The Bikers For Bikers Foundation has become a passion for me so, I work the entire rally as a volunteer yearly. Many riders are still learning about this nonprofit & the events it holds. The rally unlike most rallies has its own unique qualities every year.
To start with, it is held at Shakori Hills Park just out of Pittsboro, NC. Shakori Hills is an old farm turned into a “green” park with a community center, art throughout the grounds, great camping, solar heated showers, & a huge rustic stage that all entertainers & visitors love. Most of the events there, including the rally feature music and the scenery alone sets for great camping & outdoor events.
The event is a laid back rally with one band after another & some of the best bands & entertainers in NC. It is like a vacation with music, prizes, & motorcycles. Friday night opened with Cold Blue Steel, playing classic country. The two young vocalists added a little young to the old. Next, Bubba Joe & The Bruisers played pychobilly-surf and Bubba puts a show on with his greased hair (which he swears in Valvoline), jokes, & extreme guitar picking. The bass player paints his face & nails in gothic manner & they jam out some crazy music that all enjoyed! Entertaining was an understatement. The closing band for Friday evening was Brother Esau, a Grateful Dead Tribute band complete with dual drummers like the original band. I’m not much on tribute bands but, this band rocked, got an encore, were as good as Garcia & his crew, and has its own “deadhead” followers. It was an amazing band that would turn any music lover into instant fans.
On Saturday morning the early crew took an early morning ride while the rest of us soaked up the free coffee offered by Painted Highway Ministries. For those who aren’t aware, I am from Texas and it is tradition at most rallies there for a Christian Biker Club to offer free coffee. Boy, did Painted Highway Ministries fill the cup! Most of the people there traveled across the park to Dank Eats, one of the best food vendors I have ever eaten with at any rally because the food is fresh cooked as you order. Their flat bread breakfast taco & Euro’s are 2nd to none!
After food & coffee the rally was moving again. Each year there has been a wedding & this year was no different. Congrats to Joel & Deanna Roberson of Jacksonville, NC. Joel is a State Captain with BFBF, both are members and wanted to share this special time with everyone at the rally. Amazing since both also worked as volunteers all weekend.
The featured “Battle of the Bands” started at high noon between Total Strangers & Neglektyd Toyz. Each played a little over an hour while 5 guests did the judging according to a set of objectives given to each. Total Strangers took the 1st place trophy & $500 to boot. Both bands & the judges did a great job!
Opening for the evening entertainment was one of the most entertaining solo artist in NC, Victoria Axelrod, who sings the blues and sounds like Janice Joplin. She not only has a powerhouse voice but was charming & visited with the crowd after her performance. Even the vendors were coming out to see her performance. Next was Night Shift-After Dark Band a seasoned band, with lead female vocalists Michelle who blew minds with like China Grove & You Need To Know. Excellent performance and the guys loved her stilettos! Yes, there was more…Southern Reunion made their debut as a reuniting band playing all the old classic southern rock like Skynard and proved they still had it as a classic Southern Rock band. Jym Chapman & The Migrant Workers performed with all original music. The band does a number of performances in their church & each song is an original message. It was unique & refreshing. The final band performance was Tommy Thunderfoot & The Accelerators who is my favorite & apparently many others favorite Blues Band in the entire south! They “raised the roof” as some of the crowd stated. After Thunderfoot there was a late night all star jam session where anyone could join in & some of the vendors did pulling out the mandolins & guitars was quite the show. The entire weekend was jam up with so many extraordinary performers under one roof. Many have vowed to be back next year!
The weekend also had great vendors with jewelry, food, a beer garden, patch vendor who had leather & biker wear, tee shirts, homemade ice cream, & a LED vendor. Mickey, President & Founder of the nonprofit foundation, announced that raffle tickets were going on sale for a Custom Built SOB by Southeastern Steel Choppers with the winning ticket to be pulled at the 2013 rally & only 5000 tickets to be sold!
Each paying guest was given a gate ticket & the winner of the gate prize took home new leather coat from LeatherUp.com. The $250 coat didn’t fit her but her husband loved it & had it on! Raffle prizes were provided by Hot Hog Leather, Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, & Cycle Gear & were items like helmets, tees, gloves & some great tools. Brad Oakly won the 50/50 which he generously donated back because he truly understands the foundation & wanted to support it. Willie Rivera won the prize for riding the longest distance to the rally, which was 7.5 hours & he rode in rain a big part of the distance. Tee shirts were provided by The Dog House for throwing to the crowd which is always a favorite & crowd pleaser. The tattoo contest was won by Jamie Nelson of Painted Highway Ministries for the 2nd year in a row. She is a tough one to beat and several commented they would have more work done to compete with her next year! One person had a tribal tap type tatt from his days in the service that was unusual and he told a nice story about.
A big THANK YOU to our sponsors, Jason E. Taylor-NC Accident Attny., Hot Hog Leather, LeatherUp.com, Rambo’s Cycle House, Big Bear Bail Bonds, Donnie Wheeler Transmission, Tucker’s Automotive Repair, Diffin Brothers Cycles, Painted Highway Ministries, Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, The Dog House, and to the Volunteers who worked their shifts & some the entire weekend for helping us make this happen & supporting the foundation in its efforts to help injured bikers & very needy children.
See lots more photos from this event in our GALLERY