Thank the deacon of the harsh skies, the winter was gone and it was open-road riding time of year again, time for the super badass Smoke-Out in Rockingham, North Carolina sponsored by the HORSE and Bikernet to the max! I was ready to cut a dusty trail Friday afternoon, like a drunk who had been sequestered on a desert island for a year. Vicki polished her camera lens for a month. We only had a mere 75-mile-ride from Charlotte, and thought about taking our time, but the closer I got the more I rolled the throttle on.
We arrived around 2:30 pm and checked into our room. I was as antsy as red ants on a broken honey jar. Vicki wanted to hang out and find some grub, but I couldn’t wait. We snorted a French fry and then we headed directly toward the Smoke-Out at the Rockingham Dragway.
We were early, but the crowd was packing it in, non-stop. We thought about feeling out the vibe on Friday evening, but the white lightening soaked maraschino cherries kick off the evening’s mantra, like a Viking on steroids. The Smoke-Out is all about non-stop action, from the minute the gates open. I immediately checked the scooter action out and as always the bikes did not disappoint!
My good buddy Bob called me and told me he would be there Saturday morning along with his wife Diane. Bob just finished his rigid Sporty and the break-in trip was to the Smoke-Out, natch. What Bob builds is what the Smoke-Out is all about. Bikes built in a garage late at night, no high tech tools, just determination and some basic skills. Bob is a terrific welder and painter and he handles all of his fabrication with limited resources. So, I was excited to see his bike.
Saturday morning rolled around quick and we jumped up early, headed out for breakfast and into the Smoke-Out. On the way I spotted KC’s Biker Barn and decided to stop. Very nice people, they asked us what size t-shirts we wore and they told us every Saturday they give the first 10 customers a FREE t-shirt! So on top of that I got a new pair of KD sunglasses. Vicki got something, but I can ‘t remember what. I was too anxious to hit the action.
We pull in to the Smoke-Out entrance lot and the crowd was already swarming, and it was only 10 am. We were on sight about an hour when Bob called. He survived his first break-in run and was already planted in the park with a cold one. We hooked up, I checked out his bike, very cool and Vicki and Diane started doing the girl thing.
Bob and I heard the rumor about the Painted Ladies and the Painted ladies booth and we checked ‘em out. Now, let me tell you, from 30 feet away it looks like they are wearing clothes but the closer you get you realize those clothes are alive! Bob being a painter wanted to get an even closer look at the Painted Ladies booth. He wanted to see how they laid that paint down. You know how women always have to have a partner to go to the bathroom with?
Well, Bob and I waited and sure enough finally Vicki and Diane take off on their bathroom run. We thought they would never have to go! It was time for Bob and myself to make a break for it. We shot through the crowd on a mission and found the Painted Ladies booth. We had been there about 2 hours admiring the talented artist work when all of a sudden we get a BIG slap in the back and there are Vicki and Diane! Busted! “What are you two doing?” Diane said and Vicki stood firm, her arms crossed, while glaring at me. We never had a chance to answer. We were drug off by our ears! Oh well, after we recovered from our tongue-lashings we decided to check out the bikes.
The bikes at the Smoke-Out are badass, bare bones, nothing not needed, nothing extra, bikes. No saddle bags, no radios blaring, no windshields, no nothing except the bike in its purest form. You will see and hear open belt drives. I love that sound! Kick starters that fire on the first kick! Tall sissy bars and even a few King and Queen seats, jockey shifts, tank shifters, foot clutches, Ape Hangers and Z-bars! If you dig this stuff, it is all at the Smoke-Out!
At the drag strip, it was all fun for whoever wanted to race and Saturday evening the world famous costume-ball mini-bike races were held. The costumes these guys wear are out of this world! Vicki wants me to build her a mini bike, so she can enter the race next year. I can’t see it, but if she raced I could hang with the painted ladies…
The people of Rockingham and all the businesses really appreciate the Smoke-Out and what it means to their economy. Signs were everywhere reading “WELOCOME BACK SMOKE-OUT” and “WELCOME BACK BIKERS!” It is good to feel welcomed. Hey Myrtle Beach, are you listening?
Edge and all the staff of THE HORSE MAGAZINE do a better job every year. They deserve a BIG THANK YOU! The Smoke-Out is my favorite event and I have only missed one. Vicki and I start making our plans every January, and that is when you need to book reservations because the motels fill up fast.
Until next time, RIDE!
Smoke Out 14 Custom Bike Show will be known not for the number of motorcycles in the bike show but the quality of motorcycles in the show. The innovation, design and engineering is truly outstanding. A number of judges came together (including Englishman and Fab Kevin) and spent several hours reviewing over 100 bikes in the show and came away with the top 10 guys. Each bike will be showcased in the HORSE Magazine.
The 10 winners include:
#90 – Jeremy Camp – Shovel
#85 – Wes Jackson – Shovel
#83 – Courthouse Customs – Triumph
#59 – Bob McConnel – Honda Scrambler
#52 — Zack Williams – Café Sportsters
#53 – Phillip Wiliams – XS 650
#48 – Lance Dodson – Norton
#38 – Tommy Bright – 71 Sporty
#24 – Eric Stein – 74 Shovel
#64 – Arron Lovett
