ARIZONA BIKE WEEK!!!!!!

[Westernbiker]

Well it doesn't offically start till Wed. but unoffically it started last Fri. with most of the Harley dealerships having parties and bands and all kinds of stuff. The biker bars were in full swing and the amount of bikes on the road has increased. We have already had a death and could be more.   I know of about 8 accidents but not sure of their outcome. Have to be careful out there and watch out for EVERYBODY on the road.   It will really get going this Fri. for sure and West World will be a ZOO!   Lots of rides to go on and things to do. Demo rides from many manufactures, along with vendor booths galour. I love to ride into the parking lot about 11:00 and look over the sea of bikes. I will get some pics and post when the event is over. I already have some of these biker bar bartenders but I don't think they are approiate for this board   so I will not be posting those. But I will get some good shots just stay tuned!  

http://www.azbikeweek.com/

[Kendall]

Well you cansend me those pics and ill let ya know if they were/are appropriate...  hehe  Hey we plan on going on the Chesters Torch Run saterday.

[Cruzen]

WOW!! It's over already.  We wait all year for Arizona Bike week and then it goes quickly.   I believe attendance was up again this year.  I know the number of big vendors has increased.  Some were complaining about the unseasonable heat we were having.  103 degrees on Thursday and high 90’s on Friday.  On Thursday, there was a noticeable difference in temperature between the vendors who were set up on the asphalt which was on the east side of the main tent and those who were set up in the grass on the west side of the tent. 

Heart put on a great concert Friday night as did Mogollon on Sunday afternoon.  Mogollon did some of their own material, some traditional country and mixed in some selections from ZZ Top, The Who and Led Zeppelin to name a few.  I wouldn't give two cents for Warrant or Buckcherry.  In both cases they exhibited half the talent and twice the volume of a good band.  Even the sound guys said Warrant should have been served one.

Unfortunately the 10 days of events started with the death of Kimmy Chapman in a “right of way” accident.  Someone made a turn in front of their motorcycle.  A memorial in her honor was among the closing ceremonies held at Westworld yesterday (Sunday).  George, Mogellon’s lead guitar player did a great, strong, emotional guitar tribute to her.  The women were’nt the only ones with tears in their eyes.  This death is another indication that  the motorcycle community needs to voice it’s outrage at injustices such as this accident.  In this case the person who caused the accident could walk away free.  Later in the week, another motorcyclist, Allan Wynn age 64, was killed in Scottsdale when a 71 year old woman in a SUV made a left hand turn in front of his Goldwing.  Of course the media blamed his death on the fact that he was not wearing a helmet.  The fact that the woman turned in front of him was just incidental.   

Anyway, where were all the Valks this week?  I saw a few at Westworld and one besides mine at Westgate on Thursday night but other than that where was everyone.

Speaking of Westgate, that Thursday night party has resumed and will continue till the end of May or beginning of June depending on the heat.

[HotRod]

That's ok,you got my personal e-mail, Have a good time bro,be careful out there.

[Westernbiker]

WOW!! It's over already.  We wait all year for Arizona Bike week and then it goes quickly.   I believe attendance was up again this year.  I know the number of big vendors has increased.  Some were complaining about the unseasonable heat we were having.  103 degrees on Thursday and high 90’s on Friday.  On Thursday, there was a noticeable difference in temperature between the vendors who were set up on the asphalt which was on the east side of the main tent and those who were set up in the grass on the west side of the tent. 

Heart put on a great concert Friday night as did Mogollon on Sunday afternoon.  Mogollon did some of their own material, some traditional country and mixed in some selections from ZZ Top, The Who and Led Zeppelin to name a few.  I wouldn't give two cents for Warrant or Buckcherry.  In both cases they exhibited half the talent and twice the volume of a good band.  Even the sound guys said Warrant should have been served one.

Unfortunately the 10 days of events started with the death of Kimmy Chapman in a “right of way” accident.  Someone made a turn in front of their motorcycle.  A memorial in her honor was among the closing ceremonies held at Westworld yesterday (Sunday).  George, Mogellon’s lead guitar player did a great, strong, emotional guitar tribute to her.  The women were’nt the only ones with tears in their eyes.  This death is another indication that  the motorcycle community needs to voice it’s outrage at injustices such as this accident.  In this case the person who caused the accident could walk away free.  Later in the week, another motorcyclist, Allan Wynn age 64, was killed in Scottsdale when a 71 year old woman in a SUV made a left hand turn in front of his Goldwing.  Of course the media blamed his death on the fact that he was not wearing a helmet.  The fact that the woman turned in front of him was just incidental.   

Anyway, where were all the Valks this week?  I saw a few at Westworld and one besides mine at Westgate on Thursday night but other than that where was everyone.

Speaking of Westgate, that Thursday night party has resumed and will continue till the end of May or beginning of June depending on the heat.

I was there Sat. from 10AM till 4:30PM my bike was parked on the east side of the big tent in the bike show. Where were you?
By the way, Az. Bike Week Pics coming soon, stay tuned!

[Cruzen]

Lets see, the sun sets in the east...  no the west so.....  Hmmmmm!!!!  On Saturday we got there around 6:30 p.m. and I was on the West side of the big tent in the parking lot on top.  Black 99 IS with American flag hanging off the radio antenna.  We decided that 6:30p.m.  was early enough on Saturday because we had been on the road most of that day and wanted to unwind a bit.  Besides we were basically just going there that night to hear the concert.

Wednesday we were there from 4:00 to around 9:30.  Thrusday from 3:30 to 5:00 then to Westgate till around 7:30 then back to Westworld just long enough to realize we did not like the band.  Friday from 6:30 till around 10:00 for the Heart concert and Sunday from 2:30, after our breakfast ride to Prescott, till around 5:30.  Then home for a nap .

What did you think of their decision not to sell day passes until Sunday??

[Westernbiker]

I only went on Sat. and I got admission with bike entry for the show. I did not know they weren't selling day passes.

[Cruzen]

You are not the only one.  Obviously you were not affected but many were.  I had seen it on their web site but apparently not many others saw that announcement.  On Wednesday when I bought our weekly passes there were three guys in front of me all wanting day passes.  They just walked away disgusted.  One of them had just found out that the Billett Bar in Scottsdale was closed and he was wondering out loud what kind of F.....g disappointment they were going to find next.

[sandy]

The vendors inside were very upset that there were no day passes. LOTS of people walked away because they wanted a day pass and refused to pay $40 for the multiday ticket. A coworker who went there, said that 600 Canadians came down for the event. All walked away because of the ticket prices. If enough vendors don't come back next year, it'll make the event worse. BTW: The billett Bar is still open. It's got a new name and new owners, but it's the same old place.

[Michael K (Az.)]

Lost interest in Bike Weak in Az. It just seems weird to me that you pay $$ to be ensconced in a fenced off area and call it B.W.! I'm used to Bike Week stuff on every corner and you pay money if you want to buy something. Hope ya'll enjoyed it, I enjoyed hangin with the fam and cheering my grand nephew's football game. "GO INVADERS!"

[Cruzen]

BTW: The billett Bar is still open. It's got a new name and new owners, but it's the same old place.

Yea! We gave it a shot but it's not the same.  I think the ole crowd is now going to that Dog Saloon or whatever. 

Anyway, I also heard that the vendors were not happy about the lack of day passes.  However the vendors stayed longer than they have on previous Sundays as there was a much bigger crowd on Sunday.  That entire parking lot was full and some bikes were parked on the other side of that restaurant.  I have never seen it that busy on a Sunday.  I wonder how many did the Logans Run ride.

By the way Sandy someday I would like to catch up with you at the Scottsdale Pavilions.  Sorry I missed your phone call last year. I was up in Sedona when you called and my phone did not ring .... and it never did give me a return phone number.