9/14/2005

Bikers roll into town for festive weekend
By Don Klein

The Ocean City-Ocean Pines area will play host to as many as 80,000 motorcycles in what has become a popular weekend for cyclists as well as an ever growing profitable one for local businesses when Delmarva Bike Week begins tomorrow and lasts through the weekend. 

“If the weather holds out we expect 120,000 visitors,” predicted Bruce Bennett, the head of marketing and promotions for the event. Last year the event drew about 112,000.

Delmarva Bike Week, now in its fifth year, has grown tremendously since its start in 2001 attracting a crowd of 25,000. It has become one of the highlights of the shoulder season and falls strategically between Labor Day weekend and Sunfest. It is scheduled from September 15 to 18 this year.

“Just about all of the (eight) sponsors say it is the best weekend of the year for business,” Bennett said, “and the bikers just love riding in the area.”  They relish the wide-open roads that are available to them. Most of the 170 vendors attracted to the area by bike week are concentrated at Ocean Downs Raceway.  Some vendors will be located at the Harley-Davidson facility on Route 50 near Stephen Decatur High School.

“It is the gathering of people with a common interest,” Bennett said, “where they can buy equipment, learn about the latest in the sport and enjoy some entertainment while they are here.”  It is a boon to business because the visitors have to eat out and avail themselves of various accommodations while here.  The four-day stay generates a sizable economic impact upon the area.

At Ocean Downs, where the majority of programs will be held, Bennett used a unique way to emphasize the immensity of Delmarva Bike week. He noted,  “We will be spending close to $10,000 on portable toilets alone.”

The image of cyclists has changed over the years. Although some might be bearded and sport colorful tattoos, a substantial number of attendees are the very same people who are seen fishing or golfing or participating in all the other recreational things that most people do in their spare time. Among the new aficionados now are doctors, lawyers and other professionals out to enjoy a weekend of fun.

Delmarva Bike Week people try to be good neighbors while they are here, Bennet explained, as they plan to close down shows by 9 p.m. every night and by 4 p.m. on Sunday. Among the primary sponsors are the Stowaway Grand Hotel, Coors Light, Seacrets Nightclub, Tri Supply and Equipment and the three Harley-Davidson shops at Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach and Seaford, DE.

A major program during the weekend is called “Cruizin the Coast” in which bikers make the rounds on their vehicles to ten different locations in the counties of Worcester, MD and Sussex, DE, plus one stop in Virginia.

The stops include Harborside Bar and Grill, The Wedge, Teasers at Sunset Marina, 707 Sports Bar and Bogey’s all in West Ocean City; the Caribbean at Plim Plaza and BJ’s on the Water in Ocean City; Crabby
Dick’s restaurant in Rehoboth Beach and Billy Bob’s Bike Barn in Milford, 44 miles north of Ocean City in Delaware. They touch base at the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce to round out the trip.

Asked how much noise all these cycles will make during their meandering odyssey along the coast, Bennett smiled and said, “The noisy ones are in cars.”

Attendance at the music shows and thrill shows are free to everyone, even non-cyclists. However, motorcycles are parked free at the racetrack. Drivers of other vehicles will be charged $10 Thursday, Friday and Saturday and $5 on Sunday.

There will be three concerts with “Bad Company’s” former lead singer Brian Howe performing on Thursday night, “Blackfoot” performing on Friday and a show by Molly Hatchet on Saturday. There will be no charge for any concert. In addition at least three bands perform for free each day.

Ocean City area band “Ever Since Radio” (ESR) will present one of its all-ages concerts, on the big stage starting at noon on Sunday. “ESR” has long been a promoter of live music for audiences under 21 and Delmarva Bike Week offers its stage to Alexx (CQ) and his crew. The concert follows the regular Sunday service from the Christian Motorcycle Association.

There will be thrill shows as well, including the Globe of Death and the Extreme Moto X jumpers. The Ives family returns to Delmarva for the third time after starring at Delmarva Bike Week last year and the Beast of the East Custom Bike Show in April. Also featured at Bike Week will be a new Wall of Death, featuring a lady performer riding her motorcycle up the walls of the arena.

The corporation running Delmarva Bike Week is B Line, Inc., with offices at the Harley-Davidson Shop. Besides Bennett, the other key figures running the program are his sister Benet McCormick, president of B Line, Inc. and Kerry Mendenhall, event coordinator. All are associated with Harley-Davidson and Bennett claims there is little profit in it for them.

“We do it because we don’t want outsiders to come in and ruin Delmarva Bike Week,” he said, “we want to make sure it is done right.”

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