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High-Octane Fun in Daytona Beach
By Geoffrey Kula

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The


Biketoberfest® 2007 rolls into the Daytona Beach area October 18-21

sun's rays will bounce off the polished chrome and flecked paint of custom choppers as Biketoberfest's 15th annual celebration of all things related to two- and three-wheeled travel rolls into the Daytona Beach area this October 18-21.

Thousands of bikers from around the world will join Daytona's locals and other Floridians, all once again exhibiting their élan by parading their personalized mounts down Main Street and Atlantic Avenue to a backdrop of bellowing exhaust. Parking lots will be transformed into showrooms of the exotic and imaginative, and wherever you point your scoot, you'll find concerts, demo rides, contests, diverse attractions and the Daytona Beach area's famous nightlife and hospitality.

During Biketoberfest®, the Main Street bars seemingly never close and are packed as tightly as the bikes parked in front of them. All offer front-row views of the action outside, yet some manage to separate themselves from the pack. Gilly's Pub 44 Riverfront, with its Halifax River-side location at the base of the hunchback Main Street bridge, offers prime seating for a first look at the bikes as they crest this concrete wave. Additionally, custom bike builders set up shop in the parking lot across the street, and in years past, Russell Mitchell, The Teutels and Billy Lane have held court there.

Further down this asphalt field of dreams lie Dirty Harry's and Froggy's, the former maze-like indoor/outdoor complex with live music and other daily entertainment; the latter a two-story, bric-a-brac-filled watering hole with perhaps the world's most photogenic mascot, Froggy, the biker-attired and pool-stick-sporting frog.

After slaking your thirst at one of these fine establishments, be sure to check out the contraptions – some of which even resemble motorcycles – on display at the world-famous Rat's Hole Bike Show at Daytona Lagoon on Earl Street. With its one-of-a-kind "Rat Class" field – featuring rust-covered scoots that look like they've been dredged from a swamp or salvaged from a junkyard – alongside bikes awash in chrome and TLC, you'll develop a greater appreciation for the wide swath of styles present.

Speed junkies can cure their joneses at Daytona International Speedway. With bike races featuring both vintage and modern machines, the opportunity to take new models out for test runs on the airport loop (be sure to bring a DOT-approved helmet), and bands and vendors, it can be hard to find a reason to leave. When you're ready to change gears, head over to the Main Street Pier & Boardwalk and experience Daytona's classic beachside attractions.

For those looking to hit the road, a number of popular day trips await. Following the shoreline south from the Main Street/Atlantic Avenue nexus takes you to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, which at 175 feet is the tallest


Wherever you point your scoot, you'll find concerts, demo rides, contests, attractions and the Daytona Beach area's famous nightlife and hospitality

lighthouse in Florida and one of the tallest in the nation. A hike up the spiral staircase to the balcony atop this brick tower offers a spectacular panorama up and down the coast. Grab a bite to eat at the adjacent restaurant and return to the strip or continue south along the coast to the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

Or head north and visit the world's largest Harley-Davidson dealership, Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona, located at the intersection of Route 1 and Interstate 95 in Ormond Beach. En route you'll pass a cluster of biker hangouts, most notably the Boot Hill Saloon and Iron Horse Saloon, which together create a pair of outdoor motorcycle temples showcasing stunt riding, burn-outs and other contests. Rossmeyer also has two stores in the downtown Daytona Beach area and another on Route 44 next to Gilly's Pub 44 (which features live music on an outdoor stage), so you're never far from a Motor Company fix.

For more information on Biketoberfest® 2007 or on taking an in-state getaway to the Daytona Beach area, contact the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-854-1234 or visit www.daytonabeach.com.

Geoffrey Kula is a motorcycling photojournalist who has been writing about riding, traveling and arts and entertainment for the past 15 years for publications including the Boston Herald, the Boston Globe, the Boston Phoenix, RoadBike, Iron Horse and RoadRunner.

Other Upcoming Events in the Daytona Beach Area

Got idle time on your hands before and after this year's Biketoberfest®? Hop on your chrome ponies and check out the following classic auto events this fall:

October 1-5
20th Annual National Z-Car Convention: This Nissan/Datsun Z-Car-themed rally comes to Florida for the first time and includes a track day at Daytona International Speedway.

October 5-7
Sunbeam Tigers East/Alpine East United XXVII: British car buffs converge on the Daytona Beach area to celebrate the World Land Speed Record set here in 1927 in a Sunbeam.

November 2-4
Porsche Rennsport Reunion III: Don't wait three years for the next one! Daytona International Speedway hosts this racing series and auto show celebrating Porsche's vintage and current racecars. This year celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the racing debut of the 956/962 prototypes.

November 22-25
Daytona Turkey Run: More than 5,000 classic cruisers roll into the Daytona International Speedway for the area's largest vintage swap meet and car show.


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