Biketoberfest

Biketoberfest
Status Active
Genre Motorcycle rally
Date(s) Weekend following Columbus Day
Frequency Annually
Location(s) Daytona Beach, Florida
Coordinates 29°13′N 81°01′W / 29.217°N 81.017°W / 29.217; -81.017Coordinates: 29°13′N 81°01′W / 29.217°N 81.017°W / 29.217; -81.017
Inaugurated 1991 or 1992
Founder Janet Kersey,[1][2] Georgia Turner[3]
Next event October 15-18, 2016
Attendance c. 100,000
Patron(s) Halifax Area Advertising Authority
Website
biketoberfest.org

Biketoberfest is an annual motorcycle rally held in the fall in Daytona Beach, Florida since 1991[4] or 1992. In 1992 it was known as "Daytona Fall Tour"; in 1993, it started to be called Biketoberfest,[5][6] and is now known as the "little brother" of the spring Daytona Beach Bike Week event.[7] Attendance for Biketoberfest 2013 was estimated to be c. 100,000 visitors.[8]

The event's organizing authority is Halifax Area Advertising Authority, whose director has noted attendance has dropped off since 2004, and the 100,000 attendance figure is an approximation as entry is free without a ticket,[8] and that the true attendance is "nearly impossible to count".[6] Local merchants have asked to have the event extended from four days to 10 days in duration.[9][10] The advertising authority withdrew plans for a $300,000 advertising campaign in Ohio after studies showed negative perceptions of the Daytona Beach area.[10]

Reporters have noted that compared to the spring Daytona rally, Biketoberfest features a higher proportion of choppers in attendance,[11] warmer local waters and weather in transit from the Northeast United States,[5] more new-model introductions from manufacturers,[5] and less crowded streets and more abundant lodging.[6]

The Buffalo Chip Campground (better known for its Sturgis Motorcycle Rally presence) opened a site at Daytona just before Biketoberfest 2004,[12][13] raising concerns about public nudity.[13] Earlier concerns had prompted the creation of a city ordinance with unusually detailed definitions of body coverage, gaining international attention.[14] The ordinance was deemed unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds by a Federal judge in 2006.[15][16]

Like the spring bike event in Daytona Beach, Biketoberfest features coleslaw wrestling.[17][18]

While the racing at Daytona International Speedway is more club-oriented, the CCS-sanctioned Fall Cycle Scene races at the Speedway are technically part of Biketoberfest, similar to Bike Week's Supercross-oriented draws.

In media and the arts

The American Chopper television show pilot aired in January, 2003, titled "Biketober", concerned a custom motorcycle presented at Biketoberfest.[19]

The pilot for a 2006 show, The Metric Revolution, was filmed at Biketoberfest.[20]

The first Orange County Choppers themed motorcycle, a Spider-Man themed build, was done for Biketoberfest,[21] as was the very first OCC bike "True Blue", shown there in 1999.[22]

Performance artist Paul Zaloom created a 2006 shadow puppet play based on his experiences at Biketoberfest.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Biketoberfest", insideBIKEWEEK (Inside Bikeweek LLC), c. 2013
  2. ↑ Clayton Park (March 2, 2014), "Kersey set to take Bike Week reins", The Daytona Beach News-Journal
  3. ↑ Mike Cavaliere (January 2012), "People to watch: Georgia Turner", Palm Coast Observer
  4. ↑ John Bozzo (October 26, 1999). "Despite Noise, Area Pumped by Biketoberfest Numbers". The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
  5. 1 2 3 Jeremiah Knupp (October 17, 2008), Biketoberfest 2008 — day 1, Motorcycle USA
  6. 1 2 3 Rachael Jackson, (October 18, 2007), "Biketoberfest 2007: 10 Things To Know", Orlando Sentinel
  7. ↑ Robyn Sidersky (March 4, 2009), 500,000 pack Daytona Beach for bike week, CNN
  8. 1 2 Jeffrey Cassady (October 12, 2013), "Daytona Beach, other venues face challenge: Keep bikers coming", The Daytona Beach News-Journal
  9. ↑ Jeffrey Cassady (October 21, 2012), "Merchants favor extending Biketoberfest to 10 days, local residents not all in agreement", The Daytona Beach News-Journal
  10. 1 2 Jeffrey Cassady (January 13, 2014), "Tourism experts: Daytona Beach must ‘seize’ new image", The Daytona Beach News-Journal
  11. ↑ Donna Kessler (October 27, 2008), "Biketoberfest and Bike Week: no comparison", Times Herald-Record (Middletown, New York)
  12. ↑ Bill Harlan (August 5, 2005), "Buffalo Chip now a family affair", Rapid City Journal
  13. 1 2 "How Racy Will Biketoberfest Get? Party Known For Nudity, Heavy Drinking". WESH. October 13, 2004.
  14. ↑ Louisa Pearson (October 16, 2002), "Naked cheek", The Scotsman (via HighBeam (subscription required))
  15. ↑ Federal judge tosses Daytona Beach nudity law as unconstitutional, Associated Press via HighBeam (subscription required), January 21, 2006
  16. ↑ Prof. David J. Hanson, Ph.D., Alcohol and nudity, Sociology Department, State University of New York at Potsdam
  17. ↑ Emily McCombs (February 25, 2009), "Coleslaw Wrestling Is the New Jell-O Wrestling", Asylum (AOL)
  18. ↑ Kelly Fitzpatrick (October 7, 2010), "Biketoberfest events", Orlando Sentinel
  19. ↑ American Chopper II - Biketober (Cody Bike), tv.com
  20. ↑ "Recalibrating Reality TV", Dealer News (via HighBeam (subscription required)), November 1, 2005
  21. ↑ David J. Spatz (August 28, 2008), "You won't get a song and dance from him. No joke -- Teutul rolls in to present free custom chopper", The Record (Bergen County, NJ: via HighBeam (subscription required))
  22. ↑ Orange County Choppers bios: Paul Teutul Sr., The Discovery Channel
  23. ↑ Louise Kennedy (November 11, 2006), "Stage Review / The Mother of All Enemies: Goofy romp offers puppets, political riffs, and potty humor", Boston Globe (via HighBeam (subscription required))

External links

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