BROOKINGS A downtown tradition cruises into its second half-century this weekend as Sioux River ABATE celebrates the 51st annual Brookings motorcycle ride through on June 21.
This event originally started in 1974 that was the first ride through that was sanctioned, Nick Norgaard, president of Sioux River ABATE, said. The first ride through was actually a year before. The alley (behind Jims Tap) was blocked, and (the owner) told one of the guys who couldnt get his bike out, ‘Just ride it through the bar. Well, all the guys followed right behind him, and that turned into a yearly tradition.
This year marks the 14th year of Skinners Pub at 300 Main Ave. serving as host.
2010 was the last year they did it at Jims, Norgaard said. The bikes just got bigger over the years. Back in the day, handlebars were narrow and bikes were smaller, so you could fit them through the doors. (Jims) referred us over to Skinners who took up the tradition and has been an awesome host. They have an excellent set-up with nice, wide doors. As a matter of fact, two years ago we even ran a trike through there. That absolutely wouldnt be possible before.
Riding through Skinners Pub this weekend costs $20 or $25 to also purchase a years membership in Sioux River ABATE. Participation in the bike show and most games is free.
We have a bike show thats happening right at 5 p.m., and well have different classes, Norgaard said. Around 7 p.m., well start counting the ballots, then announce the bike show winners at 7:30 p.m. While the bike show is going on, we have Grant County Choppers running a portable dyno-meter here. Were running a dyno-shoot out, so itll be different classes for the motorcycles to compete and see who has the most horsepower.
Participation in the dyno-shoot out is $50.
Well give out prizes for the dyno-shoot out at the same time as we do the bike show prizes, Norgaard said. Rays Corner is sponsoring the dyno-shoot out. Well have a burn-out box set up from 5 p.m. until the end of the ride through. Valley Motorsports sponsors that. For anyone that goes in there and burns their tire off, Valley Motorsports is going to give them free installation on a new tire.
He said one of this years activities doesnt revolve around motorcycles at all.
With the bike games, were going to actually start off with a taco-eating contest, Norgaard said. Taqueria El Jarocho is going to do that and were excited. Then were going to kick off the bike games after the tacos. Well do slow ride, twinkie bikes and a handful of other games. Skinners always sponsors the bike games, and so therell be drink coupons and stuff like that for all the winners.
Norgaard said he encourages participants to visit downtown businesses throughout the evening.
I kind of want everyone downtown to be getting a slice of this pie, he said. Im going to be putting together a sheet of all the businesses that are open. I asked them to tell me what their best special is going to be for the day, Im going make a cheat sheet to make sure everyone gets to promote their business. We want everyone downtown to have a piece of this pie. Its not just for one business to benefit from it. Its about our community.
Sioux River ABATE will also present a $1,500 check to Safety Town a kids’ program that teaches bicycle and pedestrian safety.
We donate money to Safety Town, because education is really what we focus on, Norgaard said. We do a share the road program with drivers ed, too. We go in, talk to the drivers ed students about watching for motorcycles and say if youre interested (in riding motorcycles), heres what youve got to go through and do. We want to help educate as much as we can.
He said they welcome both bikers and bystanders on Saturday.
Just show up, Norgaard said. Spectators are welcome. Its all free for spectators. Were just a bunch of guys who like motorcycles and want to educate raise awareness about stuff like open your eyes. Bikes are everywhere.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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