Still revving : Economy not a factor for most rally attendees
Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Visitors checks out a pair of choppers from T-Town Chopz, a custom motorcycle company in Tulsa, Okla., while taking part in the Bikes, Blues & BBQ motorcycle rally Friday on West Dickson Street in Fayetteville. The two bikes were estimated to be worth $ 80, 000 and $ 65, 000.
The carnival for bikers atmosphere that is Bikes, Blues and BBQ continues to draw apparently larger crowds to Fayetteville.
"Bikes. Barbecue. Babes. Beer," are what brought first timer James Craig of Homestead to the streets of Fayetteville.
Attendance at Bikes, Blues and BBQ is up significantly, according to Bob Corscadden, a spokesman for the rally.
"Beer sales are up a few grand versus a year ago here at the main stage," said Corscadden. He was told they were up significantly at the Tyson Track Center, too.
Corscadden said about half the vendors he talked to said attendance was about the same as last year and about half said it was up.
Conversations with festival goers and vendors suggest the same.
Mike Bass of Tulsa, Okla., and Charles "Roach "Hoffman of Missouri, representatives of Aid to Injured Motorcyclists, which is better known as A. I. M., have booths at both locations.
"We do a lot of rallies and, actually, this is the only rally that's really growing," said Bass. "All the rest, even Sturgis and Daytona, are losing people."
Hoffman said A. I. M. plans to have four to six booths at next year's rally.
"It's really growing," he said of Bikes, Blues & BBQ. "They say it's the third largest and I just about have to agree. This one just grows and grows."
Mitch Omar owner of O's Custom Paints, one of this year's sponsors, has sown the seeds for his business to rally goers for four years, three of them at the track center.
Most of his business is in the winter when people are not riding, so the rally is an opportunity to set that stage.
Omar said 2006, his first year at the Tyson Track Center, was a disaster; but last year "was really successful in terms of business, in terms of people walking through.
"We do big rallies, a lot of rallies, and this is the only rally we do that benefits charities. It's apparent that this thing is run, not only done professionally, but it's done in a spirit of giving back to the community."
Like the A. I. M guys, he thinks rallies across the country are down in attendance. He added that the motorcycle economy has been down for a year if not longer.
Toxic Inc., Clothing is part of the growth. Matt Taylor said he made the trip to Fayetteville from San Diego, Calif., for the first time because he'd heard good things about it for the last couple of years.
High gas prices and economics didn't seem to be a problem for at least two dozen festival goers. Nineteen of the 24 rode in, 15 were staying as long this year as in previous years, and 14 attended other rallies this year.
"We just print some more money like the government," laughed Randy Cone, one of a group of five friends who came over together from Cabot. He said they go to quite a few rallies and have been to Daytona Beach, Myrtle Beach and Hot Springs this year.
Their plan is to stay a couple of days.
"We're more about the ride," said Cone. "We're real riders. We ride our bikes everywhere we go; and up here, you've got some beautiful country to ride around.
"We're like everybody else, we're concerned about the prices; but, we're not going to let it cut into our recreation and entertainment," said Cone.
Most stay at hotels and motels.
Fay Klein of Burton, Kan., was the only one of the 24, who said she preferred camping.
Klein said they have gone to other festivals in the past; but, since finding out about this one they come back every year.
Gas prices and the economy have not been a factor in their rally decision.
"So far, it hasn't stopped us from going anywhere. Now if we had to drive a vehicle to where we didn't get as good gas mileage, it probably would," she said.
Greg Thurman of Burlington, Okla., typified responses. Economy and gas prices were not a factor in his decisions; he plans to stay until Sunday at a hotel and he has attended other rallies. Thurman is part of the growth this year as it is his first time at Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
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