SMOKE-OUT 12, THE ROCKINGCHAIR ROCK-OUT

THE SMOKE-OUT rocked Rockingham NC again this year. The temps were hot again but the bikes and ladies were hotter! There were Flatheads, Knuckleheads, Panheads, Shovelheads, Evos and even a few Twin Cams. Some of the coolest Triumphs on the planet were also roaming the fields. The metric bobber crowd was also well represented at the massive sprawling Rockingchair race park.

There were Ape Hangers, Z-bars, jockey shifts, tank shifters, and kick starters, sissy bars that touched the sky, fishtail exhaust, rigid frames and chains and all the open belt drives were singing their tune!

I love the SMOKE-OUT, it is my favorite event. You see the bikes we grew up with. You see friends that you have not seen since the previous Smoke-Out. This year I got to hang out with my good friend Bandit and that was a GREAT time in itself. He was drunk most of the time and slurred his words, but that’s fine. I didn’t want to listen to his complaints and coaching on my writing efforts and photography. I’m learning.

For the first time this year, I attended the Mini-Bike races. It was a blast, especially the costumes the racers wear. There were some spectacular crashes but no one got hurt. I plan on entering Vicki next year! The constant events make up the Commander’s mantra. He wants the entertainment to flow like beer at the Superbowl. As soon as the gates open, the bands kick up, then the contests with the HORSE staff, and wild wet T-shirt contests rock every night. There are bike shows every day, painted lady contests, drag racing, mini-bike races, then the action in the camping area at night gets downright crazy.

The bikes at the Smoke-Out are the purest form of motorcycles, bare bones, NO GPS SYSTEMS, IPODS or STEREO speakers, just badass in your face bikes!

This is a gathering of the Chopper/Bobber nation. Ideas are gathered for that next bike build and at the Smoke-Out the ideas and creativity are endless!