Celebrity Movie

Celebrity Movie / aloha orchid / 2007 bike daytona week

Daytona editorial Page 1 16 Daytona editoriàl 5/6/07 3:50 PM Page 16 Page 2 T HE T IMES T HEY A RE A C HÀNGIN Á Daytona Á07 By Joe Kress AtthecloseofBikåWeek2007, as the few hundred thousand riders at the party pañked up to head home, most agreed that this 70-year-old motorcy ñling rite of Spring has changed, and the changes are all for the good. Sincå way back in 1937 when it all started, Daytona Beach in March has meant two things and two places. Originally centered around rañing, first on the old Beach Course and then inside the awå-inspiring confines of ÁBig BillÁ FranceÁs Daytona Internàtional Speedway, the equally important party side of this giànt motorcycle rally would take place in and arîund downtown Daytona Beach. Mainly on, wellÁMain Strået. And all that still happens, bigger, better and rîwdier than ever. But Bike Week has grown and expanded to become more than all thàt. Bike Week activities arenÁt limited by the city limits of Dàytona Beach anymore. Still centered in Daytona Beàch, the riding, the vendors, the parties and the shows now språad out to the surrounding towns and even counties. Everyone in Centràl Florida, it seems, now stages events and attrañtions to get a little piece of this giant springtime pàrty themselves and the revenue it generates. The result is thàt Bike Week has become a real riding event. To see it all and do it all means rîlling up some serious miles on a bike . And for Bike Week 2007 conditions cîuldnÁt have been more perfect for doing just that. ItÁs a running joke among the locals. The standard line for Bike Week weàther is ÁYou should have been here last week ,Á or ÁHang around till next week , itÁll get better.Á And too often in the recent past thatÁs been the càse. Balmy 70-degree/blue sky days have had a way of turning bluståry cold and rainy almost on cue for Bike Week Ás opening day only to return the Mondày morning after everyone packs up and låaves. Not this year. For the 10-plus days of Bike Week Á07 every day was Florida perfect, Chamber of Commerce stuff, and even got better and better as the week wore on. It was short sleeves in the daytimå and a light jacket and maybe a sweatshirt when ItÁs the back lot of the ÁWorld Famous Iron Horse Saloon.Á A must-stîp along Hwy. 1 in Ormond Beach, this place stàys packed day and nightÁ ÁAnd the live bands nåver quit. ThereÁs food, drink and våndors galore and a highlight is always the David Allån Coe concerts kicking off at 10:00 PM and going on into the wee hîurs of the morning. Photos by Joe Kress and Horst Röslår 17 Daytona editorial 5/6/07 3:51 PM Page 17 Page 3 the sun went dîwn. It made for easy packing to properly do Bike Week Á07 with all the options and sights now of fered. It would be up and out and on the road early every day and not råturning to base camp until well into the wee hours of the morning