It's baaaack! Biketoberfest roaring into town
David Janiec
Issue date: 10/1/06 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
I like to think of it as Bike Week Lite. To start off, it's just a weekend, so the craziness can only go on so long, officially. But like its cousin, Biketoberfest is sure to have those who come early and then those who stay late. Many times the same folk do both.
And if you're a biker I can think of few places in this country as hospitable to your lifestyle as the Daytona area. Between all the races, bikers and spring breaks, Daytona and its world famous beaches have been designated a party place. This is not news to those who live here or revelers of previous years' festivities, but it provides a framework for successful festivites.
Biketoberfest is just that
The festival partially owes its creation to the desire to draw a steady amount of tourists in the off-season, that being non summer months. Along with the fact that winter is near and not the best time to be on a bike, it's a last feast before the bike hibernates and is awoken in spring. So in 1992, a Daytona native Janet Kersey, charged with creating an event similar to Bike Week, laid the foundation and kicked off the festival.
From the beginning it was a success. A solid crowd of 5,000 showed up and quickly the local merchants took notice. Within a year a name change brought about the current moniker and the festival now drew three times the people and generated over $4.5 million for the economy. There was no looking back.
Anyone on a motorcycle knows looking back is a challenge in itself and so best avoided. Maybe that attitude is responsible for the initial rapid growth.
The mid-90s saw an explosion in both activities and participants. By the end of the decade the event drew approximately 75,000 revelers. In 2004, the event topped 100,000. In the meantime, in addition to increasing in size, Biketoberfest also garnered awards, constantly ranked as one of the Southeast's better festivals. Today, it draws attendance from over 150 countries and it's safe to say every state is represented. Bikers from Hawaii are at a disadvantage, but do not cry for them. They, I remind you, live in Hawaii.
Despite all this growth, problems have remained relatively minor. A couple of violent outbreaks associated with the event have not marred its prestige. The biggest hindrance to the community is traffic and noise, but after the first hour, residents grow immune. It's similar to the way locals block out the constant buzz of crickets or how those living next to the Interstate find a nice rhythm in the flowing traffic. Biketoberfest's sound is certainly distinctive, each bike with it's own cadence, each biker with his own way of drawing it out.
Aside from the noise, attendees can find other ways to occupy the mind during the entire weekend. During the day, a myriad of vendors cater to both the expert and novice alike. The knowledge and love of riding serves both camps well, since anything appealing to the biker's desires, hearts or stomachs can be found. For what would a festival be without an overabundance of food and drink?
On the menu, there's everything from the local sea bounty to a saucy, or spice-rubbed selection of barbeque. You can name any part of the pig or cow and rest assured it will have been either marinated, rubbed, smoked , grilled or roasted.
Of course, it also might be consumed half-digested but enjoyed regardless. Don't go around looking for organic vegetarian dishes - you may end with skid marks down your spine. Many watering holes find themselves swamped during these times - some visitors don't anticipate the heat and become a little more thirsty than expected - so much so that a spot at the bar is like buying a beachside condo below market value.
At sundown the party does not quit. Nighttime finds many concerts and clubs catering to clientele. So there is little time for sleep, not that anyone needs it, in times like these.
Following are some of the events of this year's Biketoberfest, so go out have a beer or two, get a tattoo and thank the hog for this day. Enjoy.
Make your mom proud, bring home a hog
Tickets by donation for a new Harley Davidson motorcycle to be given away March 2007 from 10a.m. to Midnight at the Full Moon Saloon-
-2007 Bike Week Motorcycle drawing. Tickets available from 10a.m. to 10p.m. at Wise Guys Watering Hole for a 1973 original Harley Davidson Motorcycle, to be given away on Sunday, March 11th by drawing at the Iron Horse Saloon
-Raffle by donation 9a.m. to 11p.m. at the Boot Hill Saloon for a chance to win a 2007 Harley Davidson, a 4-nightstay for BiketoberfestÆ 2007 or $1000 cash. Drawing to be held during Bike Week 2007
And if you're a biker I can think of few places in this country as hospitable to your lifestyle as the Daytona area. Between all the races, bikers and spring breaks, Daytona and its world famous beaches have been designated a party place. This is not news to those who live here or revelers of previous years' festivities, but it provides a framework for successful festivites.
Biketoberfest is just that
The festival partially owes its creation to the desire to draw a steady amount of tourists in the off-season, that being non summer months. Along with the fact that winter is near and not the best time to be on a bike, it's a last feast before the bike hibernates and is awoken in spring. So in 1992, a Daytona native Janet Kersey, charged with creating an event similar to Bike Week, laid the foundation and kicked off the festival.
From the beginning it was a success. A solid crowd of 5,000 showed up and quickly the local merchants took notice. Within a year a name change brought about the current moniker and the festival now drew three times the people and generated over $4.5 million for the economy. There was no looking back.
Anyone on a motorcycle knows looking back is a challenge in itself and so best avoided. Maybe that attitude is responsible for the initial rapid growth.
The mid-90s saw an explosion in both activities and participants. By the end of the decade the event drew approximately 75,000 revelers. In 2004, the event topped 100,000. In the meantime, in addition to increasing in size, Biketoberfest also garnered awards, constantly ranked as one of the Southeast's better festivals. Today, it draws attendance from over 150 countries and it's safe to say every state is represented. Bikers from Hawaii are at a disadvantage, but do not cry for them. They, I remind you, live in Hawaii.
Despite all this growth, problems have remained relatively minor. A couple of violent outbreaks associated with the event have not marred its prestige. The biggest hindrance to the community is traffic and noise, but after the first hour, residents grow immune. It's similar to the way locals block out the constant buzz of crickets or how those living next to the Interstate find a nice rhythm in the flowing traffic. Biketoberfest's sound is certainly distinctive, each bike with it's own cadence, each biker with his own way of drawing it out.
Aside from the noise, attendees can find other ways to occupy the mind during the entire weekend. During the day, a myriad of vendors cater to both the expert and novice alike. The knowledge and love of riding serves both camps well, since anything appealing to the biker's desires, hearts or stomachs can be found. For what would a festival be without an overabundance of food and drink?
On the menu, there's everything from the local sea bounty to a saucy, or spice-rubbed selection of barbeque. You can name any part of the pig or cow and rest assured it will have been either marinated, rubbed, smoked , grilled or roasted.
Of course, it also might be consumed half-digested but enjoyed regardless. Don't go around looking for organic vegetarian dishes - you may end with skid marks down your spine. Many watering holes find themselves swamped during these times - some visitors don't anticipate the heat and become a little more thirsty than expected - so much so that a spot at the bar is like buying a beachside condo below market value.
At sundown the party does not quit. Nighttime finds many concerts and clubs catering to clientele. So there is little time for sleep, not that anyone needs it, in times like these.
Following are some of the events of this year's Biketoberfest, so go out have a beer or two, get a tattoo and thank the hog for this day. Enjoy.
Make your mom proud, bring home a hog
Tickets by donation for a new Harley Davidson motorcycle to be given away March 2007 from 10a.m. to Midnight at the Full Moon Saloon-
-2007 Bike Week Motorcycle drawing. Tickets available from 10a.m. to 10p.m. at Wise Guys Watering Hole for a 1973 original Harley Davidson Motorcycle, to be given away on Sunday, March 11th by drawing at the Iron Horse Saloon
-Raffle by donation 9a.m. to 11p.m. at the Boot Hill Saloon for a chance to win a 2007 Harley Davidson, a 4-nightstay for BiketoberfestÆ 2007 or $1000 cash. Drawing to be held during Bike Week 2007
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