ROCKINGHAM — Where there’s smoke, there’s fun. That’s the mantra of the Smoke Out Bike Rally which this week (June 14-15) entices bikers of all ages, genders, nationalities, skills and skin ink persuasions to Rockingham Dragway for the 20th annual celebration of the American Chopper and those who love it.
Drag racing, drifting, mini-bike racing, ride-in Chopper show, body painting and bands, lots of bands, including Little Ozzy, the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band, D.B. Bryant, opening act for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock and Big and Rich, among others, Small Town Titans, Framing the Red and Dr. Bacon.
The two-day admission price for a party that begins at noon Friday and resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday is just 40 bucks. If you come Saturday only, though, the price is $35, so plan a two-day excursion unlike any other to what the promoters have dubbed “the epicenter of the Chopper world.”
By definition, the Chopper is the most extreme of all custom motorcycles. It emerged in California in the late 1950s, was widely and wildly popularized by the movie Easy Rider and today enjoys an international cult following.
Choppers feature long front ends with extended forks, hardtail frames and very tall “ape hanger” handlebars like those on the Easy Rider Harley-Davidsons of Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. The 10 best such customs in the event’s signature ride-in bike show will be recognized and, no doubt, saluted with adult beverages and hand signals.
Another popular feature is the Painted Lady Contest which, in keeping with the times, has gone co-ed. According to promoters, body paint applied to both men and women transforms them into living, breathing works of art. Or perhaps just novelties. Either way, it’s just one of the things that makes the Smoke Out, the Smoke Out.
Weekend camping is available for a fee separate from the admission ticket and can be secured through the Rockingham Dragway website at www.rockinghamdragway.com.