discovers that it once belonged to a famous flat track racer named Mert Lawwill. Mike and Frank are familiar with Mert's career, and they know that he's a legend in the racing world. They're thrilled to have found such a rare piece of racing history and ask Tim if he's willing to sell.

Tim agrees to sell the jacket, but he's reluctant to let go of it for anything less than top dollar. Mike and Frank know that the jacket is valuable, but they also know that they need to make a profit if they're going to stay in business. They start negotiating with Tim, trying to find a price that works for both of them.

As they're haggling over the price, Tim mentions that he has some other racing memorabilia that he hasn't shown them yet. He leads them to a shed in the back of his property and opens the door to reveal a treasure trove of vintage racing bikes. Mike and Frank are amazed, and they immediately start examining each bike, looking for anything rare or valuable.

After spending a few hours in the shed, Mike and Frank emerge with a handful of valuable items, including a rare Honda CR250 Elsinore and a vintage Smith and Wesson revolver. They're thrilled with their finds and decide to call it a day.

As they're loading up their van, Tim comes over and offers them a deal on the Mert Lawwill leather jacket. Mike and Frank take a look at the numbers and realize that they can make a decent profit if they buy the jacket at the price Tim's offering. They agree to the deal and shake hands with Tim, happy with their haul for the day.

The episode ends with Mike and Frank driving off into the sunset, excited to add their new finds to their growing collection. American Pickers season 18 episode 18 "Ready to Race" shows how the guys' love for vintage motorcycles and racing lead them on a wild adventure, taking them to places they never thought they'd go and allowing them to uncover some amazing treasures.