Hog Heaven
By Frizell Bailey
This August, Harley Davidson riders from all over the country and around the world will rumble into Milwaukee for the Harley Davidson 100th anniversary celebration. For three action-packed (and very loud) days, from August 28 — 30, folks who have a talent for advanced planning will descend on the Summerfest grounds for an orgy of Hog-style entertainment, including concerts by Montgomery Gentry, Peter Frampton, Steppenwolf and Kansas; custom and antique bike exhibits; the Harley-Davidson workforce exhibit; stunt and drill team performances; a cornucopia of summertime food and drink; fireworks of the sort that keep Milwaukee famous, and “much more” (according to Harley’s website).
Again, that’s for those who just can’t sleep at night until they have dotted and crossed their vacation i’s and t’s. Ticket packages are long sold out, and only a limited number of single day passes will be available at the gate. Same goes for hotel rooms. Long, long gone. So what’s left for the “free spirits” that once epitomized Harley culture? Where do you go when you want to witness the majesty of the centennial celebration, without the pre-packaged, pre-planning mentality so common in modern times?
Although the profile of the Harley Rider has changed dramatically since Easy Rider (no need to expand on this, everyone knows that acid-loving road warriors have been largely replaced by the Titanium AmEx set), there are still remnants of the spontaneous spirit that once characterized hog riders. For a taste, grab your leather vest and head on down to the Rider’s Ranch.
Come for the bikes, stay for the party.
Diane Bozeicizich, housing finder with Mega Housing, a reservation service partnering with Target Sport, agrees with this assessment. “It will appeal to riders because it’s less expensive and because of the party atmosphere.”
It’s that festive air that makes the Riders Ranch a destination of choice, but the sprawling campground cum three ring circus was born out of need. The Ranch was first conceived in 1997 when Harley Davidson became aware that every hotel room in the Milwaukee area was booked. Under pressure from Harley riders who could not get accommodations, Harley contacted Target Special Events, a Boston-based firm that has helped to organize events such as the two Woodstock concerts in the 90s and the Atlanta and Salt Lake City Olympic Games.
According to Lash, the 95th anniversary Riders Ranch went off without a hitch. “We did not have a single complaint to us or Harley, and we had over 20,000 visitors.” Lash says that they expect to be at full capacity for the 100th anniversary celebration, and anticipate 45,000 visitors over the course of the three-day event.
Life at “The Ranch.”
For all its air of spontaneity, this is not the biker’s commune of legend. Visitors to the Riders Ranch can camp or reserve space for RV’s. All will have access to hot showers, portable toilets, ATM machines and a 24-hour convenience store.
Visitors can also expect to be entertained from dusk to dawn, with a little something for everyone. Care for some live music? Slated to play are The Radiators, Eric Burdon and the Animals and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad. And what biker fest would be complete without Foghat? You say you’re a movie buff. Satiate your celluloid cravings at the Riders Ranch Cycle Film Festival.
Need to check your email or ship a box of brats to your brother-in-law in New Jersey? Visit the Internet café or the UPS shipping station. Feeling a little tense? Visit the spa. In the spirit of “fun for the whole family,” the Ranch will also feature a water park, helicopter rides, sit-down restaurants and saloons and the de rigeur bike show. No, this is certainly not your uncle Slash’s Harley event.
For those who like their entertainment NASCAR/WWE/monster truck style, check out the Heavyweight Gladiators Pro Kickboxing series. There will also be something referred to as the Riders Ranch Globe of Death. I was too afraid to ask what this will entail, exactly, but it looks something like a motorcycle cage match. And, after a weekend of sin (which might primarily entail overcharging your Visa), to see everyone home with god speed, revelers will be treated to a gospel brunch and going away party. This may affirm the theory that even God rides a Harley. Wish you were enjoying life on the Ranch, but can’t escape your day job to hang with the Harley set for a whole week? Day passes will be available for $15 with a $5 off coupon.
Lash says that the Riders Ranch will attract families for many of the events. “In 1998 at the 95th anniversary we had a demolition derby and thrill show that attracted over 10,000 visitors. 8,000 of them were local Milwaukeeans; we know this because they came in cars not on bikes.”
Silver jewelry is also optional.
The Riders Ranch will magically appear from August 25th to September 1st at the Waukesha County Exposition Center, 20 miles west of Milwaukee in Waukesha. For more information and reservations visit www.riders-ranch.com.
Meanwhile, back at The Ranch…
RIDERS RANCH NIGHTLY LIVE MUSIC (included with daily admission and for all campers)
Monday, August 25EXIT (5pm-6pm & 8pm-9pm)
Tuesday, August 26CONFEDERATE RAILROAD(5pm-6pm & 8pm-9pm)
Wednesday, August 27ERIC BURDON & THE NEW ANIMALS (5pm-6pm & 8pm-9pm)
Thursday, August 28RIDERS RANCH CAJUN FEST featuring THE RADIATORS(5pm-11pm)
Friday, August 29MARK FARNER of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD (6pm-8pm)
Sunday, August 31GOSPEL BRUNCH (9am-10:30am & 10:30am-12pm)GOING AWAY PARTY (6pm-11pm)
Wednesday, August 27 — Saturday, August 30EXTREME MOTORCYCLE AERIAL STUNT SHOW & RIDERS RANCH GLOBE OF DEATH(2pm-3pm, 4pm-5pm DAILY; 6:30pm-7:30pm WED.; 7pm-8pm THURS. & FRI.; 7:30pm-8:30pm SAT.)
Friday, August 29 — Saturday, August 30BATTLETRAX COURSE ROADRACING (9am-4pm)
Nightly…THE FARMERS DAUGHTER GO-GO CLUB(8pm-2am DAILY; 8am-3:30am FRI. ONLY)
RIDERS RANCH SPECIAL EVENT (not included with daily admission; tickets do include general admission to Riders Ranch)
Friday, August 29HEAVYWEIGHT GLADIATORS PROFESSIONAL KICKBOXING SERIES (8pm-11pm)· I.S.K.A. North American Heavyweight Championship · “King of the Ranch” and “Queen of the Ranch” championships· First Pro Women’s bout ever in Wisconsin
