The
first day of Outer Banks Bike Week on Thursday, April 24, 2008 witnessed
hundreds of motorcycles cruising onto the Outer Banks. Riding mostly Harley
Davidson motorcycles. Bikers quickly sought out the prime locations for
entertainment at this year’s Bike Week. Vertigo Tattoo in Manns
Harbor quickly became the top party spot when word spread they were offering
free beer to every biker that showed up. In addition, a live band played
almost constantly and a “Wall of Death,” was set up featuring
a motorcycle stunt show, just to keep the bikers entertained.
Kitty Hawk Harley Davidson and Nags Head Harley Davidson were the other prime magnets for bikers the first day. As evening approached, Hooter’s in Kitty Hawk, Outer Banks Brewing Station and Port O Call, both in Kill Devil Hills became the hot night spots on the beach to drink, look at bikes and party. There were no reports of accidents or injuries on the first day.
Two serious accidents were reported over the weekend however. A female motorcyclist lost control of her motorcycle in the Corolla area while riding in a pack and had to be flown to a hospital. Another accident occurred near the Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills borderline on Saturday evening. In that wreck, a Harley Davidson motorcycle collided with a car. I have no report of injuries from that accident. Many merchants, vendors and residents complained that attendance was down quite a bit this year as compared to last year. That may be the result of one less group of bikers rallying on the Outer Banks this year. Last year, the Harley Owners Group (HOG), scheduled their rally on the Outer Banks during Bike Week festivities.
Kitty Hawk Harley Davidson and Nags Head Harley Davidson were the other prime magnets for bikers the first day. As evening approached, Hooter’s in Kitty Hawk, Outer Banks Brewing Station and Port O Call, both in Kill Devil Hills became the hot night spots on the beach to drink, look at bikes and party. There were no reports of accidents or injuries on the first day.
Two serious accidents were reported over the weekend however. A female motorcyclist lost control of her motorcycle in the Corolla area while riding in a pack and had to be flown to a hospital. Another accident occurred near the Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills borderline on Saturday evening. In that wreck, a Harley Davidson motorcycle collided with a car. I have no report of injuries from that accident. Many merchants, vendors and residents complained that attendance was down quite a bit this year as compared to last year. That may be the result of one less group of bikers rallying on the Outer Banks this year. Last year, the Harley Owners Group (HOG), scheduled their rally on the Outer Banks during Bike Week festivities.
Bikers Looking for a Party at Nags Head Harley Davidson
Bikers from Shoreline Baptist Church in South Port, North Carolina. On the
right is Jack Hughens, 81 who rode his Honda Goldwing to OBX Bike Week
What do you do when you do not have a permit to sell beer.
Vertigo Tattoo was offering free beer to any biker who showed up.
Biker resting in the shade and checking out bikes at Vertigo Tattoo
New Bikers were arriving all day long
Famous Wall of Death at Vertigo Tatoo provided exciting entertainment
Lots of custom Bikes were on display at Vertigo's this year
The author's old BMW turned a few heads at Vertigo's
The Parking lot at Vertigo's was a sea of Harley
Davidson Motorcycles early Thursday afternoon
Found this biker at Hooters in Kitty Hawk. He trailered his custom motorcycle from
New Jersey. His goal for Bike Week is to ride it to every bar on the Outer Banks
Monica
and Rick were selling motorcycle accessories on the Beach Rd. They are
from New Jersey. Monica says Bike Week is a little slower than last year
but believes business will pick up over the weekend.
Flight in present day Kill Devil Hills..........................
Riding south on famous Route 12
Kitty Hawk Harley Davidson Shop Area
Kitty Hawk Harkley Davidson Flea Market
Above,
Michael Lewis, Operations Director of the Outer Banks Hotline and Hotline
board member Kym Rock, owner of AAtlantic Martial Arts, demonstrate that
they are Up in Arms Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the theme of
Outer Banks Hotline's 1st Annual Biker Weekend Arm Wrestling Tournament.
Arm wrestling organiser Ray Berry officiates. The event, held in front
of Kym's dojo at Surf Side Plaza, drew an enthusiastic group of arm wrestlers,
bikers and spectators on Saturday, April 26. Organizer and local arm wrestling
champion, Ray Berry, has begun the process to make the annual event a
sanctioned match to draw an even larger crowd of contenders in 2009. Sponsors
and supporters for the first year of Up in Arms Against Domestic and Sexual
Violence were All Kinds of Signs, LeBleu, Charles Hardy, Clockman's Sign
and Print Shop, Gallop Funeral Services, Inc, Art Metal and Plastic, AAtlantic
Martial Arts, Manteo Middle School and Ray Berry. Photo provided by
Hotline
Left,
Phill and Norma Vid rode to the Outer Banks from Smyra Delaware. Denise
Haber and her husband Dave, missing from the photo rode down from Virginia
Beach.
L-R Phill and Norma Vid, Denise and Dave Haber
Wild Bill
Lee and Tricia rode up from Tampa Florida. Only problem,
they didn't arrive until Sunday, after everyone else had left.
Only a few popular watering holes had motorcycles
parked in their lots on this chilly overcast final day
Last Biker Out, FAREWELL
The
2007 Outer Banks Bike Week was the largest motorcycle event ever held
on the Outer Banks and sponsors expect it to get bigger and better every
year.The 2007 Outer Banks Bike Week was the largest motorcycle event ever
held on the Outer Banks and sponsors expect it to get bigger and better
every year. Kitty Hawk Harley-Davidson was the sponsor of Outer Banks
Bike Week and many of the rally events occurred on the shop grounds, including
live bands, a bikini contest, free Harley-Davidson demo rides and rentals
and vendors selling motorcycle apparrel and accessories. Simultaneous
with OBX Bike Week, the yearly rally for the North Carolina state chapter
of the Harley-Davidson Owners Group (HOG) was held nearby at Soundside
Park in Harbinger. The Soundside Park location featured live bands, a
pig-picking, field events and a drawing for a Harley-Davidson Sportster,
provided by the Harley Owners Group (HOG).
Bikers began rolling in Monday morning, April 23rd, for the OBX Bike Week Celebration. By Wednesday night, the day before the official start of the four day event, the salt air of the Outer Banks vibrated with the rumble of Harley Davidson’s famous straight pipes. Hooters and other well known watering holes began filling up with motorcyclists and locals coming out to see the display of dress hogs, choppers, big dogs, and fat boys, over 90 percent pure Harley-Davidson.
Forecasters predicted sunny skies and warm temps for the event, enticing thousands of additional bikers to the Outer Banks. Record warmth over much of the country prompted some bikers to forsake their leather jackets and full chaps for lighter summer wear. The Outer Banks is well known for its temperamental winds, and the abrupt change from a southerly breeze to a northeast wind Thursday night ended the summer fantasy. Many vendors welcomed the brisk business brought in by a change in the wind, as did local restaurants. As fog drifted across the Beach Road, forecasters continued to predict warm, sunny days for the remainder of the event and eventually they were right. Sunday, the last day of the event, was the warmest of the week and many bikers stayed to enjoy a sunny cruise down the Beach Road and the farewell party at Dirty Dick’s Crab House.
Other locations with biker activities included Vertigos Tattoo in Manns Harbor and Walnut Island Resort in Grandy. Dirty Dick’s Crab House, Outer Banks Brewing Station, Port-O-Call, Slamming Sammy’s, Hooters and many other restaurants hosted live bands and events throughout the four days. Saturday morning featured a police escort parade to the Wright Brothers Memorial and a Lighthouse Poker Run. The ride started out hot and sunny but as the riders approached the monument, a black cloud descended, bringing chilly winds and fog back to the area. Most riders completed the poker run and by late afternoon the fog blew out just in time for the pig picking and bike giveaway at Soundside Park.
Five years ago Outer Banks Bike Week began its life as a little noticed affair by drawing only a few hundred motorcycle enthusiasts. This year's rally, after five years of record growth, drew about 10,000 riders. Included were a record number of female bikers. Visitors brought or rode an awesome display of race bikes, novelty bikes, custom, Japanese and European motorcycles, however the overwhelming majority were Harley-Davidsons. Bikers used the Beach Road as a great place to profile their rolling art works as locals lined the 20 mile roadway to watch them cruise by. The Rally brought a lasting impression to the remote Outer Banks area and proved to be an economic treasure to local businesses.
On a sadder note, there were at least two motorcycle accidents with one fatality. The fatality occurred when a female passenger fell off a motorcycle near Columbia, North Carolina and was run over by another biker. A female biker was reported to have fallen off her motorcycle in Kitty Hawk after she had failed to secure her helmet tightly and the wind jerked her head backwards causing her to lose control of her motorcycle.
Bikers began rolling in Monday morning, April 23rd, for the OBX Bike Week Celebration. By Wednesday night, the day before the official start of the four day event, the salt air of the Outer Banks vibrated with the rumble of Harley Davidson’s famous straight pipes. Hooters and other well known watering holes began filling up with motorcyclists and locals coming out to see the display of dress hogs, choppers, big dogs, and fat boys, over 90 percent pure Harley-Davidson.
Forecasters predicted sunny skies and warm temps for the event, enticing thousands of additional bikers to the Outer Banks. Record warmth over much of the country prompted some bikers to forsake their leather jackets and full chaps for lighter summer wear. The Outer Banks is well known for its temperamental winds, and the abrupt change from a southerly breeze to a northeast wind Thursday night ended the summer fantasy. Many vendors welcomed the brisk business brought in by a change in the wind, as did local restaurants. As fog drifted across the Beach Road, forecasters continued to predict warm, sunny days for the remainder of the event and eventually they were right. Sunday, the last day of the event, was the warmest of the week and many bikers stayed to enjoy a sunny cruise down the Beach Road and the farewell party at Dirty Dick’s Crab House.
Other locations with biker activities included Vertigos Tattoo in Manns Harbor and Walnut Island Resort in Grandy. Dirty Dick’s Crab House, Outer Banks Brewing Station, Port-O-Call, Slamming Sammy’s, Hooters and many other restaurants hosted live bands and events throughout the four days. Saturday morning featured a police escort parade to the Wright Brothers Memorial and a Lighthouse Poker Run. The ride started out hot and sunny but as the riders approached the monument, a black cloud descended, bringing chilly winds and fog back to the area. Most riders completed the poker run and by late afternoon the fog blew out just in time for the pig picking and bike giveaway at Soundside Park.
Five years ago Outer Banks Bike Week began its life as a little noticed affair by drawing only a few hundred motorcycle enthusiasts. This year's rally, after five years of record growth, drew about 10,000 riders. Included were a record number of female bikers. Visitors brought or rode an awesome display of race bikes, novelty bikes, custom, Japanese and European motorcycles, however the overwhelming majority were Harley-Davidsons. Bikers used the Beach Road as a great place to profile their rolling art works as locals lined the 20 mile roadway to watch them cruise by. The Rally brought a lasting impression to the remote Outer Banks area and proved to be an economic treasure to local businesses.
On a sadder note, there were at least two motorcycle accidents with one fatality. The fatality occurred when a female passenger fell off a motorcycle near Columbia, North Carolina and was run over by another biker. A female biker was reported to have fallen off her motorcycle in Kitty Hawk after she had failed to secure her helmet tightly and the wind jerked her head backwards causing her to lose control of her motorcycle.
