FATBOB's biker rally reviews
Emerald Coast Bike Fest 2005
Emerald Coast Bikefest 2005 Holt, FL April 22-24th, 2005 Wow! Alright... where to start. Another year, another Emerald coast bikefest. Bigger and with more more people than ever. I would guess about 4-5,000 people showed up for this one. This rally kind of reminds me of the Gulfport blowout, with a few more kids during the day and a bit less nudity around the campgrounds. They've got bikes racing all weekend long on the dragstrip, from run what you brought all the way up to top fuel. Friday night had some bad weather on the way, and the turnout was reflecting that. Still had a pretty good crowd though, and the bikes were racing down the strip all day long. After the sun went down they had their traditional 8pm ''seductive bull riding contest'' for the ladies, and it wasn't too bad. About 7-8 girls participated, and everybody had a good time. Then the Dan Plowden band got up on stage and cranked out some tunes, the rain finally hit hard and everybody called it a day. On Saturday the weather cleared up real nice and the crowds flocked in. A motorcycle stunt team smoked up the track, and then still more drags with a bikeshow in the afternoon. You owe it to yourself to check out some of the bikes in this one, they had to be seen to be believed. Definately made me start thinking about upgrading my scooter. And as any good bike show should, they had some giant trophies to give away to the winners. Too bad the bike judging & the awarding of the trophies were seperate, it would have been nice to match the people to their wheels. As the sun went down, the pace picked up and everybody started getting ready for the 8pm wet t shirt contest. You know how it goes... about 30 minutes before the keeners start queuing up in front of the stage, and you wait for the contest to start, the girls to be found blah, blah, blah. And THAT was about all that was ordinary about THIS contest! A little bit before the contest they have their traditional ''trade in your t shirt'' event, where any woman that wants to can get up on the stage and exchange the shirt she's wearing for a nice event t shirt... as long as she's willing to change right up there on the stage. It's a cool idea, and I like it. Maybe a half dozen girls get up there to swap out their clothes. So finally it's time for the wet t shirt contest, and the dude comes up on the stage at 8pm'ish and starts saying he's got $500 for first prize, ladies come on down. And things got weird. People, vendors and local businesses started tossing in extra cash without the guy even asking... and the total get up to something like $7-800... ok, unusual but I've seen it before. And THEN some guy who own a local bar CHIPS IN AN EXTRA $1,000 !!!! You read it right, this guy pulls out a grande and adds it to the prize money! They ended up with $1750 for first prize! I have NEVER, repeat NEVER seen anything like this. For ONCE in my life I wish I had me some big titties! Alright, now THIS is a wet t shirt contest. The girls start mobbing the stage like pirahanas at a water buffalo crossing and they end up with something like 30 chicks up there. There were so many up on the stage some of them got stuck behind in the second row! Titties here, titties there, titties everywhere with the occasional thong flying through the air... and I'm getting all confused 'cuz I don't know where to point my camera anymore. After something like 40 minutes and much elimination, crowd chearing and general hooting & hollering they finally get it down to the last few girls. And let me tell you they were REALLY trying to win. And guess who won? I ain't telling, cuz you would never believe me! Trust me, the lady that won was the one I thought would get eliminated in the very first round. Hell, I thought she would have been nixed out climbing the stairs leading up to the stage! And you know what? Good for her! I like real girls, and am always glad when some professionals get beat out. And judging from the response of the crowd I ain't the only one. Ok, ok... enough about the wet t shirt contest. After the contest the Dan Plowden band cranks up some more, people start heading out to the campgrounds and things generally wind down with only the hard core party people still up & about. A few more bull rides sorta nightcap the evening and that was pretty well it. Sunday was still more drags, and the official closing of the bikefest. This rally has grown by leaps & bounds since I went to their very first one, and is quickly becoming one of the major motorcycle events in the deep south. I went, I had a GREAT time and I suggest you head out there too next year, because it's only going to get bigger & better from here on. ---------------------- Entry : $25 for the weekend Camping on Site : Included RV Hookups Available Live Band : the Dan Plowden Band Contests : Seductive Bull Riding Wet T Shirt Events Bike Show Drags all weekend Stunt Bike Team Food & other vendors on location Showers on location Hotels in Crestview (10 miles away) and Milton (20 miles away)