SMOKE-OUT 19 June 15–16 2018
It was that time of year again when the SMOKEOUT rolls into Rockingham North Carolina like a plaque of straight pipes against the humid lands. My son Zach and myself rode down; we even had a chase vehicle, my wife Vicki and our good friend Kris. The temperature was soaring into mid to upper 90s!!!! Sizzling to say the least!
I always look forward to the SMOKEOUT. This year was a very special one for me. Edge contacted me about being a Bikernet bike show judge! I would pick a bike to be featured on BIKERNET! For me this was a GREAT honor! I think highly of Bandit. He’s always been my mentor, although he lives with a redhead in a bottle of whiskey.
We rolled into Rockingham around 10:30 am Saturday morning. It was already hot. The crowds started to gather at the variety of venues, from the drag strip to the bike shows and vendor village. I had about 3 hours to kill before the judges’ meeting, so I checked out vendors and the myriad of parked bikes scattered around the massive raceway complex. There were some amazing bikes to see. Flatheads, Knuckleheads, Shovelheads, Evos, and even twin cams and a few Indians sprinkled in along the way.
Unlike the Born Free Chopper Event on the West Coast, the SmokeOut has few rules. You can camp, wear your colors, park anywhere on the ground, walk around naked, paint naked women, dance, drink and do the hutchie coo, you name it.
The painted ladies booth is always a stop on the walk around. Amazing what can be done with body paint! The bands set up and fired up and the stage area quickly became congested.
SMOKE-OUT 19 would prove to be different, no Horse magazine participation. The Horse ran afoul of bad business, bad economy and bad blood. But different situation would prove not to be a bad thing. Edge the commander of the SMOKE-OUT and his crew did an outstanding job organizing and putting this event together as usual. A controlling cloud lifted from the grounds and smiles seemed broader, more sincere and lest restricted. They gleamed as a local did a wheelie between booths.
As the clock ticked down to 1:30 pm I headed to the bike show area for the judges meeting. Jeff “the Prince” Najar organized the Garage built bike show. He did a great job with his Biker Pros history of show organization, and it went off without a hitch.
There were close to 60 bikes entered in the show. The competition was as hot as the weather! It took me 2 hours and 45 minutes to pick the BIKERNET winner. I narrowed it down to three. A slick silver Sportster from Ohio, a Speed King Shovelhead and a ‘41 Knucklehead. I went back and forth between these three contenders numerous times.
Finally I picked the ‘41 Knucklehead owned by Randall Shaffer. The bike has a great father and son story behind it, very fitting since it was fathers day weekend! There were nine awards presented by nine magazine publications. Stay tuned to BIKERNET for the feature on the garage, family-built ‘41 Knucklehead!
A little side story: My wife, Vicki and Kris were my photographers. We were are all at the bike show tent sharing notes and plans for the afternoon and Vicki disappeared? Kris and I slave away in the heat sweating our asses off and still no Vicki? Vicki strolls in right when we finish and we come to find out she went back to the hotel and laid out at the pool??? Thanks Vicki!
The Smoke Out is way more than a motorcycle event. Edge has a mantra to have two or more events or contest happening throughout each day. There are over four shows, wet-T-shirt contests, Tattoo contests, painted lady contests, drag racing all day, Long Road Rides, Cross Country Rides, mini-bike races, bands, award ceremonies, cherries marinated in white lightening, corn on the cob, and the action never stops. The party doesn’t end at a designated time with security guards leading you to the gates. This puppy runs all night long.
Well another SMOKEOUT is in the books and it was definitely one of the best! I am looking forward to next year’s SMOKEOUT 20, the massive celebration of the 20th anniversary of the wildest event on the planet, maybe the galaxy. There are already secret meetings underway for making highly classified plans and stunning activities for next year! If you have never attended the original SMOKEOUT, the 20th will be the one to attend!
In closing I would like to thank Bandit and Edge for giving me the opportunity to be a bike show judge. I had a blast, hopefully I will get asked to do it again?
Until next time, RIDE!
–Stealth
