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Event Reports

Arizona Bike Week

Article By: “Buzzy”

Photos By: Ken Bingenheimer, Joshua Kanter, Bean’re, Julianna Turner Salvante with help from Jennifer Atkins of Chester’s HD

Originally Published In The June 2011 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

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This year the rally started out on a sad note with news that Kimmy Chapman, the founding editor of Biker Information Guide here in Arizona, was killed in a socalled “accident” Saturday afternoon. It’s a story we hear too many times in our world. A driver in a cage not paying attention makes a left hand turn into oncoming traffic, kills someone, and gets off without as much as a ticket just by invoking the worn out phrase, “I didn’t see the motorcycle, officer.” Kimmy had been a driving force with bike week since the beginning, fifteen years ago. While speaking with friends who knew her, as well as others, myself included, who just ran into Kimmy during bike week, one word that was used over and over to describe this lady was “sweetheart.” A local Phoenix band, Coverz, Inc., started out Wednesday night playing a tribute song, “Rest in Peace” for Kimmy. A memorial ride was held on Sunday for this beautiful lady who had contributed so much to the people of the motorcycle community and left this world too soon. Gone now but always riding in the hearts of those who loved and knew her; “Ride Free”, Kimmy. Arizona bike week is a unique sort of rally. The headquarters for the event is located at West World in Scottsdale. Here, the famous Handlebar Saloon is setup in a massive tent that houses the bar and stage for the main music venue. This year’s line-up at the Handlebar included legendary rock ‘n’ roll groups such as New Jersey’s Skid Row, Warrant, Heart and Buckcherry. There were many other bands playing at locations all across the valley so there was something for everyone’s musical taste. The Wilson sisters, Ann and Nancy, have been touring as Heart since the 1970s and while on stage proved that they could still rock the house playing old favorites – Crazy On You, Magic Man and Barracuda – just to name a few. Nancy’s guitar and onstage energy accompanied by Ann’s timeless vocals proved the title “Rock Stars” was well earned by these two legendary sisters.

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While Heart packed the Handlebar Saloon and had crowds standing outside listening, attendance for the overall rally was down from previous years. Vendors and riders alike complained about the high price of tickets this year. In the past, riders had a choice of a one-day ticket or a full event ticket. This time it was $40 per person or nothing. Hundreds chose nothing. Perhaps as organizers counted these hundreds of riders walking away rather then paying, they might consider reinstating the one-day ticket next year. I had said that AZ Bike Week is unique in that bars and Harley dealers all across the valley plan events and rides so that there are plenty of options for enjoying the rally. Chester’s Harley Davidson in Mesa is listed as the official starting point for the upcoming Hoka Hey ride this year. Jim Red Cloud was there to help kick-off the dealership’s 12th annual Torch Ride. The Torch Ride is an annual event with all the proceeds going to the Special Olympics. No one here was complaining about paying an entry fee to help sponsor such a worthy cause. The ride began at Chester’s and ended at West World for the Buckcherry concert. Buckcherry and motorcycle crowds just seem to go together and everyone was excited to see them make it to bike week this year. I had a chance to talk to that well know gypsy biker also known as the “Mayor of Fun,” Bean’re, and getting backstage after the show was one of the rally’s highlights for him. Bean’re and comedian Jack Schit, spent the week at Scottsdale’s famous Dirty Dogg Saloon entertaining the crowds and just inciting a good time like only Bean’re and a comedian from Jersey can. Bean’re was outdone by Jack Schit when Jack posted on his facebook page a picture of a booth at the Dirty Dogg with a sign that read: This table reserved for Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx. Well, if you’re looking to meet hot chics this definitely works as at least ten women showed up asking if Tommy and Nikki had arrived. The Miss Bike Week contest was a huge hit as was the Hamsters’ poker run that was for the benefit of the Black Hills’ Children’s Care in Sturgis, SD.

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Arlen Ness received the “Tribute to Excellence” award presented at the Handlebar for his innovations in the custom bike building world going back to the 1960s and continuing to this day. Arlen’s one-ofa- kind customs have been an inspiration to bike builders and riders since the beginning; a well deserved award for sure. If you enjoy riding and nice weather then Arizona Bike Week is a fun time to be had. There are so many bars and dealerships putting on events and rides during the week you could plan a different rally for years. Hopefully pricing will get back in line with what people can afford these days and the West World headquarters will see a return to the days of an overflowing parking lot as in past. In the end, it’s about the people you know and the people you meet on the ride. I rode up to the rally with friends “Mad Mike” and his lovely wife Jen McCready as they had just hit their 25th anniversary of riding together. As another rally came to an end, I rode home with the words to several rock classics playing in my head and I thought that while the Allman Brothers sung that, “the road goes on forever,” we don’t. So remember the words of John Lennon when he told us, “better recognize your brother, everyone you meet.” I’d like to thank a few people for their help putting this article together since my camera didn’t get the pictures I needed. Ken Bingenheimer was kind enough to supply some great shots of the rally. Ken has been a professional writer and photographer for more than 35 years. He is now a freelancer and deals almost exclusively with motorcycles and motorcycling. His Web site, www. motorcyclecolorado. com, focuses on motorcycle touring in Colorado. Jennifer Atkins, the Director of Marketing at Chester’s HD in Mesa called photographer Joshua Kanter who contributed some of his work. Julianna Turner Salvante, the PR person from the Dirty Dogg Saloon as well as Bean’re, also supplied pictures, and that’s what riding is all about: brothers and sisters helping each other along the way. So next time you see a bike on the side of the road, stop and see if you can lend a hand.

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