Vulcan Bike Week: Difference between revisions

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'''Vulcan Bike Week''' is an annual motorcycling rally inaugurated in the Summer of [[2010]] by [[John Gibson, Sr]] and his son [[Johnny Gibson]] at the [[Birmingham Race Course]].  
'''Vulcan Bike Week''' was a motorcycling rally which was to have been held in the Summer of [[2010]] at the [[Birmingham Race Course]]. It was organized by G Entertainment LLC, incorporated by [[John Gibson, Sr]] and his son [[Johnny Gibson]].


In addition to racing competitions and aesthetic judging, the week-long event was to feature live music, dance shows, vendors and prize giveaways. The featured event was the [[Thunder on the Mountain Drag Race]] at the [[Alabama International Dragway]] in [[Steele]], with a $90,000 total purse. Headline entertainers for the inaugural Bike Week included the Dan Lawson Band, Wes Jeans, the Pat Travers Band, and Tracii Guns' L.A. Guns.
In addition to racing competitions and aesthetic judging, the week-long event was to have featured live music, dance shows, vendors and prize giveaways. The featured event was the [[Thunder on the Mountain Drag Race]] at the [[Alabama International Dragway]] in [[Steele]], with an announced $90,000 total purse. Headline entertainers for the inaugural Bike Week were to include the Dan Lawson Band, Wes Jeans, the Pat Travers Band, and Tracii Guns' L.A. Guns.


After collecting a $25,000 gift from the [[Birmingham City Council]], the Gibsons moved all the events to Steele. They blamed [[Jefferson County Health Department]] regulations for vendors. After receiving numerous phone calls complaining about the event, O'Reilly Auto Parts pulled its sponsorship. Mayor [[William Bell]] assigned an aide to look into recalling the public funding from the city as well.
Speculation about the ability of the unproven organizers to pull off a high-profile event made participants skittish. The details of the races were changed several times, announced by postings to motorcycle racing message boards. Few riders showed up and the first band performed for only a handful of vendors. Difficulties with permitting for vendors led the Gibsons to scramble, moving the entire event to Steele, despite having already cashed a $25,000 check from the City of [[Birmingham]] to support its projected economic impact. The projections proved absurdly optimistic as most of the few riders and vendors who made the trip turned around at the gates. The promised purse failed to materialize and track owner [[Jason Curtis]] contributed the gate receipts to offset the competitors expenses.
 
After receiving numerous phone calls complaining about the event, O'Reilly Auto Parts pulled its title sponsorship. Mayor [[William Bell]] assigned an aide to look into recalling Birmingham's funding.


==References==
==References==
* Gray, Jeremy (July 2, 2010) "Vulcan Bike Week moving to Steele but keeping $25,000 from Birmingham." ''Birmingham News''
* Gray, Jeremy (July 2, 2010) "Vulcan Bike Week moving to Steele but keeping $25,000 from Birmingham." ''Birmingham News''
* Underwood, Jerry (July 3, 2010) "Vulcan Bike Week loses corporate sponsor, report says." ''Birmingham News''
* Underwood, Jerry (July 3, 2010) "Vulcan Bike Week loses corporate sponsor, report says." ''Birmingham News''
* Cavanaugh, Paul (July 5, 2010) "[http://dragbikelive.com/news/archives/1197 Vulcan Bike Week goes off with a fizzle, tempers flare]" DragbikeLive.com


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:July events]]
[[Category:July events]]
[[Category:2010 events]]
[[Category:Motorcycling]]
[[Category:Motorcycling]]
[[Category:Birmingham Race Course]]
[[Category:Birmingham Race Course]]

Revision as of 16:52, 7 July 2010

Vulcan Bike Week was a motorcycling rally which was to have been held in the Summer of 2010 at the Birmingham Race Course. It was organized by G Entertainment LLC, incorporated by John Gibson, Sr and his son Johnny Gibson.

In addition to racing competitions and aesthetic judging, the week-long event was to have featured live music, dance shows, vendors and prize giveaways. The featured event was the Thunder on the Mountain Drag Race at the Alabama International Dragway in Steele, with an announced $90,000 total purse. Headline entertainers for the inaugural Bike Week were to include the Dan Lawson Band, Wes Jeans, the Pat Travers Band, and Tracii Guns' L.A. Guns.

Speculation about the ability of the unproven organizers to pull off a high-profile event made participants skittish. The details of the races were changed several times, announced by postings to motorcycle racing message boards. Few riders showed up and the first band performed for only a handful of vendors. Difficulties with permitting for vendors led the Gibsons to scramble, moving the entire event to Steele, despite having already cashed a $25,000 check from the City of Birmingham to support its projected economic impact. The projections proved absurdly optimistic as most of the few riders and vendors who made the trip turned around at the gates. The promised purse failed to materialize and track owner Jason Curtis contributed the gate receipts to offset the competitors expenses.

After receiving numerous phone calls complaining about the event, O'Reilly Auto Parts pulled its title sponsorship. Mayor William Bell assigned an aide to look into recalling Birmingham's funding.

References

  • Gray, Jeremy (July 2, 2010) "Vulcan Bike Week moving to Steele but keeping $25,000 from Birmingham." Birmingham News
  • Underwood, Jerry (July 3, 2010) "Vulcan Bike Week loses corporate sponsor, report says." Birmingham News
  • Cavanaugh, Paul (July 5, 2010) "Vulcan Bike Week goes off with a fizzle, tempers flare" DragbikeLive.com

External links

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