BIKE WEEK BEGINS THURSDAY
Tenth annual four-day event expands in 2010 to five locations
LISA CAPITELLI
Staff Writer
Ocean City and the surrounding area were inundated with motorcycle enthusiasts last year during the ninth annual Delmarva Bike Week festivities. Organizers of the event called it a success and said the four official locations, including this one at Harley-Davidson of Ocean City on Route 50 in Berlin, all reported a great turnout.
(Sept. 10, 2010) Beginning next week, thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts will travel to the Ocean City and Salisbury areas for Delmarva Bike Week, a four-day celebration of motorcycles and everything related.
The 10th annual edition, scheduled for Sept. 16-19, will include contests, rides, live musical entertainment and vendors selling a wide variety of merchandise.
In 2007, nearly 150,000 motorcyclists — a record for Delmarva Bike Week — took part in the festivities at Ocean Downs Racetrack near Ocean Pines, the event’s headquarters from 2003 to 2007. In 2008, the event was moved from one main venue to six locations to help relieve traffic issues as well as to give participants an opportunity to ride their bikes and explore the area.
Guests walk through the parking lot at Seacrets on 49th Street, where a number of vendors offered motorcycle-related merchandise during the 2009 Delmarva Bike Week.
Although some liked having everything in one spot, Delmarva Bike Week co-organizer Bruce Bennett said a majority of the participants and vendors offered positive feedback about having the event spread out among several locations, each of which had different atmospheres and vibes.
In 2009, Delmarva Bike Week took place at four locations: the Harley-Davidson of Ocean City, Seacrets on 49th Street in Ocean City, Seaford Harley-Davidson and Winter Place Park in Salisbury.
Since activities were at several locations in 2008 and 2009, it was hard to determine overall attendance, though it was clear each venue was very busy.
Resort locations not officially associated with Delmarva Bike Week, like this one at the 45th Street Village, sponsor activities during the four-day event.
This year, Bike Week activities will be held at five official locations: Harley-Davidson of Ocean City, Seacrets on 49th Street in Ocean City, Seaford Delaware Harley-Davidson, Winter Place Park in Salisbury, and new for 2010, Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
At Perdue Stadium, Yamaha Motor Corp. and Victory Motorcycles will offer demo rides.
“It’s the first time we’ve had demo rides available in our 10- year history,” Bennett said. “The event is popular enough that companies want to do demo rides. We’ve always wanted to do demo rides but it was never convenient to do at our locations. It’s all about safety and Perdue Stadium offers us all the things the companies need.”
Vendors will be on hand selling merchandise and the Ives family will also be at Perdue Stadium riding their bikes in the Globe of Death.
A free shuttle will be available from Perdue Stadium to Winter Place Park, the largest of the five Bike Week locations, where there will be approximately 80 vendors selling parts, apparel and equipment; live music, professional bike builders; and the American Motor Drome’s “Wall of Death” thrill show.
At Winter Place Park, visitors can register for a free drawings to win a custom motorcycle from CTM Customs, All Out War, 929 Customs and Custom Chrome; an enclosed trailer from Truck’n America; and a motorized Cruzin’ Cooler from BC Cycles. The bike, trailer and cooler will be on display at Winter Place Park and will be given away Sept. 19.
Other activities during Bike Week include tattoo contest, crab feast, bikini competition, live music, “Cruzin the Coast” pin run, Mr. Whippy Ice Cream Ride and the Stay Ready Ryderz’s Biken for Boobies ride to benefit Women Supporting Women.
There will be a variety of vendors at all five locations selling just about everything motorcyclists could need for their bikes as well as apparel. A list of vendors who will be at each venue can be found at www.delmarvabikeweek.com and inside the official Delmarva Bike Week program, now available at Harley-Davidson of Ocean City.
Bike Week will run Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 16-18, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, visit www.delmarvabikeweek.com.
