bikeweek06 1

Having taken a detour this year via the dry and dusty Gympie Muster we arrived at Carrara on the Wednesday and immediately it was obvious by the huge increase in trucks, vans and tents that this year was going to be huge, bigger than ever.

So we put up our best erections and only just in time.........the rain came a tumbling down!.......and it rained.............and rained.................and.....

As one diehard said, "More like Bike Creek than Bike Week", but the show was rolling and nothing was going to stop it!

We wandered around soaking ( pardon the pun) in the atmosphere. The bar as usual the hub of it all. Daylight faded and the Bench Press Comp fired up and the band played in the background........and we slipped into Bike Week mode......

.......and as luck would have it the local chapter of Nomads were putting on a Rack and Rib night and, well, we just had to partake of their hospitality. The local constabulary were doing their best to harass us but bugger them, no way we were going to let their pettiness spoil our night.

Thursday dawned to another day of drenchings. It just kept coming down. A few braved a ride but unfortunately much had to be cancelled including the Surfers Main Street Celebrations which was a bugger. So much goes into the preparations of all these things and one can only feel for Mav and Michelle and their band of helpers in circumstances like that, all totally out of their control. But back on site the show went on regardless with the bar doing the usual trade and the first unveiling of the New Choppers and 124 Challenge Bikes. The Australian Biker Build-Off Entrants showed their wares too.

Then later that evening out came the ladies for the first heat of Miss Bike Week. Our entertainer for the night was a one man band and damn he was good! Got us all rocking and a rolling. Dunno where you find them all Mav but you really got the good ones this year!

Friday dawned and the "12 Gage" Gold Coast Show Day got under way. Being the Gold Coast Show Public holiday, despite the wet, the people came. So did the cops. What an overkill they were. Reckon they would use any excuse to scam a free feed and be where it was all happening. This type of discrimination must be protested. They did nothing but introduce a high level of resentment.

Anyway that Mad man from Darwin tried his best to dry things out with his jet power display among other things too numerous to list. The Best vest was judged, Loudest Pipes and the Dyno Challenge added vibes as well.

..... and then came night time......the girls all got their best faces on, the guys grabbed a tarp or two to get there dry......and it was on with the 2006 Bikers Ball.

Again, dunno where you found them Mav, but what a band! Book them again for next year and the year after....and lets have them longer! They were bloody good! Hell people were dancing that only moments before were in wheelchairs.

Charity got a kick along with the sale of another Bike Week Helmet and the winners and the under bidders are all to be commended on their generosity. The backbone of the industry was there and their support was duly noted by all.

The food was up to it's usual high standard and no-one went hungry. Missed the oysters but the music and grog was enough for the testosterones anyway. And this year the AMI Awards were introduced. Australian Motorcycle Industry Awards. So where can we nominate? Mav and Michelle deserve more than just an AMI! Then there was Bill Scott doing his painting while we watched. Pretty swift with a roller that bloke. Should mention the Mouse that did a neat little smudge job accidentally on it. Needless to say she was one red Mouse with one black arm, but it only added to it's sale value.

........and of course it wouldn't be a Bikers Ball without the Belle of the Ball. The band played Lady in Red......well ok, they didn't, but they should have. Talk about a line-up. Simply stunning ladies, just simply stunning!

A good time was had by all and for those that thought a bit of rain would dampen the night then they missed out! It was a bloody ripper.