Full throttle weekend for Windsor

'If you build it, they will come,' is the premise Ring of Fire organizers have held onto for months. And they were not disappointed, as bikers arrived in Windsor by the thousands last weekend.

Bikes could be heard roaring into town from all directions, and by Saturday afternoon there was standing room only as thousands of bikes double-parked along Gerrish and Water Streets.

A variety of vendors were on site throughout the weekend and live performances from bands such as The Fed Pennies, The Water St. Blues Band and the No Name Blues Band set the ‘rocking’ tone. The Windsor Legion Branch #009 hosted a pancake breakfast for ride-weary bikers Saturday morning. There was plenty of action along the waterfront, as well, with a show and shine and burnout competition.

Organizer Troy Kirby said it was difficult to get an accurate count, but said there were about 3,000 bikers in attendance from all over the province and beyond. Spectators put that number up by another thousand at least. At the end of it all, Kirby was exhausted but pumped by the success. “I'm ecstatic over the turn out,” he said. “The whole event was a fabulous success.”

He noted that the rally was a multi-generational event. “It was great to see how may kids came out with their parents.” Whether they were two or 92, everyone enjoyed themselves, he said.

Cst. T.M. Fogarty of the Windsor RCMP patrolled the streets on his own two-wheeler and said that from a law and order perspective it was a quiet weekend.

By Sunday morning, activities came to a dull roar as the last of the bikers congregated at the Windsor Fire Station for a Blessing of the Bikes and to head out for the WFD poker run.

Hockey Heritage Society president Paula Lunn was one of the volunteers who worked the weekend. “It was fabulous. Anyone who had negative thoughts about bikers just needed to come downtown for a half hour. We had positive comments from everyone and offers to help next year.”