By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Motorcycles and meat could draw thousands of people to a three-day bike rally and barbecue cookoff this fall.
Tilley Harley-Davidson will host the Biker, Blues & BBQ Rally Sept. 22 to 24, an event sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society and proclaimed by Gov. Bev Perdue as a State Barbecue Championship.
Coordinator Gary Moss said he expects at least 4,000 people over three days.
“It’s a great idea,” said James Meacham, executive director for the Salisbury-Rowan County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The event combines two niche markets — motorcycles and barbecue. Both have loyal enthusiasts, Meacham said.
The rally also fills a hole in Salisbury’s fall tourism calendar, coming right after a major fishing tournament at High Rock Lake and just before the first fall appearance of Thomas the Tank Engine at the N.C. Transportation Museum.
“September can be a slow month,” Meacham said. “This helps us grow our event base and gives us more weapons in our portfolio to promote the area.”
Cooking at home
Competitive cooks from Salisbury usually pull trailers and smokers for hours behind gas-guzzling pickup trucks across the Southeast in pursuit of a coveted Grand Champion award.
But for at least one weekend, local teams will drive just a few miles to Tilley, where 50 competitors will set up behind the dealership.
“Elation — that’s the best word to describe it,” Tomme Gamewell said.
Gamewell said he and his partner in P&C Smoke-A-Holics, Brad VunCannon, have been waiting years to cook in front of a hometown crowd.
Chris Finney of Salisbury, whose Iron Pig BBQ has won both a state championship and Grand Champion award, said he applauds Tilley for coming up with the event and hopes people will embrace it.
“I think it’s great for Salisbury in general, if people can get past the fact that it’s at a Harley dealership and just come on out,” Finney said. “It will be fun for all ages, whatever your thoughts are on Harleys.”
Something foreveryone
Moss, the event coordinator, has lined up everything from a beauty pageant to tethered hot-air balloon rides to blues bands and DJs.
Retired from the U.S. military and a part-time employee at Tilley, Moss took what was a one-day event at the Harley-Davidson dealership in Gastonia, which has closed, and turned it into three days of vendors, food and entertainment.
“Why do something normal?” Moss said. “If you’re going to do something, do it big.”
Moss, a long-time Tilley customer, helped coordinate a successful Harley owners rally at the dealership in 2008. He said he wants to recapture that experience but make it even bigger.
“This is not just for motorcycle customers,” Tilley General Manager Tracy Edwards said. “It’s for everyone.”
Proceeds from the pageant, poker run and 12th annual Junior’s Bike Show will go to local charities Godstock and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Nearly 70 trained judges from six states will determine winners in several cooking categories. Prize money, which comes from entry fees and sponsorships, totals more than $12,00.
If you think you know barbecue, you can pay $15 to become one of 100 lay judges in the People’s Choice contest.
Moss welcomes additional sponsors and offers five levels of giving. He also has space for 50 vendors and encourages everything from jewelry to art to clothing.
“We want to feature local businesses,” he said.
Home turf
Local cooks will compete with their friends and family, and potentially thousands of strangers, looking on.
Gamewell said he and VunCannon would love to win their first Grand Champion award on home turf.
“There’s going to be that little incentive to be able to bring the money and trophy home — at home,” he said.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.