Laughlin River Run, 2001

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CCMC goes to the 19^th Annual Laughlin River Run, April 25 – 29^th

AKA Ted and Lucky Dan’s Big Adventure

Almost 20 years ago, a few hundred bikers, rumored to have been Harley owners out of Southern California, wanted someplace to go in late spring for a nice motorcycle run. They picked a little town called Laughlin right along the Colorado River way down in the pointy part of the Nevada map.

Within a couple of miles, California and Arizona butt up against that part of the silver state. Riders out of the Los Angeles area could get there pretty easy, there was gambling and such on the Nevada side, pretty places to see in Arizona, and river-related stuff like fishing and boating all around. The Laughlin River Run was born and it has gotten steadily larger over time. Now 50,000 riders, with underwriting from the Southern California Harley Owners, are expected in the last weekend of April each year. The casinos and hotels along the strip throw their collective arms wide open: “Welcome Bikers” say the neon signs.

This year 8 CCMC members on 6 bikes made the run as well. Here are some highlights and impressions of the overall run the Capital City participation over the extended weekend of April 25 through 29^th. The advanced Cap City contingent was made up of two who motorhomed in and trailered their bike, Ron and Marlo Smith, and two who rode – Lucky Dan and Ted “Grits” Gilbert. Both left Wednesday and had established a camp on the Colorado River near Needles, California. We were joined later by Mark and Mary Leland, who pulled their bike, and riders Ray Adams and Dan Erkenbrack.

The route down is pretty direct: Hwy 99 to Bakersfield, then Hwy 58 into Barstow before catching Hwy 40 to Needles. From there it’s a short hop into Laughlin either by the Cal/Nev River Road or Hwy 95 through Bullhead City on the Arizona side of the river. As one gets nearer Laughlin, bikes start taking up more and more of the road. Smart riders drink plenty of water and don’t pass up too many gas stations once Barstow is behind you. Out around Ludlow on Hwy 40 it becomes pretty clear that there is a bike event up ahead. Everyone stocks up on gas and water before the last leg into the event. Chances are that this stretch of road is where the busted bikes start showing up along the road. Don’t leave home unless your ride is in good shape and can take a beating out in the highway heat.

If you haven’t been to a large event like this, its pretty impressive the first or second time around. There are simply zillions of bikes of all types – ranging from totally custom, fat-tire bombs through rat bikes. Vendors selling everything motorcycle take up the casino parking lots for several miles. Bikes take up the rest of the room. People usually park and walk the vendor displays to buy T-shirts, vest, performance equipment, pins, hats, you name it it’s there for sale. And there’s lots to drink and lots to eat as well.

There are usually folks who will pin stripe your bike, install new grips, or do other onsite customization. One of the best features is the opportunity to ride test bikes of all types. There is Harley of course but also other dealers like Victory, BMW, Honda, Yamaha, etc. and most have bikes you try out. Most of the casinos run special entertainment for riders and often there are big concerts at night. There’s loads of free entertainment outside just watching the folks stroll by; there isn’t much in the way of behavior or anatomy that won’t been seen here.

Riding in the surrounding area is great fun. The trip up to the “living” ghost town of Oatman, Arizona on old Route 66 is a must. Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon aren’t too far either. Then there are bike drags and other “sporting” events, some involving the contestants getting pretty oily.

Capital City made its own fun too, with a great Friday Happy Hour in the Leland’s Hotel room and a super BBQ on Saturday night at Camp Smith on the river. Ray Adams, who hit a tumbleweed while riding, got a new nickname. We took up calling him “Splinter” as he kept picking tumbleweed thorns and splinters out of his body. Ted too got a new moniker. Given his inclination to ask for grits with nearly every meal, he soon took on that persona. Whether or not “Grits” and “Splinter” stick, we’ll have to see. (But even after getting a ticket in Nevada, one of us is still Lucky.)

It’s a lot of fun being out on the road for several days with friends. Everyone has a chance to get to know each other in way that bonds club members together. Having done Laughlin a few times now, this rider is looking at new adventures for the future. Arizona Bike Week usually happens a little before Laughlin and might be a good bet next year. Then there is a new Motorcycle Jamboree in June in Elko, Sturgis in August, Street Vibrations in Reno in September, and dirt track racing at Del Mar in the fall. Adventure awaits.

Best Hwy near miss - Ted and Dan, doing about 80mph, are nearly run over from behind by teen-aged girls racing their Honda cars.

Best comedy moment on highway --A pick up truck driver just misses wiping out Ted and Dan. The truck’s passenger is seen jumping for joy – it’s clear a direct hit would have made her even happier.

Best meal – anything Ted could get fried and served with grits.

Best beer – the free ones served by Mark and Mary Leland to CCMC members in the Leland hospitality suite at the Riverside Hotel.

Best camp entrance – Marlo Smith in thong bikini.

Best scary camp entrance – Ron Smith in thong bikini.

Best quote – “Even Harley riders like my bike.” Mark Leland after getting his nuts chromed.

Best comedy moment – Lucky Dan being chased down Casino Ave. by three BIG motor cops who ticket him for riding with a brain, I mean a helmet.

Best quote (2^nd place) – “I fought the law and the law won,” Lucky Dan.

Best “babe magnet” – A head bandanna, green-with-yellow-smiley-faces, bought by Ray Adams (unfortunately, it fails to impress an astounding number of bar maids, waitresses and other women in three states).

Best international moment – A man who speaks only French admires the bikes. The visitor is “Swiss.” Having no French, Lucky tries German. He tells about the bikes and says he and Dan E. are of “German” heritage. The visitor’s eyes light up. Ted joins, he proudly identifies himself as “Redneck.” There is no translation for this.

Best day – Every day out on the road with friends.