Bikes, Blues & BBQ: Largest US Charity Rally

More than 400,000 rally fans made their way to Northwest Arkansas last year to enjoy the best in riding, music and barbeque at the Bikes Blues & BBQ Rally in Fayetteville, Arkansas. "This is our 12th year and we have added a fourth venue, more vendors and more entertainment," said the event's director, Joe Giles.  The 4-day rally kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 28th.

"Over the last eleven years we have seen the rally grow from a small poker run to one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country," said Giles. In 2009, the rally extended from Fort Smith to Rogers and over to Eureka Springs. From the Randal Tyson Track Center in south Fayetteville to Dickson Street and up to the Northwest Arkansas Mall where concerts take place at the Arkansas Music Pavilion.

Demo rides at the 2011 BBB Rally at Baum Stadium will include the new Harley-Davidson models, along with Can-Am's new three wheeled cruiser and sport models, plus Yamaha and Suzuki. The Victory corporation, in conjunction with Freedom Powersports, will be bringing the 2012 Victory Vegas’s, Hammers, Jackpots, Visions, and Kingpins.  

Bikes Blues and BBQ has more than doubled its fan base in 2 years on Facebook, which is also a common hook up for rally organizers and volunteers.

Rally bar tender, Kimmy Cruz (center in this photo) is always front and center at this rally that is in her home state, Arkansas.

Rally with a Purpose
From the very beginning, the founders of Bikes, Blues & BBQ realized that although the three festival components of the rally — bikes, blues and barbeque — would be enough to put on a great event, so much more was possible. They wanted to hold Bikes, Blues & BBQ to a higher standard and give it a greater purpose. With that in mind they designated Bikes, Blues & BBQ as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting local charities with funding raised during the rally.

The Miss BBB Bikini Contest with $1,500 up for grabs kicked off Friday, Aug. 19th with semi-finals Sept. 28 & 29 and the finals on Saturday, Oct. 1st. Click the poster image to enlarge for details.

Poker runs hosted by Fayetteville Fire Department leave for Eureka Springs on Friday morning and for Devil's Den State Park on Saturday morning.
Bikes - Loaded with chrome and dripping with attitude - Battle of the Bikes Show opens at noon Saturday, Oct. 1 at the main beer garden venue, (Walton Arts Center parking lot.) A bike parade begins at 3:30pm Saturday at College Avenue and Dickson Street, including a children's bike parade at 3:40pm along a section of Dickson Street.


Blues - A new partnership with the Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in 2009 brought national and regional talent to the rally, including Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, and The Marshall Tucker Band. Joe Giles was the official BBB Music Coordinator and emcee.

Candlebox and Jamey Johnson will be in concert Thursday & Friday night at AMP in 2011.

Some of this year’s great bands will include Little Hoojin, Trick Bag, Kory Montgomery, The Nace Brothers, Dante and the Hawks, Louisiana Crossroads, David Kimbrough, Jr. (That’s right, the son of Blues legend Jr. Kimbrough.) For the 2011 rally, Saturday will be “All Blues and Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Day”. "We’ll have some folks who will really put a little jump in your rump all day and night long," said Giles. 

BBQ - Every year some of the best BBQ teams from around the country come here to compete in the KCBS Barbeque Cook-Off and the Arkansas State BBQ Championship. Starting Friday morning the air will be filled with the smoky aroma of barbequed chicken, ribs, pork, and beef brisket!


Details at: Bikes Blues and BBQ.

The Republic Of Texas ROT Rally: Hot Video & Events

The Republic of Texas ROT Rally 2011 was again one of the biggest events in Texas and the 2012 ROT Rally is set for June 7th to 10th. 

Boasting the Guinness record for the biggest party in a downtown metropolitan area, Austin Texas closes 54 blocks to traffic for the Friday Night Motorcycle Parade &; Congress Party.  The 17th ROT Rally featured concerts by Eddie Money, Doobie Brothers, Wes Jeans, Taddy Porter and the John Gaar Band.

Bret Michaels "Rock My World Tour" headlined in 2010, pictured here with rally bartenders, Kimmy Cruz & The Chop Shop Girls.

The official ROT Rally grounds are east of Austin at the Travis County Expo Center, which attracts an annual crowd of more than 45,000, who attend events and camp at the Expo Center. But a much larger crowd estimated at more than 160,000 book hotels and find more than enough to do in the Austin area. In 2009 more than 200,000 bikers rode into town for the 16th Annual Republic of Texas Rally. It was the largest recorded attendance according to the City of Austin Visitor's Bureau.^[5]

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Robbie Knievel jumped a motorcycle 180 feet over multiple semi-trucks in front of the TEXAS Capitol for the Republic Of Texas Rally in 2009 and Hank Williams Jr. was the music headliner! ...Find out what's happening this year!

The 2010 ROT Rally featured concerts by Blue Oyster, Blood Sweat & Tears and headliner, Bret Michaels "Rock My World Tour," along with Comedian Gallagher, and Rock star Dee Snider of Twisted Sister lead a "Bikers For Babies" ride on Saturday to benefit the March of Dimes' campaign for healthy babies.

The ROT’s Got Talent variety show was introduced in 2010, giving rally fans a chance to compete for an opening act spot at the ROT headliner concert.

Tattoo Expo - Enjoyment of the Extreme. The first ever ROT Rally Tattoo Expo was also introduced at the 2010 ROT Rally.

Big Texas Chop Off for American Heroes - The ROT Rally highlights some of the country’s best upcoming bike builders every year and does a Give-A-Way custom bike to benefit the veterans of our country’s armed forces. Taking it a step further, in recent years, the judges have become the veterans and the motorcycle with the highest votes has become the prize for the give-away.  

The ROT Rally also features a Custom Bagger Showcase, American Hellriders' Wall of Death, "Working Man's Motorcycle Art Show" and Team FMX East, Freestyle Motocross stunt shows.

Details at: www.rotrally.com

Kimmy Cruz, "Bikers Are The BOMB!!!"

This is the "Official Blog" for Kimmy Cruz ... on the road to the biggest, baddest rallies in the USA - You can check out her totally awesome NEW website at KimmyCruz.com.

SIK - The Texas Home Grown Metal band from Dallas, Fort Worth sets the stage for an experience that is off the chain... to say the least.

Maybe you know Kimmy Cruz from Daytona Bike Week, Arizona Bike Week, Bike Blues & BBQ in her native Arkansas, or Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

"This is my 10th year working as a promoter, model, photographer and bartender, and I love it," said Kimmy, who will be at 20 rallies this year.

Mark Bradshaw: Arizona Bike Week Hero of the Year!

Congrats to Mark Bradshaw, owner of Hideaway Grill, 2010 Arizona Bike Week's  Hero of the Year!!

Mark and everyone who has continued to support the Hideaway over the years joined him and AZ Custom Builders on a ride at 6 p.m. into West World. More than 100 riders were escorted by Mark and last year's "hero," Kimmy Chapman-Lauer, publisher of BikerInformation.com.

Arizona Bike Week continues through April 18! - Photos by Kimmy Cruz, who is working during AZ Bike Week at The Hideaway Grill.

The Hideaway Grill ... somewhere in Cave Creek, Arizona outside of Phoenix is a party headquarters!!

Look for all the charity poker runs like the 7th Annual Fire Fighters Poker Run, the Ride for Haiti, and the Harley Davidson torch ride to benefit the Special Olympics. And don't forget the "Biggest Party of Bike Week" at the Buddy Stubbs Bike Week Bash at Arizona Harley Davidson

Paul Yaffe at Arizona Bike Week 2010

Arizona Bike Week 2010 - The weather is perfect! It was 69 degrees (F) at 9 a.m. and record-breaking crowds have been showing up in full force by 11 a.m. every day at The Hideaway Grill ... somewhere in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Paul Yaffe showed up on Sunday to party with Mark (owner of Hideaway) and Kimmy Cruz. There was a big 13-mile parade of motorcycles, horseback riders and antique cars up highway 101 on Sunday... and a woman won $1,000 in the Hideaway Tattoo Contest for her full back tat!

Get Your Bling Here! "I am just loving it here at The Hideaway Grill," Kimmy Cruz reported by phone today... "Everybody is just so sweet, and so layed back. And I found a totally awesome collection of crystal bling plus men's Hellenbach and Crybaby Asshole MC clothing at the Hideaway retail store."

"People are just loving this warm weather, and of course there is no humidity. So they ride out to The Hideaway and spend the whole day in the sunshine, and then ride back when the temperatures start to drop into the 70s at night."

MONDAY APRIL 12: JIM NASI CUSTOMS/TRASK PERFORMANCE DAY

Come and check out some of the most awesome pieces of bike art in the world. Jim will be here with photo and autograph ops, along with his one of a kind bikes. Nick Trask will be at the Hideaway displaying his bikes and performance systems as well. At 6 pm join Jim, Nick, and Mark for a ride down to Nasiʼs Bike Week Bash!! Free Food, Drinks, and Tour of Nasiʼs factory. Vendors, Promos, TONS of Giveaways, and much more ALL day at the Hideaway.

TUESDAY APRIL 13: BOURGETS BIKE WORKS DAY

Bridget Bourget will be here with some of her most awesome creations. Photo and Autograph Ops with Bridget all day. At 5 pm we are heading down to Bourgets Bike Week Bash for free food, live entertainment, drinks, and a tour of Bourgets factory. Vendors, Promos, TONS of Giveaways, and much more ALL day at the Hideaway.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 14: AZ BIKE WEEK HERO PARTY/SINISTER INDUSTRIES DAY

This day is one of the most honorable days of Marks journey. Be sure your at the Hideaway early to celebrate with Mark, as he has been named this years Arizona Bike Week Hero. This is a huge honor to Mark and everyone who has continued to support

the Hideaway over the years. At 6 pm join motorcycle personalities and all of the Arizona custom builders for a ride to Cyclefest to honor Mark. Vince Neil is in concert that night. All day at the Hideaway, John Shope, from Sinister Industries, will be

throwing his Bike Week Bash. If you havenʼt seen Sinister Industries custom baggers, they are BADASS and second to none! Photo and autograph ops all day. Vendors, Promos, TONS of Giveaways, and much more ALL day at the Hideaway.

THURSDAY APRIL 15:PAUL YAFFE'S "BAGGER NATION" DAY

Paul Yaffe will have his famous bagger creations and custom bikes at the Hideaway with photo and autograph ops. At 6 pm join Mark and Paul for a ride down to Cyclefest for the Ratt concert. Vendors, Promos, TONS of Giveaways, and much more ALL day at the Hideaway.


FRIDAY APRIL 16: HIDEAWAY GRILL & BROKEN SPOKE GYPSY TOUR

You donʼt want to miss this! At 1 pm Mark and Jay Allen, from The Broken Spoke, will be guiding you on an all day ride to various locations, all guaranteed to be fun. The ride will end down at Cyclefest for the Dierks Bentley concert. Vendors, Promos, TONS of Giveaways, and much more ALL day at the Hideaway.

SATURDAY APRIL 17: CAVE CREEK DAY

Arizonaʼs best custom builders will have their latest creations at the Hideaway all day along with motorcycle personalities. The Coors Light Girls will be here for a day of PARTYING!! Donʼt miss the “Cactus Massacre Cruz Tequila Party”. Come ride the luge! At 6 pm we are heading down to Cyclefest for George Thorogood and the Destroyers in concert. Vendors, Promos,TONS of Giveaways, and much more ALL day at the Hideaway.

SUNDAY APRIL 18: HIDEAWAY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY

Get to the Hideaway early, this is going to be one full day!! Annual FREE crawfish boil!! The Coors Light and Jack Daniels Girls will be here for partying and giveaways! Vendors, Promos, TONS of Giveaways, and much more ALL day at the Hideaway.

Arizona Bike Week at The Hideaway Grill

The pre-rally party has begun...Somewhere in Cave Creek, ARIZONA BIKE WEEK 2010 - at the Hideaway Grill.

Kimmy Cruz was just at Daytona Bike Week 2010!

Drop in to say "Hi" to Kimmy Cruz at Arizona Bike Week - She will be tending bar from open-to-close at The Hideaway Grill - Party Headquarters for Arizona Bike Week, April 9 to 18!

Arizona Bike Week 2010 - Let's Ride!

April 9th - Kick off the week at "Phoenix Bike Night" at The Hideaway Grill ...

Mark Bradshaw, owner of the Hideaway Grill and an Arizona native, has been in the bar and restaurant business for over 20 years. After riding his Harley to Cave Creek for years, he fell in love with the little town and decided to move there about 17 years ago. He knew Cave Creek was where he wanted to open up his own place. In the fall of 1998 Mark did just that, he opened up his dream bar, The Hideaway Grill, a place where bikers would have a place to ride out of the big city to have a few drinks and grab some grub.

You will find the "almost famous" Kimmy Cruz tending bar at The Hideaway from open-to-close during Arizona Bike Week!

April 9th - The ride leaves promptly at 6 p.m. from Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson in Anthem, Arizona to The Hideaway Grill ... somewhere in Cave Creek, Arizona.

April 9th - 14th Annual Kickstart Party - All Day - at Hacienda Harley-Davidson, 15600 Hayden Rd., Scottsdale.


April 14th - Riding For Kids Charity Run -
Register from 6:30 to 10 a.m. at Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson, 1385 N. Cave Road, Phoenix.

April 14th - Help Mark celebrate being named this year's "Arizona Bike Week Hero!"   The ride to Cyclefest leaves The Hideaway at 6 p.m. for the ceremony.

April 15th - Ladies, Lingerie & Learning Ride. Bike or not, everyone is welcome. $25.00 Registration includes; lunch, admission to Cyclefest, RATT concert, & ride prizes. Ck in 9 a.m. at WestWorld.

 April 15th - T-Bar Trail Ride - WestWorld, Arizona

April 16th - Mandatory Hideaway Grill & Broken Spoke Gypsy Tour - Help Jay Allen of Broken Spoke celebrate his birthday! The ride leaves at 1 p.m. from Hideaway Grill in Cave Creek. Mark & Jay  will be guiding you on an all day ride to various locations, all guaranteed to be fun! The ride will end down at Cyclefest for the Dierks Bentley concert.

April 16 - 18 - 49th Yuma Prison Run - Yuma Arizona

April 17th - Spring Has Sprung Poker Run & Bike Show - Catalina, Arizona

April 25th - Run for the Kids 7th Annual- Tuscon, Arizona

April 25th - Hearts to Heroes Motorcycle Ride & Poker Run - Peoria, Arizona

What's Happening at Daytona Bike Week 2010? Shade Tree Industry Party At Dog House - Tuesday Night

Last night, Shade Tree Powersports - parts, accessories & apparel company - threw a big industry party upstairs at Dog House Saloon on Main Street, where Kimmy Cruz was modeling with bikes and met Carmella Brown, owner of New York Rider Magazine and  Chris Maida of American Iron Magazine.

You can find the "almost famous" Kimmy Cruz TODAY, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the long bar, outside Froggy's Saloon on Main Street - Daytona Bike Week 2010!

Kris Krome and girlfriend, Kyle Shorey and Kimmy Cruz - Daytona Bike Week 2010

What's Happening at Daytona Bike Week?

Saturday night was COLD - everyone was at the bars, including Kris Krome and his girlfriend, Kyle Shorey - pictured here with Kimmy Cruz, who is out having her own fun.

Find Kris Krome (World Champion 2009 Custom Bike Builder)  at Daytona Harley-Davidson on Beach Street.

Kris' World Championship motorcycle RE-FLEX-TION is on display, along with 7-time NHRA World Champion Tony Schumacher`s T/F 1.



Kris Krome Customs
Freeland, MI.- USA

Kris, has over eight years in the bike building and customization industry. He received his welding certification at age 12 and worked alongside his father in construction steel fabrication in the automotive racing industry.

Kimmy, Kris and Kyle will be at the Shade Tree Industry Show at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at The Dog House. Thursday, they will be attending the 2nd Annual Biker's Fusion Benefit for Soldier's Angels to mingle with motorcycle magazine editors and other industry media personalities at The Dog House.

2010 Daytona Bike Week, Feb. 26 to March 7

I just love this photo of Indian Larry with Kimmy Cruz - 5 years later, we are all missing him... going into Daytona Bike Week 2010.

Daytona Bike Week in 14 days and the motel rooms are almost all booked. This is a good sign for a great rally week... and a great rally season!!




You can find the "almost famous" Kimmy Cruz bartending, nights at the long-bar outside Froggy's on Main Street -- and every day taking thousands of photographs all over Daytona Bike Week -- Feb. 26 to March 7, 2010. 

Kimmy Cruz will be at the Dealers Expo Show in Indy this weekend, Feb. 13 & 14th.

Look for her at the Samson Exhaust Booth.

10th Anniversary V-Twin Expo Gets Underway in Cincinatti

Many of our industry fiends are at the 10th Anniversary Cincinatti V-Twin Expo.  

More than 350 exhibitors are setting up at this year's big dealer's show. 

The industry-only (not open to the public) event draws participants from all over the world, eager to meet up with friends in the motorcycle industry to learn the new trends, see the new bikes, new parts and new technology.

Kimmy Cruz will be at the Samson Exhaust Booth.


"I'm really excited and happy to be going back to the Big Dealer's Show. It was one of the places where I got my start, 10 years ago."

Booth # 645
samsonusa.com                                              V-Twin Expo exhibitors.




 Memories.....

Follow Kimmycruz to the biggest, baddest rallies in the USA

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL      Kimmycruz  BLOG

                                                                    

 

photographer, model, bartender, 

and promoter for more than a decade

at the biggest and baddest rallies the 

USA has to offer.

I love everybody, and just being Kimmycruz makes me happier than I've ever been in my life.

Now fans can follow Kimmycruz across the USA at her "official blog" for photo updates and rally stories, linked to Kimmycruz.com.

Read the latest story about Kimmycruz, online at  Barnett's Harley Davidson Magazine

 

Story by Wendy Manning, Photos courtesy of Kimmy Cruz's private collection

Michael Ballard's Full Throttle Saloon has been the subject of a reality series on truTV called, appropriately, Full Throttle Saloon. Unlike other rally documentaries this one stayed with Ballard and his Full Throttle crew the whole time, giving us an insider's view of what it really takes to run the self-proclaimed "World' Largest Biker Bar" during the make-it or break-it ten day event. If you were a fan of the show, you more than likely caught a few glimpses of Kimmy Cruz.

Kimmy lives in Mabank, Texas, with her boyfriend Christian Dotson, with whom she has a hot rod shop where Christian builds hot rods, custom cars, and custom motorcycles. But she’s spent enough time tending bar at the Sturgis Rally to give us an insider’s view of what it takes to serve the thousands of bikers who attend the rally each year. “I’ve worked in Sturgis for nine years, but I’ve worked for Michael Ballard at Full Throttle off and on since 2003,” she said. “It’s a total trip, there’s nothing else like it.”

Kimmy started out selling ads for various motorcycle magazines. “In addition to that, I began writing stories and doing photography, as well as marketing and promotion,” she explained. “From there, I met so many people because I was out and about at all the major rallies, and I ended up modeling for all the top builders.” She started her bartending career at Broken Spoke Saloon during the 2002 Daytona Bike Week. When Broken Spoke owner Jay Allen asked her tend bar, she was apprehensive because she’d never tended bar before. “He told me I could just crack open the beer, I wouldn’t have to serve liquor or anything. He brought out a ’57 Chevy and set me up with a beer tub. We were so packed—I had so much fun. I served ninety-six cases of beer in four hours. I didn’t know what to think.” But it didn’t take long for Kimmy to figure out that having made $900 in tips during those four hours, tending bar at bike rallies was a great way for her to supplement her income. “What would I say, no? I said bring it on, because I knew I could work and make extra money on top of being a sales rep. I ended up fading out the sales rep job because I figured why am I doing this for other people when they’re making thousands of dollars off me? I made a better income as a bar tender at bike rallies.”

Kimmy took three months off to educate herself on the art and nuances of bartending, upgrading her photography skills, and building a website for herself, her photography, and her modeling career. That was nearly nine years ago, and she’s been going strong ever since.

Kimmy goes to rallies that draw 400,000 people and more. “I picked at least six different locations where I knew I could make money. I introduced myself to every vender and took photos of them, and I try to promote everyone across the board, whether they’re a client, a vender, a bar owner, a customer, or a friend,” she said. “I made sure I made lots of friends and I helped out wherever I could. So all these people were seeing me. That’s how I met Michael Ballard. I was a model for aftermarket retailer Dennis Kirk at the time.” Kimmy was set up at the Dennis Kirk booth on the Full Throttle property, and she says Michael asked when she planned to work for him as a bartender. “At that time I wasn’t working full time, I was trying different things, so in 2007 I went to work at Full Throttle. It’s an awesome atmosphere. Everybody loves Full Throttle.”

Being a bartender at Full Throttle isn’t all fun and games, however. Bartenders work very hard. If you watched the show on truTV, you know that surveillance cameras catch all the action at each bar, and the security team is watching every move the staff makes. You saw employees go through the rigorous hiring process, and you probably some of them being “let go” before the rally was over. As a bartender customers are allowed to photograph you, and you’re required to comply and you cannot charge money for photographs taken.

But Kimmy says despite the hard work, working as a rally bartender helps her to make contacts to other jobs. “Plus, I get to meet all the top builders,” she said. “I get to meet Ron Finch, Billy Lane, and Jesse James, all of them really. And they’ve always been super nice to me.”

So making good money, having fun and making friends, tending bar at major bike rallies is something Kimmy highly recommends. But the competition is steep. “They don’t call you or anything,” she explained. “To get back with Full Throttle I’ll have to go through the application process just like everybody else.”

To check out Kimmy Cruz, or ask her advice on how to get started as a rally bartender, visit her website at kimmycruz.com.