Northwest Harley-Davidson in Lacey is gearing up to host its 14th annual Big Bad Bike Show on Saturday, August 20th.
The event is always a crowd-pleaser, bringing together bikers (and bike fans) from far and wide, who enter their rides for judging in nine different categories. A total of $1,250 in prizes is awarded to winners in each category, as well as Best in Show.
This year’s categories are:
- Classic class (1950-1983)
- Vintage (1949 and older)
- Sportster
- Dyna
- Softail
- Touring
- V-Rod
- Metric/Import
- Custom
We’ve written about Northwest Harley-Davidson before here at Thurston Talk. They call themselves “the friendliest shop on the West Coast,” and pull out all the stops – with events like the Big Bad Bike Show – to prove it.
“It’s an amazing event,” says general manager Julio Valdenegro. “It’s just a big, fat excuse to enter, show off your bike, and maybe win a prize.”
Pre-registration per bike, which includes a t-shirt and lunch, is just $20. Day-of registration will cost you five bones more.
“As long as you have a motorcycle, you can register – and even if you don’t have a motorcycle, you can still come,” says Valdenegro, with a laugh.
In fact you should still come, as the yearly event always draws an eclectic crowd of folks ready to take in the motorcycle sights and have fun.
The bikes start rolling in around nine in the morning.
“Usually we’ll have 30 or 40 bikes pre-registered, and then a bunch of people come out of the woodwork on the day of the event,” he says. Valdenegro stops accepting registrations at 11 a.m.
Beside the amazing bikes, there’s other entertainment on hand at the Big Bad Bike Show, with live music from the All-Americans, a bikini bike wash, and the always-popular Tenino Motorcycle Drill Team. A beverage garden is in the extremely capable hands of O’Blarney’s, alongside an abundance of killer food.
Cool vendors add to the full-on Big Bad Bike Show atmosphere every year. “We’ve had a patch lady who sews on patches, a tattoo artist, cigar ladies – anything that’s somewhat related to the biker world, we’ve had it,” says Valdenegro.
This year offers up a tattoo artist and pin-striper, as well as other vendors.
“If you like motorcycles, this is definitely the place to be,” says Valdenegro. “Whether you like old ones, new ones, import ones – doesn’t matter. It’s great people-watching, too.”
Can’t make it to the Big Bad Bike Show? Northwest Harley-Davidson always has something fun to look forward to on its event calendar, from its “Thirsty Thursdays” to live music and mouthwatering barbeque most summertime Saturdays.
Northwest Harley-Davidson
8000 Freedom Lane NE
Lacey WA 98516
360.705.8151
800.NW.HOGGS
