Rolling Thunder veterans change image of bikers
June 4, 2009 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
On Memorial Day weekend in Washington, parents cheered and their babes waved little American flags at hundreds of bikers. What has happened in three decades to inspire this sea change in attitude toward bikers, a group that once was feared by average Americans?
In an event with the almost-menacing moniker Rolling Thunder, almost half a million motorcyclists rumbled across the Arlington Memorial Bridge, snaked around the Mall and dismounted en masse near the Lincoln Memorial. Most of the bikers were clad in black leather, many sported Visigothian manes and beards and almost all straddled brutish, black Harley-Davidsons or H-D clones.
The bad-boy biker image began decades ago. In Hollister, Calif., on the weekend of July Fourth, 1947, a motorcycle rally became rowdy. Some drunken participants (restless war veterans among them) were arrested, and Life magazine ran a story featuring a staged photograph from Hollister of a belching biker perched on his machine’s footpegs, surrounded by beer bottles. In 1953, Columbia Pictures projected a highly fictionalized and sensationalized version of the event on the silver screen in the Marlon Brando film “The Wild One.”
Revving for a reason
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — Boots and bandana-clad bikers spent Saturday morning helping special local athletes one twist of the throttle at a time. The miles they rode will give Eddie Martin and other locals the opportunity to compete in bowling, track and field and other sports.
The Colonial Heights Sheriff’s Office Fifth Annual Special Olympics Motorcycle Ride rumbled through town and beyond Saturday morning. Funds from the event will help Martin — a topnotch bowler — and about 70 others train for and travel to statewide competitions.
09NR18 – MRF News Release – MRF Bikers Inside the Beltway 2009 Event Details
May 6, 2009 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
MRF Bikers Inside the Beltway 2009 Event Details
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is holding its inaugural ride to the Nation’s Capitol for Motorcycle Awareness Month. Known as “Bikers Inside the Beltway,” the event will be dedicated to its creator, the recently departed MRF Vice President and long-time motorcyclists’ rights legend Michael “Boz” Kerr.
The MRF is encouraging bikers nationwide to ride their motorcycles to Washington DC for this historic event. We have reserved secure parking for motorcycles adjacent to the U.S. Capitol; this location should make for an impressive display of bikes.
GEICO’s Bikers for Tykes & Troops Rally will rock for Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and USO of Hampton Roads – April 17-19, 2009
April 9, 2009 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – (Business Wire) The fourth annual Bikers for Tykes & Troops Motorcycle Rally and Concerts, sponsored by GEICO Powersports, is doing more than just rolling through the KOA Kampground this year. The event, presented by Liberty Tax in Virginia Beach, Va., from April 17-19, is planning to rock the area with band performances, a Guitar Hero tournament, Kane “Insane” Friesen freestyle stunt and safety shows, and a parade of bikes for the USO Freedom Ride on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Tickets for the rally are available through www.ticketmaster.com. Headlining the event on Friday is Butter with special guest Suburban Key Party. Saturday will have Tuesday’s Gone, Tailgate Down with special guest Grant Austin Taylor, and Sunday the winner of the MAX-FM Battle of the Bands and special guest Bullwinkle will perform.
09NR08 – MRF News Release – Bikers Inside The Beltway Date Announcement Delayed
March 19, 2009 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
The MRF is aware of, and gratified by, the interest in the event we are calling Bikers inside the Beltway. We are also mindful of the fact that we said we would announce the date in early March. Well, here we are and we still don’t have a firm date.
We keep hoping that we can announce the date, but with the clock ticking it is time to offer an explanation.
Since the new Congress went into session, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation has been working with United States Representative Judy Biggert (R – Il) and her staff to secure a site on the Capitol grounds for our event.
Economy slows traffic on Blue Ridge Parkway
As the economy decelerated and gas prices soared, annual visitation to the Blue Ridge Parkway dropped by more than a million motorists in 2008.
The 469-mile scenic highway drew 18.25 million visitors last year, down from 19.29 million in 2007, according to statistics from the National Park Service.
The 2008 visitation was the lowest in the past eight years and the first time below 19 million during that span.
Parkway officials have not traced a cause for the decrease in visitors, and Scott Bell, the Park Service official who tallies visits, declined to speculate.
Campgrounds along the parkway’s first 106 miles — which includes Bedford, Amherst and Nelson counties — saw fewer out-of-state visitors last year than normal, said Randy Sutton, an interpretive ranger for the parkway’s Ridge District.
Bikers along the East Coast usually flock to the ridge-top road, he said, but 2008 saw less motorcycle traffic, leading to a reduction in accidents.
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BIKERS FOR BABIES-THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH!
September 25, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Registration 9AM – Ride 10:30AM
Bayside Harley-Davidson – Portsmouth, VA
80 Mile Police escorted Ride
Join Bikers for Babies by revving up to help us give every baby a healthy start. Sign up and raise money at bikersforbabies.org.
$15 Registration includes pin and lunch.
On Saturday, September 27th, Bayside Harley-Davidson will host our 15th Annual motorcycle ride in Portsmouth. Join hundreds of bikers on our 80 mile police escorted ride.
March of Dimes – 757-361-0000 Susie Eaton email: meaton@marchofdimes.com
Bikers for Babies – September 27, 2008
September 10, 2008 by Hersey · Leave a Comment
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Registration 9AM – Ride 10:30AM
Bayside Harley-Davidson – Portsmouth, VA
80 Mile Police escorted Ride
Join Bikers for Babies by revving up to help us give every baby a healthy start. Sign up and raise money at bikersforbabies.org. $15 Registration includes pin and lunch.
On Saturday, September 27th, Bayside Harley-Davidson will host our 15th Annual motorcycle ride in Portsmouth. Join hundreds of bikers on our 80 mile police escorted ride.
