Yesterday we talked about the demise of the Myrtle Beach Bike Rally. Like I mentioned, I’ve only been to that rally once and found it pretty fun. I met a few interesting people and tested myself riding the 1000 miles there and back.
There was some mixed reaction to the City of Myrtle Beach shutting down the rally, but most people agree that if they don’t want our money we will happily spend it somewhere else. A few people chimed in that it was too much of a RUB-fest and they longed for the days of old skool rallies. Well, my friend ArtBiker invited my man to ride with him in what might be a unique old school meets new school experience.
The Horse Backstreet Choppers Smoke Out 10
The Smoke Out Rally is about as hardcore as it gets. For their 10th year anniversary they decided to branch out a bit from their normal long weekend in North Carolina. This year the rally kicks off Friday, May 8th in Cottonwood AZ with a huge 2 day blow out party. Then brave souls will jump on their steeds and hammer cross country to the Rockingham Drag Strip in Rockingham, NC, where they will party in style for weekend number two.
The Horse magazine
The ride, which is about 350 miles per day, is being called the Long Road. While you or I may not think that 350 miles per day is a long ride, keep in mind that The Horse Backstreet Choppers Magazine is totally devoted to Old Skool Choppers, Bobbers and DIY chops. These bikes don’t compare to the bikes most of us ride with progressive suspensions, rubber mounted motors and air-ride shocks. I used to be 5′ 10″ until I rode a friend’s ‘77 Low Rider Rigid Chop one afternoon (and now I’m only 5′ 7″!)
Knowing that riding a chopper cross country is a feat worthy of notability, rally organizer Edge is doing something special for its participants.
Win the Superbowl and you get a ring. Win the Masters and you get a green jacket. Edge is currently working with David Barkhordari from BadAss Jewelry to design a pendant to be presented to each rider that completes the Long Road. Riders, on any type of bike, can pay a small fee and register in Cottonwood for the Long Road. Each rider that completes the ride will be presented a brass (or bronze) pendent designed to recognize that accomplishment. The pendent can be worn as a necklace or key-chain fob or as an addition to your bike in any number of ways.
Going a step further to recognize the home builder any rider that completes the Long Road on rigid chopper or bobber that he or she has built will be presented a sterling silver pendant that will be serial numbered on the back and a record of bike-riders that accomplish this feat will be maintained (by serial number) on the Smoke Out website.
For anyone looking for t-shirts, leather, swap-meets or other fun stuff you find at rallies, there will be vendors at both of the weekend bashes. Oh, and did I mention that every night after the ride there will be a biker party, complete with fire, burnouts and plenty of hootin and hollerin‘.
Not to be overlooked, there will be a bike show. One catagory “Choppers” and 10 winners. Talk about old skool. If you have the chops to do this ride/rally let me know, I’d love to do a follow up.