First-Ever Bikefest to Attracts Thousands, Extend Season
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO --The summer vacation season may be ending but the Lake of the Ozarks will be roaring with action during the first-ever Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, Sept. 13-17.  Expected to attract 20,000-plus motorcycle enthusiasts, Bikefest will feature concerts, poker runs, scenic rides, vendors, contests and events – even the world-famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales.  

   Most Bikefest activities will take place at the Horny Toad Entertainment Complex and Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson.  Area bars, restaurants and attractions also are planning special activities.  Proceeds will benefit the Tri-County YMCA.

   “The Lake of the Ozarks is a prime location for an event like Bikefest.  It’s a fun-loving community with great riding opportunities,” says Horny Toad Entertainment Complex owner and Harley rider Merlyn Vandervort.  “Also, one of the goals of Bikefest is to extend the tourism season and give local businesses a last-minute boost. With the Horny Toad Off Shore Super Series National Championship Power Boat Race set for Sept. 28-30, September is going to be a fantastic month at the Lake.”

   Adds Mark Barrett, owner of Shorty Pants, Wobbly Boots and Dog Days restaurants, “Several of us are bike enthusiasts and we have seen other areas have extremely successful events without the attractions and amenities we have here at the Lake.  We felt Bikefest could bring something to the area that would give us another busy week during the September shoulder season.”

   Tri-County Lodging Association Executive Director Jim Divincen agrees. “The demographics of the motorcycle community has changed dramatically over the past 10 years and now consists of doctors, attorneys and other professionals who, we anticipate, will have a substantial economic impact on the Lake area during Bikefest.”

   Among the highlights of Bikefest will be the Full Throttle Villages at the Horny Toad and Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson. Open daily during Bikefest, the Villages will offer live music and vendor booths featuring apparel, jewelry, motorcycle components, motorcycle builders, food and beverages and more – including hot air balloon rides and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales at Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson.  (In fact, Budweiser is producing a commemorative 2007 Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest can.)

   Deb Suda, managing editor of Bikefest sponsor Full Throttle Midwest says, “Full Throttle Midwest sponsors bike events all over the U.S. but there has never been anything in the Midwest like what we’re expecting at the Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest.  We hope it will become the Sturgis of the Midwest,” she says, referring to the large annual motorcycle rally held in the fall in Sturgis, South Dakota.  ”We’re getting so many phone calls and hits on our web site, Bikefest really is the talk of the town,” Suda adds.

   Special events will include the 2007 Miss Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest Contest at the Horny Toad and the KRMS-FV Poker Run on Sept. 14; the Drive-In Bike Contest at the Horny Toad and the Bikefest Parade featuring the Clydesdales on Sept. 15; the Bikes and Boats Poker Run on Sept. 16; and the official Wrap-Up Party featuring a Biker Buffet Breakfast at the Horny Toad on Sept. 17.

   Toad Cove concerts will feature Jimmy Van Zant, Sept. 13 and 14; the Marshall Tucker Band, Sept. 14; Starship and Molly Hatchet, Sept. 15; and the legendary biker band Foghat will wrap up the weekend on Sept. 16. Each concert will be kicked off by a fantastic fireworks display.

   In addition, the Bikefest Passport program will allow participants to enjoy specials and discounts at Lake-area bars, restaurants and clubs and be eligible to win special prizes.  Passports may be purchased at www.lakeoftheozarksbikefest.com for $10 prior to Aug. 31 (includes a commemorative 2007 Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest Pin) or $15 after. Participants will bring their printed receipt to a Full Throttle Registration Tent to receive a Passport, which they will have stamped at participating Passport stops.  A drawing will be held at the Horny Toad at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 16, for the Grand Prize: a Monster Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest custom chopper, sponsored by Full Throttle Midwest, Monster Energy Drink, Jireh Motorcycles and Phat Freddie Motorcycles.  Ten runners-up also will receive prizes.

   Bikefest visitors also will have opportunities to enjoy the beautiful late-summer Ozarks landscape during daily scenic recommended rides. They’ll also be able to experience two popular Lake-area festivals happening the same weekend – the Mountain Man Rendezvous below Bagnell Dam and the Laurie Hillbilly Fair on the Lake’s west side.

   “A lot of bike rallies are held in one small town where there’s not a lot to do and it can get pretty crowded,” says Jack Fleming, owner of Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson.  “But here at the Lake we can spread out and take advantage of all the great roads to ride and so many things to do.  And September is such a beautiful time of the year here.”

   Several area lodging facilities are offering special discounts to Bikefest participants, including PMG/LakeOzark Vacations condos, Osage Beach RV Park and Cabins, The Lodge of Four Seasons, Tan-Tar-A Resort, Inn at Grand Glaize, Best Western Dogwood Hills, and Baymont Inn & Suites.

    The 2007 Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest is sponsored by Budweiser, Full Throttle Midwest Magazine, Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau, Tri-County Lodging Association, Lake of the Ozarks Harley Davidson, Horny Toad Entertainment Complex, BackwaterJacks, Dog Days, Tan-Tar-A, Shady Gators, Shorty Pants Lounge, The Fish Tank, Wobbly Boots BBQ, Peckers Dueling Piano Bar, KRMS-AM, Mix 92.7-FM and Mike 93.5-FM.  The Bikefest executive board consists of Merlyn Vandervort, Mark Barrett, Jack Fleming, Don Kleinhans and Deb Suda of Full Throttle Midwest Magazine, Gary Prewitt of Shady Gators, and Jim Divincen of Tri-County Lodging Association.

   For more information, visit the Bikefest web site at www.lakeoftheozarksbikefest.com.  For more information about lodging, dining, shopping, events and attractions, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit www.funlake.com.