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CARLISLE, Pa. – Thunder
roared into Carlisle as the fourth annual Carlisle Summer Bike Fest
brought 35,465 visitors to the Carlisle (Pa.) Fairgrounds on July
22-24. One-of-a-kind sport bikes, custom bikes, classics, choppers,
touring bikes and more could be seen on a show field overflowing with
thousands of motorcycles. More than 600 vendors sold all the parts,
accessories and apparel motorcyclists could need. Also, four local
Harley-Davidson dealers set up a 19,000-square-foot Harley-Davidson
dealer mall.
Brad Whitford, guitarist in the band Aerosmith,
visited the show with the Aerosmith-themed bike, built by master
customizer Dave Perewitz. The Custom Builder Roundtable featured a
panel of the motorcycle industry’s best-known and most talented
professionals, including Perewitz, Donnie Smith, Ron Simms, Roger
Bourget, Eddie Trotta and photojournalist Michael Lichter. Michele
Smith, star of Speed TV’s “American Thunder,” hosted the roundtable
with Brad Whitford.
Jason Sheets of Black Canyon Cycle,
Hagerstown, Md., won the Mid-Atlantic Custom Builder Challenge with his
modified retro 1981 Shovelhead on a Panhead straight-leg rigid frame to
receive a cash prize and a feature article in V-Twin magazine, the
sponsor of the contest. The 2004 Yamaha YZF-R1 owned by Jerry McCoy of
McCoy Motorsports, Pikeville, Ky., won the 2Wheel Tuner Custom Sport
Bike competition, earning the prize and an a feature in 2Wheel Tuner
magazine.
On Saturday evening, Leo Beers of Marysville won the
2005 Ninja ZX-6R provided by Koup’s Cycle Shop and Cumberland Kawasaki
in partnership with Carlisle Events. He attended with the Christian
Motorcycle Association of Harrisburg, and he plans to sell the bike and
give the proceeds to the association.
Don Bick of Finleyville
won the 2005 Harley-Davidson FXST Softail Standard on Sunday. He came
to the show with TNT & Infamous Cycles. Carlisle Events teamed with
Appalachian Harley-Davidson, Laugerman’s Harley-Davidson, Susquehanna
Valley Harley-Davidson/Buell and White’s Harley-Davidson/Buell to
provide this giveaway.
The Carlisle Thunder Motorcycle Auction
saw 138 bikes cross the block. “I thought the auction went really
well,” said Scott Adcock, co-owner of Carlisle Thunder. “We really had
a good group of bikes, as good a caliber of bike as I think you’ll find
anywhere at any event across the country.” Carlisle Thunder plans to
return next year, “bigger than ever,” Adcock said. See
www.carlisle-thunder.com for more information.
The Art of
Horsepower roundtable featured respected motorcycle professionals Jeff
Clark of The Cycle Exchange (TCX), Joe Chowansky of TP Engineering,
Dorian Swanner of Carolina Custom Products, Scott Hodgson of
Progressive Suspensions, John Gabriel of Edelbrock, Mark Thompson of
HHI and Danny Fitzmaurice of Zipper’s Performance.
Many other
special guests and exciting activities highlight the weekend. Chef
Biker Billy entertained audiences and burned taste buds as he cooked
with fire. The StarBoyz street bike stunt team performed to wild crowds
all weekend doing no-handed wheelies, stoppies, burnouts and other
crazy tricks.
Numerous competitions were held over the
weekend, with many prizes awarded. Mauro Kisak of Monroeville won Best
of Show in the Bike & Rider Judged Show with his 2003 Springer
Softail built by Dave Wagner/G-Spot Engineering. Adrienne Boger won the
burnout contest, sponsored by Koup’s Cycle Shop. Heather Borkaski of
Lavale, Md., most impressed the judges and won the title of Ms.
Carlisle Summer Bike Fest 2005 in the beauty contest sponsored by Easy
Life Hot Tubs.
On the Teresi Dyno Drags, guests could “race”
other bikes and find out their motorcycle’s horsepower. Or they see how
much power their bike puts out with American Cycle Performance dyno
tester. In the trials competition, dirt bike riders balanced and jumped
from different objects without touching the ground.
Carlisle
offers a fun family environment. Children’s activities included free
youth demo rides from Velocity Cycles, a visit from a clown, free henna
tattoos and caricatures.
Mark your calendar for next year’s
Carlisle Summer Bike Fest, July 21-23, 2006. Also, don’t miss the York
Open House motorcycle event Sept. 22-24 at the York (Pa.) Fairgrounds
& Expo Center.
Visit bikesatcarlisle.com or call (717)
243-7855 for more information. Call 1(877) 727-8573 for hotel
information. Carlisle Events welcomes PPG Refinish Inc., an official
sponsor of Carlisle Summer Bike Fest; Advance Auto Parts, official auto
parts store of Carlisle Events; and Meguiar’s, sponsor of all Carlisle
events.
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