(Marne) A Marne businessman that started repairing motorcycles as a part-time job is celebrating 40-years in business later this month. Randy Baxter, of Baxter Cycle in Marne, turned his part-time business into a worldwide company.
Randy Baxter started working as a motorcycle mechanic at Norway Center. In 1977, he bought the parts inventory from a Norton dealer in Des Moines. Baxter placed an ad, and pretty soon, the phone started ringing.
Baxter got his sales tax permit in 1977 while he was working on bikes at his day job and pulling orders at night. His fortune changed drastically when his part-time gig started bringing in more money than his full-time day job.
The business took off from there. At his first customer appreciation event, he served hot dogs, and today close to 2,000 customers from all parts of the United States come to this yearly weekend event.
The weekend includes; boy scouts serving breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, Triumph demo rides, Marne Fire Department Food Stand, and the 6th annual motorcycle auction on Saturday starting at noon with over 120 motorcycles sold onsite by a world-renowned auction company. On Sunday, August 22, the rally ends with a bike show and trophy presentation in Marne City Park.
Today, Baxter Cycle sells motorcycles all over the world. France is one of the largest customers.
Randy Baxter, and Baxter Cycle, truly a success story.
