Centennial Ride: Bentley roarin' to go
by Larry Rodgers - Feb. 6, 2012 12:00 AM
The Republic | azcentral.com
Dierks Bentley loves his Harley-Davidson, and he's a veteran of motorcycle events across the country.
But the Phoenix-born country star says the Centennial Ride that he will lead in the Valley on Saturday, Feb. 11, may bring the biggest charge of all.
"I've done some pretty cool rides in the past, but this will definitely be the coolest one," the 36-year-old singer says. "The feeling of pride (in) Arizona, the centennial, motorcycles, being out in the desert -- I'm getting more excited about it every day."
At least 2,000 motorcyclists are expected to participate in Saturday's ride from Mesa to Arizona Best Fest, held on the grounds of the state Capitol in Phoenix in celebration of the state's 100th birthday, which falls on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The festival will continue Sunday, Feb. 12.
Law-enforcement officers will guide Bentley, other VIPs and fellow motorcyclists on the 16-mile ride from Mesa Riverview Plaza, at Loop 202 and Dobson Road, into downtown Phoenix.
The riders will have reserved parking at the Capitol Mall, and a Vendor Village will be set up to offer motorcycle products and accessories, says Mandi Wimmer, deputy director of the Centennial Commission. Arizona Best Fest will include entertainment, arts and crafts, food and displays.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime ride," says Barry Caraway, who has promoted hundreds of motorcycle events through his Valley-based website, cycle rides.com. "I'm 55, so unless I live to be 156, I won't be able to go on a ride like this again."
Mark LaResche, who owns Superstition Harley-Davidson in Apache Junction with his wife, Beverly, says, "You will have every flavor of motorcyclist out there -- all across the spectrum."
Asked to describe the appeal of a ride this large, LaResche, says, "It's a rumble. It really gets your juices flowing. Your adrenaline is pumping, even though you are not riding that fast."
Helping Bentley lead the event will be Valley bike designer Paul Yaffe, who created the Copper Chopper, a $140,000 motorcycle that is the mascot of the Centennial. Yaffe will ride the chopper, which will be given away through a raffle at the Best Fest.
"This ride could be ridiculous (in a good way)," Yaffe says. "You may see as many as 4,000 people."
With about 1,000 people signed up two weeks before the ride, LaResche says, that number could double or triple, given the walk-up traffic that other large motorcycle events in Arizona and nationwide tend to draw.
Bentley, who in 2009 led a Miles & Music for Kids ride in the Valley to benefit Phoenix Children's Hospital, says he is not nervous about having thousands of fellow bikers roaring behind him.
He explains: "There is pressure, there are a lot of bikes behind you, but usually, I'm riding next to a guy from the local Harley-Davidson dealership or a police officer."
Centennial Ride
When: Departs 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.
Where: From Mesa Riverview Plaza, Dobson Road and Loop 202, Mesa, to the state Capitol, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.
Price: $25 per person.
Details: 602-364-3713, az100years.org.
Arizona Best Fest
When: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11-12.
Where: State Capitol Mall, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.
Admission: Free.
Details: 602-364-3713, az100years.org.
On Saturday, February 11, I was riding my bike along the Tempe Canal and I saw a huge number of motorcycles at the Riverview Shopping Center in Mesa.
So out of curiosity I went to the mall to check out what was happening.
One woman told me there were 4,000 bikers there planning a motorcycle ride to the Arizona Capital to celebrate the 100th birthday of the state of Arizona.
I don't doubt that there were 4,000 bikers there. The east side of the Wal-Mart parking lot was packed wall to wall with motorcycles. So were the parking lots near the Bass Pro Sporting goods store and by that hotel on the east side of the shopping center. And the road into the shopping center packed so full of motorcycles that it was impossible for cars to get into the shopping center.
I figured most bikers hate our government masters I was very confused. Why would people that hate the government be involved in some silly celebration to honor the 100th birthday of the government tyrants that run Arizona?
So I asked a number of them the question:
"Are you involved in this ride because you love the government".Not one of them answered "yes" and a number of them said that they would use any excuse they could to take a motorcycle ride with their friends.
Well thank God my impression about bikers was not wrong.
Since these folks didn't have a "love the government" attitude or problem I started asking them if t hey would support a motorcycle ride to the Arizona State Capital to legalize marijuana.
Everyone I talked to thought that was a damn good idea and supported it.
I talked to some folks from the KDKB radio station who had a booth at an event. They even showed me this handout for a motorcycle ride to legalize pot from Tempe to Cave Creek.
Last but not least one group of these bikers asked me to come along with them on their ride to the capital.
They asked me how fast I could ride my bicycle.
I told them the fastest I have ever ridden was about 22 miles an hour, and that was with the wind behind my back. I told them that I usually average about 10 or 12 miles and hour.
They told me that at that speed I should be able to keep up with them and offered to let me ride along with them to the state capital.
Sorry guys, I don't worship the government, nor do I ever intend to participate in any silly even that honors the government.