Wharf Rat Rally line-up taking shape

Peter Robertson, event chair and co-founder, says this year’s expenses will be significantly higher than last year’s.

According to Robertson, in 2005, the first year of the Wharf Rat Rally, 7,000 people attended. Last year, the weekend for motorcycle enthusiasts drew an estimated 10,000 bikes and 40,000 people.

Robertson is optimistic the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will provide international marketing support for the Wharf Rat Rally this year, so he says there is every reason to believe 2008 will see an even larger crowd.

“And more people means we need more entertainment and therefore we have more expenses,” he said.

Entertainment could include time trials and stunt motocross shows at the airport.

Permission has been granted from the Digby Harbour Port Association for ‘Street Punishment’, a freestyle street bike team based out of Halifax, to jump a motorcycle off the wharf and into the water.

“This is something we wanted to do other years, but the wharf wasn’t locally owned then. We couldn’t get permission,” Robertson said.

Strip Club Choppers will be in Digby for the first time. “The rumor was that we were bringing strippers to town,” Robertson said, “but they’re actually bike builders.”

In addition, there will be a number of motorcyclists made famous by TV, including Eddie Trotta, Russell Mitchell, and Brad Ruel the Wrench. Rally organizers are also in negotiation with American Thunder, Michelle Smith’s TV show. Orange County Choppers may also have a presence at the event.

“The jet-ski people will be back, and Joshua Moonshine, the spray paint artist. He was a really big draw last year,” says Robertson

Many Wharf Rat Rally fans booked this year’s lodging prior to leaving town last year, so finding accommodation nearby will be a challenge for some visitors.

Robertson said Annapolis Basin Conference Centre is a venue that had conferences booked in previous years, but should be able to accommodate visiting bikers this year.