LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN

BY REX

THIS IS THE 25 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUGHLIN RIVER RUN. WHAT STARTED OUT 25 YEARS AGO AS A WEEK-END HARLEY RUN ORGANIZED BY THE SAN BERNARDINO HARLEY - DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP IN MARCH, 1983 HAS TURNED INTO THE LARGEST MOTORCYCLE RUN ON THE WEST COAST. IT'S CONSIDERED #3 BEHIND STURGIS AND DAYTONA. 70,000 TO 75,000 MOTORCYCLES HAVE ROARED INTO OUR MOHAVE VALLEY TO PARTY ON, UNTIL SUNDAY.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TIGHTENED IN RECENT YEARS FOLLOWING A DEADLY BRAWL AT HARRAH'S LAUGHLIN DURING THE 2002 RUN THAT LEFT THREE BIKERS DEAD AND SEVERAL INJURED. OF COURSE THERE ARE DEATHS EVERY YEAR FROM TRAFFIC FATALITIES TO THE "TAKE IT TO THE DESERT" FIGHTS AND MURDERS.

THE ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP, IS ALL GEARED UP TO THE BIKERS, AND THE MUSIC IS FIRED UP, AND LOUD - LOUD - LOUD !!! THERE ARE MANY VENDORS, TRADE SHOWS, POKER RUNS, AND EVEN DRAG RACING ON THE INDIAN RESERVATION SPONSORED BY THE AVI CASINO.

OUR RV PARK SEEMS TO GATHER THE TRUE RIDERS, AND NOT THE PARTY ANIMALS. THEY COME IN EARLY AND RIDE, BABY RIDE. THEY RUN TO YUMA AND THE MEXICAN BOARDER, ROUTE 66 THROUGH THE BLACK MOUNTAINS AND TOWARD THE GRAND CANYON, HOOVER DAM AND LAS VEGAS, DEATH VALLEY, AND LAKE HAVASU.

LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A VARIETY OF TOOLS THEY EMPLOY, "STEAL ME" BIKES ARE POSITIONED AND FITTED WITH GPS TRACKERS TO CATCH MOTORCYCLE THIEVES, THERE IS A 6 PM CURFEW ON CASINO DRIVE IF YOU ARE UNDER AGE, NO CANS OR BOTTLES OUTSIDE, EVERYTHING IS SERVED IN PLASTIC CUPS, SOBRIETY CHECK POINTS, DRUG SNIFFING DOGS, AND OF COURSE THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS BOTH VISIBLE AND UNDER COVER GROWS TREMENDOUSLY. ARIZONA HAS NO HELMET LAW , BUT NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA DO.

WELL IF I'M GOING TO GET INTO BIKER MODE:

"SOCIAL OUTCAST" CLOTHING MUST BE MY FIRST STOP.

OR MAYBE............................

I SHOULD "EXPERIENCE THE PAIN"............

AND JUST TO COMPLETE MY NEW LOOK, I'LL PUT ONE OF THESE "BOSS HOG" V-8'S BETWEEN MY LEGS.......................