Wall of Death - History of the Wall

"First Annual Gettysburg Bike Week set for weekend"

The Gettysburg Times
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

By Alex Gayhart

The vroom-vroom of motorcycles will echo in the streets of Gettysburg this weekend,as the borough hosts its first ever official bike week.

The "First Annual Gettysburg Bike Week" extends from this Wednesday through Saturday, with events taking place at Battlefield Harley-Davidson/Buell of Gettysburg on York Street and at Allstar Events Complex on Emmitsburg Road.

"It's not a Harley-Davidson function," said Charlie Boll, a coordinator of the event. "It's going to be four days of motorcycle activities ... Anyone and everyone is invited."

For the past two years other types of motorcycle rallies in Gettysburg have brought close to 4,000 bikers to the area, and "we're hoping for a similar crowd," said Boll.

"There is no charge to come to Bike Week," said Jennifer Le Van, owner of Battlefield Harley and another coordinator of the event. "If it's (the weather) nice, I think it's really going to be pretty busy."

Sponsored by Battlefield Harley-Davidson/Buell, Budweiser, Coca Cola, Sheetz and State Farm Insurance, the four-day celebration will include Rhett Rotten's Wall of Death, a pig roast, 35 vendors, bands, races and a parade.

The Wall of Death, a stunt performance, will be at Battlefield Harley for all four days of Bike Week. "He's really awesome," said LeVan of the stunt performer. "I'm honored that he's here."

Thursday's events will be kicked off with the traveling Harley-Davidson museum. "Whether people like motorcycles or not - Harley-Davidson is an American icon," said Le Van, who added that the museum will feature a "Highway Through Time" exhibit for the bike's 100th anniversary. The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and is free to everyone.

Thursday will also bring a pig roast to the motorcycle dealership, hosted by High Pointe Restaurant of Gettysburg, from 4 to 10 p.m. and is open to the public. LeVan said that the roast is a good opportunity to "have some roast pig and a couple of beers."

"Friday and Saturday will be the bulk of the excitement," said Boll. Beginning Friday, activities will be abundant at Allstar, with bands, motorcycle battlefield tours, bike shows and contests.

Biker competitions, such as a tattoo contest, the hairiest biker contest and a slow race are just a couple of the interesting things to see during the bike week.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Gettysburgians can witness a parade of bikers, traveling from Allstar all the way to the Square and back to the events complex.

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