April 3rd, 2008

This was my first time at the Thursday Night Bike Night at Old Town.

I try to make it out for the Friday and Saturday car cruises. Tonight, I wanted to see the two wheel versions of cool machines.

When I arrived, the crowd was pretty small. The Old Town Staff was directing in, the few bikes that were arriving. Joe was in his golf cart, by the Old Town Clock. Sarah was directing in a group of riders on Harleys, having them park in a circular formation, around the Old Town Clock. (Now that’s a nice sight to see)

Talking with Joe, he told me, there is no event, no flag winners, and no cruise down Deac Hundley Ave.

“They just show up” Joe told me. A place for folks gather, and share the work they have done to their bikes with others. The chrome, custom paint jobs, modifications, and accessories on some of these bikes are amazing.

7:30PM power down: It seems that a transformer blew in the parking lot. Lights and power went out for pretty much all but bocks 1 and 2 on the east side of Deac Hundley Ave. That, and the light rain, really put a damper on things (damper…rain…I kill me)

I took a break from gawking at the bikes, and taking pictures, and went into Blue Max for a tasty beverage. The bartender seemed a bit flustered about not having power and therefore the computer was down. I asked how much for a bottle of beer and I think the transaction went down fine. (You know, round up and leave a tip…I even offered a extra sheet of paper and a pen to keep track of things…I think all was fine, when he realized people are understanding when we need to revert back to the old days…you know what I mean.)

I walked back outside, and started talking to a gentleman named Murphy. I explained that I never owned a bike, and don’t know a lot about them, but I am trying to write a story. He was nice enough to show me his (I hope I have this correct) 2007 Custom Softail. He said it was a 6 speed with a 96ci V-Twin engine (I think he also said that is the largest engine for that year) The conversation got cut a little short when I asked what that little housing of chrome was on the left side of the bike…it is the horn.

Lights are still out on the bricks. I asked one of the Sheriffs officers, “how did you get assigned to this duty” He told me that it is off duty work, and that Old Town hire’s them, just to have their presence there. He seemed to like the bikes, and the crowd, so not a bad shift to have for off duty work.

Through out the short time that I was there, I asked around, and there was a few different theories about how long this Thursday night event has been going on. It seems they started bike night back in 2002 or 2003. I am guessing, but I think it has happened in the past, either officially or unofficially.

8:45PM (give or take an hour) I had to go on other assignments. (Yeah right T. Rod…the un-confirmed report is I was off to other places with friends and tasty beverages) I stopped by to talk with Sarah (she had on a blinky vest by now) and Tommy “knock it off” he said as someone drove by on a crotch rocket, revving the engine, loudly. They told me the count was up to 100 bikes as I was ready to leave. A far cry from recent weeks where the counts were well over 1000.

It was nice to hang out with the cool people that bring out some very cool motorcycles. Bikers, as we call them, have a large amount of pride in their bikes…they keep them running and looking great. The money and effort they put into these fabulous machines do not go un-noticed. I look forward to going out again to the Thursday Night Old Town Bike Night.

T. Rod
As usual click on any photo for a larger view