By Jennifer Langston
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH — Downtown will be transformed into a sea of leather, bandanas and chrome on Sunday.
Thousands of bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts will ride into town for the sixth annual Old Snohomish Antique and Classic Motorcycle Show.
Drag-racing Harleys, a stunt show and bikes built when Woodrow Wilson was president will fill several downtown streets. Awards will go to best in show, to rattiest bike, to the longest distance traveled.
You might see highly paid lawyers dressed in weekend leathers and self-proclaimed outlaws. Last year, estimates ranged from 8,000 to 20,000 visitors, mostly from Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana.
"It’s a whole bunch of people getting together showing off everything that they have, hopefully on a sunny day," said Brad Watson, the show’s chairman. "There’s lots of chrome, lots of leather, lots of people-watching."
The classic motorcycle show is sponsored by the Sky Valley chapter of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education, or ABATE. The group lobbies on motorcycle issues, provides motorcycle safety education and supports community groups and food banks with charity events.
In past years, the event has drawn concerns from Snohomish police as well as business owners who complain that closing downtown streets to automobile traffic drives away other tourists and deadens business.
Snohomish Police Chief Rob Sofie said there are public safety issues anytime an event doubles a town’s population.
Most motorcyclists are law-abiding, he said. But there’s a tiny fraction who flagrantly flout authority and engage in illegal activity, Sofie said.
The 20-person police force, which contracts with neighboring districts to staff large outdoor events, has to find a balance between being visible without becoming an overbearing presence, he said.
They’ve been working cooperatively with ABATE for months to plan the event. Sofie, who once recommended that the city council discontinue the event, said he’s pleased with the cooperation they’ve gotten.
"From the get-go, we were very upfront about our expectations, and we’ve gotten marvelous cooperation," he said. "Sunday will be the test."
Watson said ABATE has made changes at the police department’s request, such as adding more volunteers to staff barricades and manage traffic. But he said there haven’t been any serious problems in the past.
"We invite everybody. It’s great for the whole family," he said. "We’ve never had any incidents. There wasn’t even a ticket issued last year."
Kurt Meacham, a city councilman and owner of Fred’s Rivertown Ale House, said businesses in the historic district raise the same issues during Kla Ha Ya Days in July and the classic car show in September. A city committee is reviewing how it handles and approves large events.
"The argument is that increased foot traffic increases food and beverage and people who sell knickknacks … and harms people selling large pieces of furniture or vases that cost $12,000," he said. "It’s difficult because there are lots of thorny issues."
Kerri Majors, who works at The Beat Street on First Avenue, said the clothing store’s sales are usually down for the day. But they’ve also had people return to the store who said they first noticed it at the motorcycle show.
"It’s not a tough crowd," Majors said. "Anytime you add something like that to a small town, people are going to get up in arms about it at first. But now it’s just kind of accepted."
Jan Carpenter, owner of the Corner Cupboard on First Street, said some businesses may close, but she makes it a point to be open during the bike show.
The visitors clean her out of antique leather jackets, mink coats, lead motorcycle figurines, chain-link belts and silver jewelry. She puts the items aside under a special table, and people come back to haul away the bounty when they’re not on motorcycles.
"I’ve had great experiences. People are having a good time, and it’s a place for them to go and celebrate and congregate," she said. "The motorcyclists are welcome here."
Ron Gill, who owns Casablanca Antiques, said his business is usually off that day, but that’s OK. He knows the taverns and restaurants do well, and he sneaks out to go look at the bikes himself.
"It’s fabulous," he said. "Where else around here can you see that many different motorcycles in one spot?"
You can call Herald Writer Jennifer Langston at 425-339-3452
or send e-mail to langston@heraldnet.com.
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