Rally planning a wharf jump

By Jonathan Riley

DIGBY COURIER

NovaNewsNow.com

Someone is going to jump a motorcycle off the Fishermen’s Wharf in Digby.

Wharf Rat Rally chairman Peter Robertson says they have a letter from the Digby Harbour Port Association giving them permission.

“And I mentioned it to the manager for Street Punishment and he says someone from there will do it for sure. We’re getting a great show lined up.”

At the 2006 rally, a stunt jump off the Digby Marina underwhelmed some rally fans, especially after a jump from Church Street had been promised.

Robertson says the wharf jump is something they have wanted to do for some time but could never get permission from the former owners of the wharf.

He says the jump will be one small part of great weekend.

“We’re going to have Harley Davidson demo rides here. We’re talking to a guy called the Human Cannonball. I asked him about firing himself into the harbour and he’s excited.”

There is however an unresolved scheduling conflict – the Human Cannonball’s Dad might do the shot instead.

Robertson asked municipal council last week for permission to use land at the airport for a freestyle motorcross show and possibly for motorcycle drag racing. There has been no decision on that request.

There are some familiar faces hoping to return this year. Street Punishment will back doing wheelies and Eric Malone will be back doing flips on his freestyle watercraft.

“He’s bringing a whole new show. He’s setting up ramps in the water so he can do back flips and barrel rolls too.”

Chopper builder Russell Mitchell is looking to come back says Robertson and there will also be bikes from Orange County Choppers on display here.

In contrast to last year when the Rally lost money on the Road Hammers, they are looking for local bands to perform this year.

The rally took a big blow last month when eight of the twelve directors resigned but Robertson says then they received lots of offers of help from the community and from business owners and they are considering five applications for the board.

They are also celebrating receiving a nod of encouragement from the Toronto Supershow Max awards as the Best Regional rally.

“This is the Oscars of the motorcycle world,” says Robertson. “Thanks to this award people all over Canada and all over the world are talking about us.”

Robertson was spreading the word himself last weekend when he spent the weekend at the Atlantic Motorcycle and ATV show in Moncton.

“This rally is going ahead and it’s going to better than ever.”