There was no motorcycle for photo ops, so Corpus Christi Mayor Nelda Martinez modeled best riding practices, along with (left) CCPD Capt. Billy Breedlove and BikeFest organizer G.J. Reyna at Brewster Street Ice House August 13. Photo Suzanne Freeman
When the bikers rumble out of Corpus Christi Oct. 11, the last day of the 2015 BikeFest, they are expected to leave behind some $2 million in revenue spent on hotels, meals and retail shopping. BikeFest returns to Corpus Christi for the third year in a row Oct. 9-11, announced the Convention and Visitors Bureau at a press conference August 13. Known as Roar by the Shore, the 22-year-old BikeFest moved from South Padre Island to Corpus Christi in 2013 to draw more vendors and bikers.
“Moving to Corpus Christi saves bikers and vendors a 380-mile round trip to South Padre and back,” said BikeFest organizer G.J. Reyna, noting that participation in the festival dropped in 2008 and 2009 when the recession hit. “Our vendors come from all over the country. We already have 14 more to date than we did last year.”
The hundreds of vendors who will line up their wares in the American Bank Center this fall are a big draw to bikers, as is the entertainment. Little River Band, Molly Hatchet and Pat Travers Band are just a few of the concerts scheduled for the weekend. A new attraction this year, a slow ride demonstration, will be put on by the Corpus Christi Police Department, which plays a big role in making BikeFest a success.
“This is a beautiful city and we want people to come out and enjoy it,” said Capt. Billy Breedlove at the press conference. “A lot goes on behind the scenes with a big event like this. We partner with the CVB and BikeFest organizers to insure that everyone is safe.”
Another cooperative effort between the police and the BikeFest organizers will be the newly named BikeFest parade. Beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, bikers will "roar by the shore" from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi along Ocean Drive and Shoreline Blvd. to the American Bank Center in the Chief Floyd Simpson Memorial Parade. The late Chief Simpson, who was killed in a motorcycle accident earlier this year, was a motorcycle enthusiast and the Grand Marshall of the last two parades.
“This is a good legacy for him,” Lt. Israel Sosa told Corpus Christi Business News. “This parade will honor him and his family and we hopefully will have this for years to come.”
Mayor Nelda Martinez likened the motorcycle community that attends BikeFest to a family. She said she bought her first Harley right outside of Dallas and that her arm hurt by the time she got it home. “I realized why,” she told the audience. “It’s because every biker you are going by, you’re waving at them.”
BikeFest is a safe, family friendly event, Simper noted. She pointed out that in the two years the event has come to Corpus Christi, no violent incidents have been reported or arrests made.
“This is the longest running motorcycle rally in Texas,” Simper said “It is also the only rally with a non-profit status. All of the money it raises will be donated to local charities.”
To date, said Simper, BikeFest has donated $875,000 to local charities.
For more information about BikeFest, visit the website at ccbikefest.com.
