Kick-Off For the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia

Got your motor running? Looking for adventure? Beginning April 4, motorcyclists with a Grand Tour of Virginia passport can head out on the highway and find adventure at more than 50 premier tourism destinations and attractions throughout the commonwealth and win some great prizes as well.

Grand Tour participants can be among the first to have their passports stamped at the official kick-off, Saturday, April 4, at Kings Dominion. On-site registration is available from 10 a.m. – noon along with special half-priced tickets for admission to Kings Dominion for riders presenting their ride passport during the kick-off. Tickets must be purchased in advance by going to kingsdominion.com.

The 2009 Grand Tour of Virginia is a motorcyclist’s dream, celebrating 40 years of “Virginia is for Lovers” – not to mention the movie Easy Rider and Arlo Guthrie’s The Motorcycle Song. It all starts with a chance for motorcyclists to show off their bikes at the bike show under Kings Dominion’s Eiffel Tower during the kick-off event. For more information and to register for the bike show, click on kingsdominion.com.

Download the Motorcycle Grand Tour of VA Registration From Here

From April 4 through October 2009, riders and their passengers can express their passion for riding and for Virginia by collecting prize points when their passport is stamped at each participating location. More stamps mean more fun and more prizes.

Participants completing the entire tour with a total of 164 points will receive a Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia jacket and be in the running to win one of the following – two season passes for Virginia International Raceway 2010, a 1000-watt generator from Fredericksburg Motorsports, a $500 gift certificate form California Sidecar Factory in Nellysford, a $500 cash award from Dr Pepper, or a two-night stay at Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County.

For riders accumulating more than 100 points, names will be entered into a random drawing for prizes ranging from gift certificates from motorcycle dealers across the state, overnight stays at participating hotels and resorts, motorcycle tires, tour books and cash awards.

To participate in the 2009 Grand Tour of Virginia, log on to motorcycleva.com to download the registration form. Send the completed form along with the $25 registration fee to the address indicated on the form. All registrants will receive an official Grand Tour t-shirt, ride pin and passport.

Registration is open from April 4 through September 1, 2009. Completed Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia passports must be mailed and postmarked by Nov. 1, 2009 to be eligible for ride prizes. A complete list of the sponsors, prizes and rules are also posted on motorcycleva.com along with a Virginia map highlighting all of the stops on the Grand Tour.

The Motorcycle Grand Tour of Virginia is a partnership between the Governor’s Motorcycle Advisory Council, the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, and the Virginia Motorcycle Dealers Association, with support from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

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2009 marks the 40^th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers, the official state tourism slogan. Virginia is for Lovers, launched in 1969, is one of the most loved and enduring travel slogans in the country. At its core, Virginia is for Lovers stands for a love of life and a passion for travel. Learn more at www.Virginia.org/40

THE VIRGINIA HOSPITALITY AND TRAVEL ASSOCIATION IS THE UNIFIED VOICE FOR THE RESTAURANT, LODGING, TRAVEL, AND HOSPITALITY SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATIONS. THE ASSOCIATION CREATES VALUE FOR MEMBERS BY PROMOTING THE LEGISLATIVE INTERESTS OF THE INDUSTRY, PROVIDING COOPERATIVE MARKETING, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROTECTING FREE ENTERPRISE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE VHTA, VISIT WWW.VHTA.ORG

THE GOVERNOR’S MOTORCYCLE ADVISORY COUNCIL WAS CREATED TO EXPLORE WAYS TO PROMOTE MOTORCYCLE-RELATED TOURISM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SAFETY IN THE COMMONWEALTH. THE COUNCILE MAINTAINS A WEBSITE (WWW.MOTORCYCLEVA.COM) AND DISTRIBUTES SAFETY INFORMATION AND PROMOTES MOTORCYCLE TOURISM IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

He rode his regularly until 5 years ago, when he hit a pothole and crashed, breaking every rib on his right side and puncturing his lung. He was hospitalized for 18 days and out of work for three months.

Now, though, he’s ready to ride again.

“The wife said no for many years,” Camden said. “She finally came around when the gas prices got high.”

Camden joins a growing number of motorcycle riders on Central Virginia roadways as more turn to the bikes because of rising gas prices.

That has authorities concerned over biker safety, and for good reason. More than 30,000 Virginians have motorcycles, but do not have a motorcycle classification on their driver’s license, according to state records.

Read the Full Story here…

Contact John at abateregion3@yahoo.com for more information.

Hey guys,

I really need help my grandfather was a supervisor at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in the 40s and 50s. He was a member of a MC called Challenger Motorcycle Club. I have his pin, it is sort of a le badge with what looks like a indian with a spear. He rode indians and harleys. This would have been in Norfolk or Virginia Beach in the 50s or early 60s. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

If have any info about this club, please post it in the comments or email it to me at webmaster@vabiker.net and I will forward the info to Mike.

Take Care – Ride FREE

That might seem like a silly question, except in Virginia a new law blurs the distinction.

If you go more than 35 mph on a moped or scooter, it’s now considered a motorcycle.

That means you’ll have to have a motorcycle license, insurance and additional certification.

Read the Full Story here…

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the number of motorcycle registrations in Virginia has jumped from 59,925 in 1994 to 151,914 in 2006.

The number of accidents statewide has also jumped dramatically, and motorcycle fatalities have climbed from less than 50 in 1994 to 126 last year.

Read the Full Story here…

The two-day campaign increases the number of available troopers, supervisors, motorcycle units, motor carrier troopers and aviation units along the entire length of I-95 and I-81 as part of this aggressive traffic safety enforcement.

Read the Full Story here…

Have fun and be careful out there.

RIDE FREE!