Motorcycle fest hopes for better weather in '09
With riders coming from all over the country and parts of the United States, organizers of this year's Atlanticade Motorcycle Festival are hoping the third time will be the charm and bring clear skies and good riding weather.
For the last two years, Atlanticade has suffered from rainy weather, but it has also demonstrated its potential to become a popular annual event and tourist draw for Metro Moncton. Modelled after big motorcycle festivals held in the United States, Atlanticade is a gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts who enjoy getting on their bikes and exploring new territory. The majority of participants range from their mid-30s to their 50s and beyond. Many are retired and spend their time travelling. Many ride as couples or represent groups associated with churches, law enforcement, firefighters, the military and certain brands of motorcycles.
The festival is organized by volunteers who have spent a lot of time and energy breaking down the stereotypes many people have of motorcycle riders and the lack of any problems with the festival has gone in their favour. During Atlanticade, Main Street is closed down for a day and converted into a festival ground where people can walk around and look at thousands of vintage, custom, rare and extravagant motorcycles.
Festival chairman Dale Hicks says organizers are working on details for the 2009 festival, set for June 24-28. Representatives from Atlanticade will have a booth at the International Motorcycle Supershow in Toronto in early January to drum a buzz for the Moncton event.
"Right now we're projecting about 5,000 to 7,000 bikes coming in 2009, which should bring an economic spinoff of about $4.5 million," Hicks says.
The 2008 festival drew about 1,000 registered participants. That's about double what they had in 2007 and it doesn't include all the other bikers who showed up, parked their machines and opted to not go through the process of paying the $25 registration fee. After conferring with many sources, organizers came up with a "conservative estimate" that there were about 4,000 motorcycles in Metro Moncton over the weekend. About 30 per cent of them had a passenger, which translates into an estimated 5,200 participants
The festival generates business for local hotels, restaurants, retailers and many others throughout southeastern New Brunswick.
Bikers from all over Canada, parts of the U.S. and even as far away as Ireland came to Moncton for the festival. Among them was Paddy Tyson, 39, of Fermanagh Ireland. Tyson was on a solo motorcycle trip around the world, and decided to make tracks for Moncton when he heard about Atlanticade.
"I feel like I'm cheating because I was just passing through and ended up here by accident," said Tyson, a motorcycle dispatch rider and political science lecturer who has ridden his Aprilia motorcycle to Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, North Africa and other parts of the world to fulfil a personal goal of circumnavigating the globe on two wheels.
Many of the visitors made it part of a vacation trip that included visits to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Organizers say there would have been many more, but heavy rains likely kept many at home. The rain at the end of the week forced cancellation of some events and only a few hardy souls went out to watch the final parade.
The five-day festival also brought out an estimated 25,000 people to see the motorcycles.
Hicks said organizers are hoping to bring the event into one location for next year, but aren't sure if they will have the Moncton Coliseum.
The 2008 event was split up into several locations, which left some bikers and visitors confused. For example, many people went downtown to see the bikes on Main Street, but didn't realize the Biker Buildoff competition and trade show had moved from the Highfield Square parking lot to the Moncton Coliseum.
The move was made due to problems with the big tent, along with high winds and rain. But moving it to the Coliseum worked out better because it provided a dry indoor venue for the custom bikes and the trade show booths selling all kinds of leather goods and accessories.
Bike builders from all over North America brought their custom machines for the judging, and airbrush artists competed in a helmet painting competition. The helmets were then auctioned off for charity. The Children's Wish Foundation is the adopted charity of Atlanticade.
This year's festival was attended by Heather Ireland, the host of Biker TV, a specialty television show.
Ireland and her producer shot lots of footage and said it would be used for a full episode to air sometime in January.
Source: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/525391
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