When was the last time you threw your leg over your scooter and rode out to spend the day enjoying everything that the biker lifestyle has to offer? That’s what Motofest was all about. This past July 24th Born To Ride Magazine proudly kickstarted the return of an all-American two-wheeled tradition in the form of a killer Motorcycle Rodeo. I am talkin’ about the Great American Motofest.
We rode out to beautiful Plant City, Florida for a solid day of biker family-friendly fun. Motofest is the brain child of Ron and Deb Galletti, the folks behind Born To Ride Magazine and TV for over 25 years. The idea here was to put 2020 in the rearview and hang together for a day to enjoy the lifestyle and the people we love.
The Great American Motofest took place out at the Boss Hogg Ranch and featured a full day of biker rodeo madness, a ride-in bike show and Roosterz Rod Shop presented a kickass Thunderstruck Rod and Truck Show.
Roosterz has been involved with Born To Ride for quite some time, participating in last year’s Chopparama and Chopperfest. “Hey, it is always a blast to work with Ron, Deb and the crew at Born To Ride,” says Roosterz owner John Benedict. “Roozterz definitely enjoyed coming out and puttin’ on a righteous show!”
R&R Cycles’ Rob Schwellinger was the field boss for the famous Easyriders Motorcycle Rodeos and he sure knows how to throw one helluva a motorcycle rodeo whoop-de-doo. “I started out with top rodeo cowboy, Tampa Bay Ray, way back in 1988,” Rob tells us. “And it has been one wild ride ever since!” His R&R Cycles out of Tampa, Florida, is known around the world as the leader in American V-Twin performance. Rob knows how to make serious horsepower and brought his many years of experience and expertise to this first annual Motofest.
Rob had all the fun and games prepared for a packed day of entertainment. There was awesome monster trike sled pulls and wild racing action as well as all the tried-and-true biker rodeo favorites such as the weenie bite, balloon toss, tire toss and a whole lot more. “Roscoe’s even brought us the Outhouse races,” Rob proclaims. “It was a motorized carnival for the whole family,” Rob laughs. “I even built some peddle puller bikes so the kids could get involved.”
Best of all, average event-goers could feel free to join in the rodeo fun. All they had to do was sign up at the event to get their rodeo on! The top rodeo cowboys of the day won free tires from Metalsport Wheels and Vee Rubber and Mondo from Denver’s Choppers built a killer custom gas tank for the top cowboy. Paughco Motorcycle Parts provided old school Mustang tanks for top winners as well.
Motofest included great grub and suds, plus righteous live music by Tommy Roxx who cranked up some serious Southern, Double Your Trouble kicked ass with an amazing Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute, and Randy Stephens and the Groove Makers kept every scooter tramp groovin’ late into the night.
You could find all the parts and pieces you need for your next bike project at Motofest’s all-out auto and motorcycle swap-meet. Plus, one lucky couple won a free cabin on the 2022 sailing of High Seas Rally. And all the proceeds from Motorfest went to the Florida Sherriff’s Youth Ranches to help send kids to camp.
Born To Ride promises more amazing motorcycle events coming soon.