Spectators also got complimentary weekend admission aboard the historic Queen Mary Ghost Ship, and entry to the Saturday Night Iron & Lace Calendar Builders Party with a live band in the ship's Observation Bar. Spectators arriving on motorcycles get security parking for just $5 right at the Show's Main Entrance. When the Queen Mary's on site parking reach capacity, spectators arriving my car were directed to park in the downtown Long Beach Parking Garages on Shoreline Drive with free Shuttle Busses or paid Taxi Boat rides available from Shoreline Village Marina direct to the Show.
Spectators, Vendors and Manufacturers jam the Street Custom Contest Area on Sunday, just one of of 10 Class contest areas at the Show in the annual Calendar Bike Buiding Championship.
Photo:Courtesy of
www.BikerHotline.com
"Producing another successful Calendar Show this 17th year was definitely a challenge," explained Show producer Jim Gianatsis. "What with the recent and sudden down turn in the custom bike market, I was sad to see that about a third of our well-known bike and product manufacturers, and custom bike builders who were with us last year are either no longer in business, or just can't afford to attend shows. Plus the problems in the American economy are keeping more people close to home. We still had over 10,000 spectators in attendance for the weekend which was great, considering that other major bike events across America have been down by as much as half. We were able to pull in a lot more sportbike and Calendar Girl Music Festival fans which helped.
Adding to the problem this year was the Holister Rally chose to move their traditional 4th of July bike weekend to the LA Calendar Show's traditional 2nd weekend of July date. This really hurts us all, , and particularly the smaller bike and apparel venders who to need to attend both our events so they can stay in business. Plus we share thousands lot of mutual bike enthusiasts who wanted to attend both events, but this year could not. It's plain stupid to have the two biggest streetbike events on the West Coast on the same weekend, just 200 miles apart. It's disappointing that the Holister promoters do not have the best interests of the motorcycle community in mind. They don't realize that what is best for the bike community, will be good for them as well. I've asked them to work with the Calendar Show in resolving our date conflict for next year, and the future. I hope Holister will do what is right for everyone in the motorcycle industry."
Title and Associate Sponsorship support for the premier streetbike event weekend in America is provided by Performance Machine, Iron Works magazine, S&S Cycle, NOs Energy Drink, ReCycler.com, CycleTrader.com, Thunder Pressand Quick Throttle Magazine event publications, Mikuni Carburetors, Meguiar's Car Care Products, and the FastDates.com Calendars.
The 2009 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show & Calendar Girl Music Festival Weekend is scheduled for July 11-12th 2009 at the Queen Mary Park in Long Beach, CA. For complete details including additional event coverage and pictures, the show schedules, hotels and parking information visit www.FastDates.com .