As an old crusty butted die-hard rider, I've done Laconia, Daytona and Sturgis and just about every major event in between to death. Been there, done that, got the tattoos. You see the same goddamn bikes and the same faces at every major event here in the states. This year I promised Bandit that I would hit the road to new places and find fresh faces and cool bikes or die trying.
Finding fresh flavor was the problem. Don't get me wrong here. I'm an American and I still get a thrill crisscrossing this great land of ours on two wheels and seeing the beauty that God has graced us with, but there’s gotta be more. There are people all around this storm swept planet who live the same riding lifestyle as we do and damned few biker mags take the time to check them out, but Bikernet is a noble venture and it's made to roam free at will until the saddle gets cinched a little too tight and my leather bridle was starting to chaff the bit.
I got in touch with a few people that I met over the years and took them up on their offers to travel to foreign countries and check out the scene. June, rather than being in Laconia yet again, found me in Finland and Sweden to check out the Norrtejle custom bike show just North of Stockholm and I'll tell you all about that trip in a future article.
Labor Day weekend was looming and I wanted to be some place I had never tasted. As fate would have it, I got a call from Renee Charbonneau ( aka Belt Drive Betty) , publisher of Northern Alberta's Busted Knuckle Chronicle, who told me of a first time event that they were planning for that same weekend in Grande Prairie.
Honestly, I had never heard of the place before and was a little hesitant until Renee told me that the event was being held to benefit their Toys for Tots and Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs. I was hooked. Renee was clamoring for an American Builder who would be willing to bring bikes as a draw for the event, so I called Eric Gorges from VooDoo Choppers in Rochester, Michigan and told him that it was put on to help out some kids. That was all Eric had to hear and he was in.
I checked my trusty map and found that I was in for an adventure. Grande Prairie was way at the top of the Canadian map. Situated about 800 miles North of the central Washington State border with British Columbia. Some 450 miles North of Calgary and a mere 285 miles Northwest from Alberta's capitol of Edmonton. I'd better pack my chaps.
It was a first annual event, so I wasn't really expecting much. For a town in the middle of nowhere with a population of only 45,000 people, surrounded by the vast Canadian prairie a three-hour ride to the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, how many bikers could there be? I was amazed.
She stood resiliently at the forefront of the biker scene in her vast chilled region for years and knows just everybody in town. From fighting government intrusion into biker culture, to helping organize the provincial aftermarket builders and parts manufactures into Canadian Custom Aftermarket Dealers Association (CADA), Renee is a lady who knows how to get things done.
Everyone pitched in, from the local bike shops and merchants, to the town mayor and even the provincial government. All the big wigs showed up for the opening ceremonies to lend their support and bestow their blessings. Not like here in the States where the local politico's just try to figure out how to rain on the parade. The volunteers Reene gathered together were untiring in their efforts to make the event a success and they succeeded with flying colors.
The event was held on Labor Day (or as they call it Labour Day) and drew over 10,000 people to the Grande Prairie Airport installation with gentle persuading from Renee and her crew. Remember that the population of Grande Prairie is only 45,000 so that’s 22% of the population. Not bad by any standards. Builders rolled in from across Canada to enter the bike show, and the event went off without one fight or arrest. As a matter of fact, I didn't see or hear of one police officer hassle, not even loud pipes or ape hangers infractions. It was more of a family event for people who loved bikes and locals who wanted to see what bikers were really all about.
Roger Goldammer from Vancouver, British Columbia, made the trip to show off his radical new minimalist designed TROUBLE bike. The bike blew me away with its single front cylinder and radical rear turbo engine and low-slung lines. Unlike most other radical new customs, this bike was built to ride hard. You'll see a feature on it real soon on Bikernet. Eric Gorges from Voodoo Choppers shipped his Discovery bike, the low slung digger bike built for the Smoke Out Build Off, plus a few other killer hand-built rides that had the locals lining up.
Not to be out shined, sweet customs rode in from Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia. There were trophies and prizes handed out to shops in the both Builders Choice Category, judged by Eric Gorges and Roger Goldammer. Plus Peoples Choice trophies were awarded. Renee also had the foresight to include trophies and prizes for not only the winning bikes owners, but also for the builders and painters. Something we should consider doing at our shows.
If you're looking for a great place to ride and folks who will treat you well and not stick paws deep into your pockets, head on up to Grande Prairie, Alberta next Labor Day weekend. It's a terrific place to ride into after Sturgis. Leave town and head Northwest for about 1350 miles. The roads are good, the sky is huge and you'll finally be at a place where you will be treated like visiting royalty. Eh?
–TBear
