From the ashes, the Phoenix will rise

We look at the horrendous tragedy of the TOP mountain museum fire and how they intend to return. And we speak to the National Motorcycle Museum about its future, too

Many saw the devastating photos of the TOP Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum in the Alps on fire. Onno Wieringa speaks to the family that own it and we look back at how the museum was before the tragedy

Acouple of months ago, a malfunctioning TV-monitor caused a disaster for the TOP Mountain Crosspoint motorcycle museum, in Austria. Many enthusiasts, including myself, had never heard of the museum; but it boasted almost 300 unique exhibitions.

Tragically, the first time this amazing place was seen by many was when it was ablaze, and unfortunately was almost completely destroyed: the exhibits in the main hall were all irretrievably lost; 15 years of passionate work destroyed. Only the exhibits of the special exhibition “Indian Motorcycles” on the ground floor could be saved.

“I had tears in my eyes and the hairs on my arms stood up. Devastating news, one of Europe’s most beautiful museums was on fire, I was shocked, just like the rest of the world. A big loss for all motorcycle enthusiasts from everywhere,” said Atilla Scheiber, one of the family that owns the TOP Mountain Crosspoint museum and complex.

But – no one was injured and the entire cable car and restaurant section of the TOP Mountain Crosspoint were unharmed. The owners would like to thank the voluntary fire brigade of the Ötztal and the rescue and police services for their hard work. “Right now the clean-up work is in full swing and we will start rebuilding our

TOP Mountain Motorcycle Museum as soon as possible – we will be back and it will be spectacular, we promise!” says the Scheiber family and the TOP Mountain Crosspoint team.

Now, a few weeks after the fire, CBG contributor, Onno Wieringa, had a long talk with Atilla, who together with his twin brother Alban, owns the Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum, located on the Timmelsjoch mountain in Tyrol, Austria.

Atilla, first of all, thanks for having this talk with me. We know you are having an extremely hard and difficult time right now. What went through your head when you arrived that night at the museum?

“I was shocked, I couldn’t believe it.

Now, after a couple of weeks, I start realizing what happened; we lost everything. Imagine, 15 years of collecting, travelling all over the world, searching for motorcycles. The hard work, the difficult deals we had to close and then this happened, everything gone in just three hours…”

How many motorcycles were lost in the fire?

280. We had 110 brands on display, motorcycles like Brough Superior, Flying Merkel, Clement, a 750 MV Augusta, Ducatis, Pope, Thor, various HarleyDavidsons like Panheads, Knuckleheads etc etc. Also something we were so proud of, a great collection of the rarest vintage racing motorcycles, all lost.”

Do you get any help, support?

“Yes, it’s heart-warming, so many people and companies offering us their help and support. Individuals, but also motorcycle clubs want to help us. We could, of course, not insure everything, but the insurance company is also helping us and is very cooperative.”

So what about the future?

“Well, we are already making plans for a new museum, in the same place.”

Same lay-out and set-up?

“Yes, but bigger, also in the sense of a true motorcycle experience. We plan on doing a lot more than just showing a collection of beautiful vintage motorcycles, also making it fun and interesting for people who just come to visit, not only motorcycle riders. The new museum will be bigger, but more concrete and less wood.

“The outside should be ready by the end of this year, so right after that we can concentrate on the interior. We have to look all over the world for ‘new’ old motorcycles, perhaps we can buy a motorcycle museum somewhere, maybe other museums can lend us some of their motorcycles.”

Thanks Atilla, we all wish you, your brother Alban, the Scheiber family and of course the whole Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum crew all the best.

Is there anything that we, readers and motorcycle enthusiasts can do to support the museum? We can start by signing up for their newsletter and of course, all come to visit the museum as soon as it’s open again.

Info: www.crosspoint.tirol Timmelsjochstrasse 8 6456 Hochgurgl Austria