Oatman, population 150, has always been a favorite run for the Laughlin riders. It's a nice 40-mile country ride, into the Black Mountains. It's a genuine Old West ghost town, with plenty of relics from the gold mining days, including a bunch of indigent wild burros. It has old-fashioned saloons, and covered raised sidewalks on both sides of Main Street - just the set-up for bike and people watching.
The weather stayed perfect - cool, clear air and a warm sun. The first groups of riders arrived in town before 9. By 10 there was a stream of motorcycles on Route 66 as far as the eye can see. They roar over the last rise, throttle back and downshift, engines backfiring on the overrun and revving up into Main Street to the handiest parking spot.
By noon Oatman was packed curb-to-curb with bikes and riders. Unlucky or foolish snowbirds wandered in and drove their cars into traffic like quicksand, where only burros, bikes, and pedestrians can survive. Several needed help from bystanders to make it through, squeezing past expensive, immaculate showbikes with a few millimeters to spare. One panicked and attempted a U-turn on the two-lane street, screwing up the flow even further. Connoisseurs of chaos had fine little show, as still more riders poured into town.
The sidewalk railings were lined with bikers and babes shoulder to shoulder up and down both sides of the street, watching the traffic go slowly by. There was a constant rumble from all the exhaust pipes, so loud people had to put their heads together and speak up to be heard. Main Street smelled like a race track from the burn-outs, burned oil, and hot engines. It's a free-for-all parade, and it's more fun than going to the circus.
Hearing about the several thousand bikes in town, the local TV news station sent a team of three camera cuties to catch the action. With the engine noise at its peak, the news girl must've been shrieking her "live in Oatman" report. Unfortunately, we'uns don't get that channel here.
A few old Indians made the scene, including a flathead 80 and an in-line Four. A couple of new Triumph Bonnevilles passed through with camping gear tied on, flying the Union Jack, with foreign plates. Rare bikes seem to be getting rarer here the last couple of years.
By mid-afternoon the sky had become partly cloudy and a cold wind kicked up. That thinned 'em out, as riders in T-shirts and beauties in tank tops and shorts beat it back down to the lower elevations near the river. But with more riders coming in to the run for the weekend, Saturday should be a record crowd for this ghost town.
Meanwhile, Down in Laughlin...
...after fooling around with demo rides and vendors, you could be getting your picture taken with the Hawaiian Tropic Girls this afternoon at the Colorado Belle.
Tonight, Paul Revere and the Raiders are doing a benefit concert for the "Ride to the Wall" at Harrah's. The Doobie Brothers are playing at the Flamingo. The Little River Band is sold out at the Riverside.
We'll see what happens tomorrow.
River Run Index // gazette9 Home
