Even the dogs were getting into the excitement of the revival of Roar on Sheboygan’s Shores in Wisconsin, a celebration held Saturday at the South Pier District for motorcycle fans of all ages.
Pecia, a female Chinese crested, was all decked out in her tiny pink leather motorcycle vest, studded in silver, and embroidered with the words “Born to Ride.”
“She’s got a little helmet and goggles,” said Amy Lydolph, 41, of Sheboygan, who along with her boyfriend, Dave Meyer, brought Pecia to look at the long line of customized motorcycles in all sizes and exotic colors.
“The dog likes to ride,” said Meyer, 41. “And we just wanted to see all the motorcycles. It’s been a couple years since we’ve had anything like this here and it’s always fun to go to.”
Roar on Sheboygan’s Shores returned to South Pier this year after being held last year on a smaller scale at Route 43 Harley-Davidson in Sheboygan, which had taken over the event from the City of Sheboygan’s tourism department.
This year at South Pier, Route 43 Harley-Davidson broadened its scope, adding food booths, vendors selling motorcycle gear and accessories, live music and a 100-mile poker ride around the countryside of Sheboygan and Manitowoc counties, which drew about 70 entries.
“Bringing it back down here will give it the visibility and hopefully allow it to continue to grow and just add more and more pieces to it every year,” said Richard Kummer, sales manager at Route 43 Harley-Davidson.
At the dealership, the event was limited to a parking lot, and customers were asking Route 43 to look into expanding it into something larger again.
“It’s just a bigger venue for us,” said Laura Lawrence, Route 43 Harley-Davidson general manager
. “We can only hold so many people and so many motorcycles in the parking lot at the dealership. So bringing it down here, it’s a beautiful lakefront … and there’s a lot of room for everybody.”
Those who turned out on a picture perfect late summer Saturday enjoyed the setting for Roar on Sheboygan’s Shores.
“The weather’s great, the band’s good, the brats are tasty,” said Mike Berna, 55, of Racine, who brought his 2008 Harley Ultra Classic, in vivid blue pearl, up for the day.
Gerry McGinnes, 61, of Sheboygan Falls, brought his 2005 Yamaha Road Star, and was glad to see it back at the South Pier District.
“I think it’s good for the community,” McGinnes said. “It kind of helps give a better name to bike riders.”
Route 43 Harley-Davidson brought in a co-sponsor, Yamaha motorcycles, and broadened the appeal to riders and their families. The organizers hope to keep it going for a long time.
“We want to be power sports, not Harley only, but all motorcycles,” Kummer said. “It’s fun for everyone.”
Meyer, who owns a Yamaha V Star 1300 that he called “the most bug-encrusted bike” at the event, was amazed at the pristine condition many of the motorcycles were in.
“Some of these are so clean and decked out that you almost hate to get bugs on them,” he said.
One accessory Meyer and Lydolph don’t have is a means to take their other dog, a Great Dane, motorcycling with them.
“We’d need a sidecar for that,” Meyer said. “It’s not in the budget right now.”
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