Gold Coast Bike Week. November 2008
GCBW has become a major meeting for riders of all makes and models of two and three wheeled motorcycles. Set on a beautiful tree lined park beside the Nerang River the major part of the event happens, with rides, poker runs and shows offsite.
Tuesday starts off slowly with riders rolling in from across Australia. A couple of scenic rides are organized, followed by a burnout comp and a bungee pull, then an evening Poker Run. (if you're not familiar with it, the bungee pull - see above - involves a ring of tyre tubes placed around a tow bar - the other end is placed around the waist of each competitor in turn who then tries to stretch out as far as possible and move a can of drink further on the ground then the last competitor.)
Wednesday's main event was the Brougham and Co Accountants sponsored Kids Hospital Run where riders take gifts to the 2 local kid's hospitals and, along with Tex and Bundy (see above), bring huge smiles to the children, parents and staff.
On Wednesday evening, the action moved to the picturesque Broad Beach Mall for the "The S&S and Rollies Proven Performance Broad Beach Show" a ride-in show and shine-in (where riders literally do "ride in" to the Show n Shine area) with lots of coffee shops and restaurants. The biggest show ever in the 10 year history of the event saw over 100 bikes judged, another 30 bikes displayed around the edges and another 100 bikes parked across the road beside the Pacific Ocean.
Thursday's major events were the Link sponsored "Thunder in Paradise" Poker Run with about 300 bikes taking part and then that evening the "Jack Daniels Biker Ball" held at Sharks Rugby League Club. 300 seats were pre booked and 298 people attended, yet another GCBW record. A fantastic evening was had by all, with great food, great people, great venue and a great band.
Friday is always a big day as the Gold Coast has a public holiday for their local show. A great range of activities included kids entertainment, dyno challenge, loud pipes competition, Miss Bike Week heat, air brush displays, bands, a best vest competition, bikini bike wash, bench press competitions for both guys and girls plus displays by Ron "The Darwin Mad Man" and his jet engine fire show motorcycle.
Brisbane's newest USA V-Twin motorcycle super store, Custom Central, held a Celebrity Charity Ride to help raise funds for an Aussie Vietnam Veteran, who was injured in the USA on a "Run to the Wall" cross country ride.
Robin Bradley and his partner, Sonya,the AMD trade magazine publishers from London, and Paul Yaffe, custom bike builder from Arizona joined in and spoke freely to those on the ride at the morning tea stop. The ride took a scenic loop from Carrara out through the beautiful Numinbah Valley with morning tea beside the Nerang River and a fabulous spread put on by the Vietnam Vets ladies committee. Vets President "Mutha" led the ride and his members and their ladies did a great job helping an injured brother.
Another major highlight was the public debut of Australia's newest Top Fuel HD Drag Race Team. Team Manager, Berg, unveiled the ex-Johnny Mancuso bikes, now based in Brisbane. "Brute Force Racing" will run two nitro bikes, one alcohol Competition and one Modified. The team's major sponsor will be JUST BIKES magazine.
Supporting sponsors include Australian Motorcycle Imports, Custom Central, House of Kolor and Californian Image. One nitro bike will remain in USA Mancuso colours and the other is now in patriotic Aussie colours of green and gold.
Saturday was huge, with record breaking crowds. In fact, Friday, Saturday & Sunday broke all previous year's attendance records. Sunday was another great day with a massive car show, organized and sponsored by Shane and Cindy from Californian Image, a dyno challenge, trials displays, family entertainment and lots of motorcycle-related stalls. The support from new motorcycle dealers was fantastic with Aprilia, Barbarian, Big Bear, Honda, Hunter, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Oz Trikes, Rewaco, Saxon, Triumph, Victory and Yamaha all displaying models. Major new exhibitors this year included JUST BIKES, Pro Motorcycles, Rollies Speed Shop, Super M/C and SERCO.
The big highlight of the final day was the first ever staging in Australia of the AMD Pro Show. For the first time GCBW was an AMD Pro Show Affiliate Event. An international industry journal for members of the motorcycle industry, AMD's world championship of custom bike building involves a series of qualifying shows around the world, with the winner of each travelling to the USA to compete in the ultimate showdown. GCBW's inaugural winner was Joe Schembri and he will be travelling to Sturgis to represent Australia in August, 2009.
The "Miss Bike Week" crown was awarded to the stunning Taesha. Greg McAllister won the Harley Super Glide raffle prize bike donated by Custom Central, trophies for the car and bike show were awarded and the Vets drew the winner of the motor/gear box & belt drive kit also donated by Custom Central.
If you're planning on attending 2009's GCBW, take some time off so you can ride up, participate in the events and enjoy all that Gold Coast Bike Week has to offer. Even if your partner or kids aren't as enthusiastic about bikes as you are, they can have a great time at the theme parks and beaches of the Gold Coast.
