Click here for more photos

The Smoke Out in Rockingham had a little bit of everything to entertain and amaze. They had drag races, mini-bike races, the annual Chop Off, as well as a very freaky stage show. I should also mention the wet T-shirt contest, one of the raunchiest shows east of the Mississippi. Life is good.

Once again I missed the mini-bike races for good reason. It seems that no matter where the Smoke Out is held over the years, the thunderstorms seem to plan their own simultaneous event. Friday and Saturday produced another couple of frog chokers. These storms only last for an hour or so and then the sun is out for the rest of the day, but boy, what a mess. Doesn’t matter, this is a hard-core bike event and the storms are gone and forgotten quickly and actually seem to bring people together.

One of the theme shows at this year’s event was the XS 650 Bike Show. Old School metric choppers, the kind you build in your garage with the help of eBay and your own ingenuity. Let me tell you there were some sweet rides at the show. Although the XS 650’s were great, they were only a fraction of the great Old School bikes that you see at this rally and that’s why this is one of my favorite places to browse around and photograph choppers in their premier showcase. As you can see in the attached photos, these bikes combine imagination, pride, hours of wrenching, and the love of Old School rides.

As it is every year, the camping is what most people come to enjoy as it is just one big party. Let it be known ― this is not your grandma’s idea of camping. On the other hand, I’m sure there where tons of grandmas and gramps partying just as hard as they could. I know ―I’m one of them. Being that this is an over-18 event, as far as I see it, no harm, no foul.

As I do every year, I want the thank Edge, the man who makes it all happen, for being a great host and putting on a rally that keeps on getting better and better every year.