Spring Break
200,000 said to be roaring to Fayetteville
Robert Bell, Contributing Writer
Issue date: 9/30/05 Section: News
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Thousands of motorcyclists, blues fans and barbecue lovers will
flock to Fayetteville this weekend for the annual festival, "Bikes
Blues and BBQ."
The projected attendance for this weekend is 200 to 300 thousand people, said Nelson Driver, event director and UA economics instructor. The festival has grown dramatically over the last few years, he said.
According to the event Web site, it is the fastest-growing motorcycle rally in the country. Driver said the Fayetteville festival is centrally located, unlike other festivals such as the rally at Sturgis, S.D., and this contributes to the rapid growth. He also believes the timing of the event, which occurs at a beautiful time of year in a desirable part of the country draws in a larger number of people, he said.
"We've got a lot of two-lane blacktop," Driver said. "There are a lot of places to ride around here."
In addition, a festival in Galveston, Texas was postponed because of Hurricane Rita. Driver said he has received many phone calls from those associated with the Texas rally and expects an extra 30 to 40 thousand people to show up.
"That's going to swell our ranks quite a bit," he said.
There are some Fayetteville residents who do not share Driver's enthusiasm, however. Driver said in the past, there have been complaints to the police about the noise from the motorcycles. This year, the festival's organizers are asking motorcyclists to ride respectfully and refrain from "racking their pipes," he said.
"Straight pipes without a muffler are illegal in the state of Arkansas," he said. While the majority of bikers are a courteous group, Driver said, "If you act dumb, you can expect to get a ticket.
"This is a family-friendly event and we intend to keep it that way."
One way to keep attendees safe is to monitor closely the sale of alcohol, Driver said. Those who want to drink in the beer garden can expect to show their ID as many as three times, he said. Once at the entrance to the tent, another time when they get a beer ticket and a third time when they trade the ticket for beer, he said.
The projected attendance for this weekend is 200 to 300 thousand people, said Nelson Driver, event director and UA economics instructor. The festival has grown dramatically over the last few years, he said.
According to the event Web site, it is the fastest-growing motorcycle rally in the country. Driver said the Fayetteville festival is centrally located, unlike other festivals such as the rally at Sturgis, S.D., and this contributes to the rapid growth. He also believes the timing of the event, which occurs at a beautiful time of year in a desirable part of the country draws in a larger number of people, he said.
"We've got a lot of two-lane blacktop," Driver said. "There are a lot of places to ride around here."
In addition, a festival in Galveston, Texas was postponed because of Hurricane Rita. Driver said he has received many phone calls from those associated with the Texas rally and expects an extra 30 to 40 thousand people to show up.
"That's going to swell our ranks quite a bit," he said.
There are some Fayetteville residents who do not share Driver's enthusiasm, however. Driver said in the past, there have been complaints to the police about the noise from the motorcycles. This year, the festival's organizers are asking motorcyclists to ride respectfully and refrain from "racking their pipes," he said.
"Straight pipes without a muffler are illegal in the state of Arkansas," he said. While the majority of bikers are a courteous group, Driver said, "If you act dumb, you can expect to get a ticket.
"This is a family-friendly event and we intend to keep it that way."
One way to keep attendees safe is to monitor closely the sale of alcohol, Driver said. Those who want to drink in the beer garden can expect to show their ID as many as three times, he said. Once at the entrance to the tent, another time when they get a beer ticket and a third time when they trade the ticket for beer, he said.
