Laughlin River Run welcomes spring in the West

The Laughlin River Run starts Wednesday

What is reputedly the largest West Coast motorcycle event gets underway this week in Laughlin, NV. By the time you read this I'll be on my Kawasaki Concours headed that direction.

The Laughlin River Run usually draws more than 70,000 bikers each April to this Nevada border town that hugs the Colorado River, south Las Vegas. The number coming this year could be a lot fewer, if Daytona Bike Week is an indication of the effect the economy is having on these events. I saw a post on one forum where the guy said he got a super package deal, whereas last year he stayed in Vegas because the price was too high in Laughlin.

The rally got its start from a poker run from Laughlin to the Old Route 66 ghost town of Oatman, AZ. That run remains a focus of the rally but has been joined by a custom bike show and a series of musical performances in the Laughlin casinos. For the most part, the performers are your typical over-the-hill rockers who show up at so many rallies. The line-up includes:

Cheap Trick, appearing in the Outdoor Amphitheater on Saturday, April 24

Three Dog Night, at Harrah's Rio Vista Amphitheater on Friday, April 23

David Allen Coe, at the Tropicana Express Pavilion on both Thursday, April 22, and Friday, April 23

Bill Medley, surviving member of the Righteous Brothers, with his daugher, McKenna Medley, from Wednesday, April 21, through Saturday, April 24

The custom bike show will take place on Saturday as well, at the Colorado Belle casino, which also hosts the poker run on Saturday.

Oh, yeah, and apparently "Bentley The Chimp" is going to be there, too.

It's not particularly clear what else might be going on because the official site is a bit overdue providing a schedule of events but it appears there will be some dealers and distributors on hand and a Miss Laughlin River Run contest. I guess I'll learn more when I get there. Be looking for a lot more information, and a ton of photos, in the next few days.

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