CANADA - Motorcycle festival roars onto Moncton's Main Street

OFF THE WIRE
Events continue throughout the weekend for MotoMoncton
It was a virtual cornucopia of dazzling colours and chromed metal lining Moncton's Main Street yesterday as the city launched its inaugural MotoMoncton Motorcycle Festival with invitations sent to motorcycle riders and enthusiasts alike.

The riders kept the bike noises to a respectable level, at least while on Main Street, and spent the afternoon and evening admiring the many bikes and making friends. There was music and food and lots of vendors selling anything from motorcycle leather goods to bikes big and small.

For Arnie Stewart of Toronto, a former Monctonian, he and friends rode in on their motorcycles, a two-day trip, not realizing until late that there was a motorcycle festival in the city.

Stewart, who is a member of a Scarborough bike club, said he logs 35,000 to 40,000 kilometres a year on his motorcycle.

"It's a way to meet people and to ride."

He said he began riding late in life even though he "always wanted a bike," adding there's "always something going on somewhere." Bikers are big on charity rides and local causes, he said.

Mark Santocoma of the Toronto area agrees, adding that he rides pretty much every weekend. Even after long rides, you get on the very next day and do it again. People who have never ridden a motorcycle are going out and buying them in their 50s. People greet you wherever you go, come up and ask where you've been, he said.

Both said they approved of the festival and the welcome offered. The only complaint was that the registration booth was too far from the parked bikes.

Jacques Babineau of St-Antoine has been riding for 42 years and has added 6,000 km this year, in spite of the wet weather.

"It's freedom. You forget everyday," he said.

Babineau likes to ride the back roads with his camera, taking pictures of the scenery and old buildings.

You meet a lot of people, he said, adding there is much camaraderie among bike riders and enthusiasts.

Three hundred bikers turned out in the small community of St-Antoine for a recent cancer run.

This is Moncton's first rally. Once the news reaches far away places and is posted in motorcycle magazines, you'll see bikers from across Canada and the United States make the run to Moncton, he predicted.

Jennifer Dallaire, of Moncton's community event development office, was all smiles at the early turnout and sunny weather.

The festival came about through the efforts of local motorcycle dealerships and clubs who wanted to see the return of a motorcycle rally in Moncton after the extremely popular Atlanticade Motorcycle Festival moved to St. Andrews.

Dallaire is hopeful the festival will be a huge success and can become an annual event.

"We want to hear people say: 'Wow, we really had a great time,'" she said.

Luc LeBlanc of Shediac Bridge and Kent County Custom was there with several of his custom-built motorcycles along with a line of new scooters that are growing in popularity with adults including retired people. Many of the buyers are women, he added.

Some of the custom bikes sell for as much as $80,000, but most are in the $30,000 range. The scooters sell for much less.

Art Jones of Riverview was buying leather chaps for his girlfriend from one of the vendors. He, too, has been riding bikes most of his life, enjoying the freedom, the smells, the camaraderie.

"It's a fraternity," he said. For some, it's like being a kid again. "I'm always going to be a kid. Our generation don't want to get old, to keep our youth."

Jones belongs to the Canadian Army Veterans (CAV) motorcycle club, which pays tribute to the veterans. He praised the city and organizers for putting on the festival.

Gilles LeBlanc of Memramcook was showing Victory bikes that range from $13,000 to $28,000. He, too, is an avid rider and notes that motorcycles seem to be on the increase, judging by the increase in motorcycle safety course applicants.

There are also bike shows in Shediac and Digby, N.S. this month.

"It's the freedom of the open road. You forget all your problems and enjoy the scenery," he said.

It's fun to do something like this, he said of the Moncton show.

Terry Boutilier of Moncton rode up to the bike show in his modified pedal bike on which he added a small engine and customized it to resemble a chopper.

This is the closest he'll get to owning a motorcycle, but he enjoys it still and it's a great conversation piece. He said Atlanticade, which brought in bikers from all walks of life to Moncton, was good and that he was pleased to see a new festival emerge.

Bob Melanson of Waltham, Mass., was in the region on vacation when he heard about the MotoMoncton Festival. He's never ridden a motorcycle, but secretly wishes he had one. He did bicycle from Boston to New Brunswick via Nova Scotia many years ago.

"This is nice," he said of the festival. However, Moncton will have to go some lengths to top the Memorial Day rally in Washington where 200,000 bikes showed up, he said. New Brunswick needs to have more, longer lasting attractions to draw tourists, he said.

Robert Smith of Moncton was there with his family. He still has his 85 Shadow motorcycle and rides it with pride. It's great to be riding by yourself, feeling the exhilaration as you throttle up.

"This is awesome," he said of the venue and festival.

Jean-Guy LeBlanc of Pointe-du-Chêne has been biking for 40 years. He was there with his custom-built bike. It's the love of freedom, the rumble of the engine, the open road, of making friends and occupying your summer. Maybe it is regaining your youth, he said.

These days, you see just as many doctors, lawyers, other professionals hitting the road on weekends on their bikes.

Events last night included the popular stunt show at Riverfront Park, the blessing of the bikes and entertainment on stage.

Events Saturday include the Artists' Alley at Oak Lane Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., which will bring together local artists.

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Saturday, Aug. 20
7 a.m. - 12 p.m. Registration
9 a.m. - Group Rides (priority to registered participants)
10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Vendor and Dealership Zone (Main Street)
10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Biker parking (Main Street)
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Show & Shine
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Stunt Show (Riverfront)
1:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Motorcycle Cruise (route)
4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Burnout Competition (Riverfront)
6 p.m. Biker BBQ (registered participants only)
8 p.m. - 12 a.m. Live Entertainment (Main St)

Sunday, Aug. 21:
9 a.m. Biker Breakfast (registered participants only)

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