Inaugural motorcycle show sure to return
Mike ModrzynskiArticle Photos
By MIKE
MODRZYNSKI
News Staff Writer
Dozens of motorcycles and hundreds of fans made the inaugural classic and custom motorcycle show at 40 Mile Point Saturday a big success. While the numbers were low compared to events like Daytona and Sturgis, organizer Don Dimick said the event was a success by any standard.
"The bikes on display were awesome, the weather perfect and the turnout was about what we had hoped for," Dimick said. "I am very pleased and, of course, the weather helped everyone enjoy the day. Plans for next year are already underway and given the responses we've gotten from bikers and fans alike, it looks like this event is going to grow tremendously."
Dimick said bike clubs from around northern Michigan were represented by display bikes and club members who rode in throughout the day to look over this inaugural event. He said about 30 bikes from Alpena stopped in for a few hours and were followed by club riders from Cheboygan, Harrisville and other communities from the region. He said the traffic flow was more bikes than cars, but the reason for coming was the same for these motorcycle fans, regardless of the transportation that carried them to the lighthouse park at 40 Mile Point.
"We got some very constructive input from the clubs as to how to better advertise and they all suggested we get ready for many more bikes next year," Dimick said. "Everyone loved the setting with the lighthouse in the background and everything framed by the waters of Lake Huron. The site offers everything for the family, plus we have the beach right next to the show."
One particular bike drew a great deal of attention, the 2000 Kawasaki that had been prepared as a gift to a son fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan. Known as the Blaskowski bike, the painted and ready motorcycle never made it to its owner; 27-year-old Matthew Blaskowski of Cheboygan died on the battlefield just weeks before he was to come home.
"In 2007 we started getting the bike ready for Matt so we could ship it to his home base in Italy when he rotated out of Afghanistan," said mom Cheryl Blaskowski. "He was on his second tour and had been wounded earlier and we added a photo of that incident on the right side of the gas tank. The rest of the bike is painted to highlight his nine-year career."
She added, "We are going to Italy in a couple of weeks to put together an all-American style party for the rest of his unit returns. This is something that would have included handing the bike to Matt so, we are just going to finish the promise."
The Blaskowskis have created a website to tell the complete story. The site is www.173rdskyangelsfund.euphoricreality.com
Presque Isle County undersheriff Joe Brewbaker not only entered the department's patrol motorcycle, but two of his own radically customized bikes. He said the show brought bikers out of the woodwork and, as the word spreads, it will quickly become one of the largest in the region.
"This is perfect; the setting, the day, just everything about this event is top notch," Brewbaker said. "We (participants) all believe this thing will grow in leaps and bounds."
The Best of Show bike, selected by the riders in the show, was the Blaskowski bike from Cheboygan, and the People's Choice bike was a 2000 Harley Davidson Road King entered by Jack "Rick" Mosher of Rogers City.
Mike Modrzynski can be reached via e-mail at mmodrzynski@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 354-3111.
