Tejon Bike Fest Surprises
SEE MORE PICS IN THE GALLERIES SECTION
By Alicia McNally
Colorado Springs, you had me fooled.
My friend Frank and I took our first trip to Colorado Springs to attend the 10th Annual Tejon Street Bike Fest on June 27 in downtown Colorado Springs. And it was awesome.
Now, I’m not a biker. But, I have riders in the family, and I know how to enjoy a good time, and being kind of new to the state, I didn’t know what to expect in a city somewhat notorious for its ultraconservative politics.
One of the first people I chatted with was ‘Springs native Scott Stewart, a friendly wisecracker who’d been riding into the festival since its inception in 2000 for, “the pretty women.”
“Tell me something interesting about the Bike Fest,” I said to him.
“It’s just a great party,” he said with a chuckle. “Not much else to say.”
A great party indeed.
Self-proclaimed as “Colorado’s Biggest One Day Rally,” Tejon Street was lined with the perfect bike fest formula: tons of beer, girls in bikinis, barbecue and live local bands Radio London, Brothers Of The Son, and Jake Loggins. I quickly got into the spirit of the day when I had to stop for a beer in the Coors Beer Garden while one act played a great cover of my favorite Stevie Ray Vaughn classic “Little Wing.”
“Tejon Street began in 2000 as an unofficial festival organized by area bars,” said event organizer Jim Wear, president of Pro Promotions. This year, the all-day event brought nearly 25,000 bikers and non-bikers, and like most festivals helped out a cause.
“All proceeds from beer sales go to the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum,” Wear said over the growl of motorcycles prowling up and down the street. ”We’re fortunate that the city lets us close down downtown and have the event here. The fact that it’s downtown let’s the non-riding people feel more comfortable coming down and joining in on what’s going on. It’s a great way for different segments of our population to interact in a way they might not normally. It’s a lot of fun.”
After a pit stop for some Yakitori barbecue, a delicious chicken teriyaki barbecue treat over sticky rice (just one of the many tempting food options), we wandered over to a free show from Asylum Championship Wrestling, a local group that made its Tejon Street debut this year. The bizarre, hour-long show featured three greased-up wrestlers in Hulk Hogan-esque neon spandex versus three in white spandex. It was exactly what you think it is. Hokey, goofy and even ridiculous, but oddly entertaining. The kids loved it, anyway.
Did I mention the bikes? It would be impossible for anyone to forget the 6,000 bikes rumbling in and out of downtown Colorado Springs, especially the giant John Deer tractor-motorcycle built by local hot air balloon ride business owner Gary “Burner” Born.
Dubbed a “labor of love,” Born built the bike in 2003 almost entirely out of old parts left on his father’s farm in Minnesota. Born rode all through the festival with his junkster hotrod, drawing crowds from all over wanting to get pictures with the lit-up deer skull hanging in the front between the handlebars. His favorite pit stop of the day, though, was the bike wash.
“The Hooters girls at the bike wash washed my balls,” he laughed, pointing to the TruckNutz hanging near the exhaust.
There were more serious motorcycles on display in the bike show. Forty bikes, looking more like rolling sculpture than motorcycles made for an impressive and eye-catching lineup. The winners took home trophies.
“It was a good mix of bikes,” Wear said. “From fancy sport bikes to classic show bikes, there was a little bit of everything. The show is always a big draw.”
There was an exhibition of riding skill, too. At the bike rodeo. Crazy event competition on moving motorcycles. Wild, and a lot of fun to watch.
Needless to say, Tejon Street flipped our crazy expectations of Colorado’s second-largest city. It just goes to show, no matter where you go, there’s always a great party.
Fool me once, Colorado Springs, but not twice.
