Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

[Ken]

I had planned on taking some folks over to Gettysburg for an educational tour of the Battlefield and did not check the schedule of events for this weekend. Low and behold we walked into Bikers Weekend which presented a number of challenges. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against this mode of transportation, but when what seems like a thousand bikes descend on that little town, man is that a mismatch of huge proportions. Many of the shops, such as The Horse Soldier and S&S Sutlers were closed yesterday, and I would imagine this was because they just didn't want to contend with the onslaught of humanity that would be tramping through their shops. Also there was the noise factor; hundreds of bikes going down the street at the same time, some of those bikes without proper mufflers and their owners revving the engines to the dismay of anyone trying to preserve their hearing. We managed to salvage the day by staying mostly away from the town and on the battlefield. Even so you would be in the middle of describing some action that took place when a line of 30 motorcycles would go by and you would have to wait before anyone could here you. This went on all day. To cap it off they had a motorcycle parade in the evening which went through town and out along 15. If you were unfortunate enough to be in town when they started to form up, along with the road closures you were stuck fast in some major traffic jams. I used an alternate route to leave town and pick up 30 and just in time. Is it just me or does it seem to anyone else that the town of Gettysburg is, fundamentally, not the right place to have this type of event? Anyone know how this even got started?

[JimKindred]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

Is it just me or does it seem to anyone else that the town of Gettysburg is, fundamentally, not the right place to have this type of event? Anyone know how this even got started?

Ken,

The question I would be left with would be, is any town the right place to have that type event? And my answer would be no.

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

You need to take up this issue with the town of Gettysburg representatives and the chamber of commerce. They approved the parade permit. I doubt that there was any terrorizing, by any real biker types, of the good citizens of Gettysburg. Yes they are loud and can be annoying.

They do bring in the $$$ that the shops and businesses need to survive. eg I bought a 1/2 pound of pecan fudge at Kilwins. It cost $14 and some change. It wasn't that good! The Fudge Factory in downtown Fredericksburg is much better. I should have balked when she told me the price. I was shocked but paid it. I won't be buying any fudge from there again. I know your thinking that didn't they make enough money from the events held there over the 2 previous weekends? The question is define enough money! Like the song says "a girl to pretty, a car to fast, to much money there's no such thing!"

Greedy-burg is a tourists trap with a lot of history, that needs the $$ of the tourists to survive. like it or not that is what G-burg has evolved into. The best thing I can say is stay away during that weekend or make the best of it like you did by staying on the battlefield.

[Abrams]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

You need to take up this issue with the town of Gettysburg representatives and the chamber of commerce. They approved the parade permit.

Michael has the right of it, as I see it.

While it pains me to say this, in my opinion, its not the biker's fault, its the Chamber of Commerce or whoever gave the go-ahead to the gathering. If they do not put the stops to a gathering of this type, then the bikers are within their rights to have their weekend.

I have nothing against bikers, but I do understand your frustration. Sturgis (spelling?) has a huge gathering like this yearly. Perhaps it would be best for them to go to towns like that, that welcome them. If Gettysburg was welcoming the influx of dollars, then they will be back.

My hometown of Edwardsville IL, was the scene of a KKK gathering some years ago. The town council tried to stop it and was confronted by lawyers and threatened with lawsuits if the demonstration was not permitted. So the KKK had their day, and blocked off main street, put up a stage and spouted their hate. They had to bring in a bus load of their own followers, as there were not enough local supporters. The townspeople that showed up for the spectacle, of which I was one, let them know they were not welcome. I was never so proud of the state, county, and local police which kept a very tight reign on the proceedings. The police showed up in force, not so much to protect the populace of the town, but to protect the KKK from the crowd. We let them know they were not welcome here, and they've not been back since.

Now I am not comparing bikers to the KKK. Please do not take this post that way. My point is, all groups have a right to gather peaceably wherever they can get permits to do so. Sometimes a town or city cannot stop them because of threatened lawsuits.

At that point, its up to the towns people to demonstrate to the gathered people that they are not welcome--in a peaceable way of course. Close up stores and shops. Let them know with looks, words and deeds that you will not cater to them or make their stay enjoyable. They will get the point, and go to greener pastures for their next gathering.

Make them feel welcome, and they will return...

I am sorry your weekend did not go as planned.

[stx]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

Right before leaving Gettysburg for GAC, the week before the biker rally, I was talking with some workers at Rita's Italian Ice shop. Both of them were locals and had lived there all their life, and they said that everyone in town hates the invasion of bikers that comes, and that I was lucky I wouldn't be there. The sad fact is that some of the little trinket shops and whatnot in Gettysburg survive on a few weeks in July and I'm sure the bikers are a part of that. Money trumps comfort.

[Parault]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

While I was in Gettysburg in early July, my pards & I went into town three out of the five days we were there. I enjoyed the visits to the various shops. The local populous were saying how most of them were not looking forward to the bikers event.

[GRyan]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

Friends, My wife and I live on 24 acres about a half a mile from the Spangler Farm on Hosptal Road. We love our view of Big Roundtop out our kitchen windows but try our best to find some place other than Gettysburg to go during the second weekend of July. It is during this weekend that we are invaded by nearly 4,000 motorcycles (Gettysburg Times estimate 7/11/08). July Bike Week is in it's seventh year. It was initially sponsored by the folks who own Battlefield Harley Davison, the LaVan's. They of course continue to play a large role in the logistics of the event. Of note, David LaVan's was the CEO of the Gateway Group who tried to get the liscense to build and operate the slots casino on 180 acres north of Route 30 just across from their Harley Davidson Dealership - Battlefield Harley. It is also the same LaVan that donated $1M to Gettysburg College to help renovate the Majestic Theatre in downtown Gettysburg, the main portion of the theatre is named the Jennifer and David LaVan Performing Arts Center. This is the same David LeVan whose Casino group offered the Borough of Gettysburg Council $1M dollars if they supported the Casino vote and it was awarded a license. The Borough Council voted to support but got nothing when the license wasn't awarded by the Commonwealth. Bottom line, as in every small town, remember Gettysburg Borough only has 9,000 residents on its rolls, money talks and in this case most of the "real" local money speaks through the straight pipes of a Harley.

Gary Ryan

[Bill Fean]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

David LeVan is the gentleman that started it all. I was in town over the weekend & only echo what the others said. A few years back, the kind lady at the Horse Soldier said they close during Bike Week because " They just cause trouble & do not buy anything". I reckon it is like that for most shops, except the food and beer places.

My brother lives in town & was at a local bar when a biker came in saying to him " This aint a go-go bar?? Where is there a go-go bar"?

Again, not all bikers are that way but still.....

I was in the antique center on Saturday( buying myself an early birthday present) & a siren went off & an ambulance went down the street. I asked the lady at the register " How often have you heard sirens today"? She replied " All day". Traffic was backed up in town too. Now before anyone says I should have avoided the town I had a doctors appt. Otherwise STAY AWAY! FAR AWAY!!



Bill Fean

[Mbond057]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

Before anyone “stereo-types” all the bikers that come to Gettysburg, ask what you have done for the Wounded Warrior Project or any veteran lately. Yes, reenacting does honor our veterans but it’s also a hobby for self enjoyment.

A group of Bikers volunteered to escort and spend the weekend with wounded American Warriors in Gettysburg. These biker veterans picked up their brothers in medical vans which were escorted by about 100 Harleys from Washing DC. These medical vans held several dozen young warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan who are recovering at Water Reed Army Hospital from combat wounds. Most of these young men are amputees.

All I ask is that you don’t lump everyone as a dirt bag simply because they look like a biker and ride a Harley. Many of these men are veterans and Gettysburg is a national treasury which these men certainly have earned the right to visit our nation’s battlefields as free Americans.

I’m just asking that you think before you judge your fellow citizens by the leather they wear and the noise of their bikes. They might just have bleed and served in uniform so that the rest of us can sleep under the blanket of freedom that they help provide.

[Ken]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

Mark,

In my original post I never said anything negative about bikers in general and I'll state it again, I have no problem with that mode of transportation or the people who choose it as a hobby. As far as veterans are concerned, in any group that large their will always be a cross section of folks to include our veterans and they certainly deserve our respect. The point I was trying to make is that there are places where this type of rally would be better staged. In my personal opinion, after what I saw and witnessed yesterday, Gettysburg sure ain't it. If Mr. Levan was the one who orchestrated this, and I don't no that he was, he must be real popular with the town folk

[Rich Pisarski]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

The biker weekend is nothing new to Gettysburg. Its been happening the same weekend for at 5 years. Yes it is sponsored by the guy who tried to bring in the casino at Battlefield Harley. I been riding Harleys for 30 years and have 2 antique Harleys but have never been to it . Many bikers are involved in charity events from children illnesses to helping vets.The dirt bag remark is uncalled for. Keep in mind they'll probably be back next year usually the weekend after anniversary weekend.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

$

Ken,

I trust this answers your question.

[BumpusTN]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

All I ask is that you don’t lump everyone as a dirt bag simply because they look like a biker and ride a Harley. Many of these men are veterans and Gettysburg is a national treasury which these men certainly have earned the right to visit our nation’s battlefields as free Americans.

I’m just asking that you think before you judge your fellow citizens by the leather they wear and the noise of their bikes. They might just have bleed and served in uniform so that the rest of us can sleep under the blanket of freedom that they help provide.

Thank you so much for this comment. I'm kind of dismayed at a few of the comments posted here about this. How bad is it when people stereotype all those involved in our hobby?

As much as I can appreciate the problem of having the distraction of the sound of motorcycles while touring the battlefield, I'd be almost certain that the same thing can be said of nearly any modern intrusion.

Also, I'd dare say that the vast VAST majority of these "weekend warriors" were those that dropped a good amount of coin in the coffers (and donation boxes) of local businesses and the park and were not the marauders that many would love to make them out to be.

Sorry, just a couple of thoughts from a guy who spends a fair amount of time touring battlefields and other historic places, and dropping a coin or two in the process, on his 50 MPG Harley.

Scott Bumpus

[JimKindred]

Re: Bikers Weekend At Gettysburg

This thread has run its course rather quickly.