Gang violence warnings
cancel Harley festival
BY SUE M. MORGAN
Staff Writer

OLD BRIDGE — A minority of motorcyclists have once again ruined an event celebrating Harley-Davidson products, according to Raceway Park co-owner David Napp.

Warnings from law enforcement authorities that rival motorcycle clubs might wage war during the 15th annual All Harley Summer Festival, which had been scheduled for Sunday at the Pension Road drag strip, convinced Napp and other arena officials to cancel the event.

By communicating with sources within the biker community itself, the Old Bridge Police Department, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and FBI learned that members of the Hell’s Angels and the Pagans had planned to carry on an ongoing rivalry at the motorcycle show, Napp said.

In the interest of public safety, the raceway’s management regretfully decided Friday to pull the plug on the event.

"We thought it best that they not convene in the Old Bridge area," Napp told Greater Media Newspapers.

Yesterday, Napp and the drag strip’s management were scrambling to put together two other events to recoup their financial losses from the Harley event. The East Coast Supercharging Corvette Challenge Race Series Bonus Event and a Test and Tune Time Trial Day are now scheduled for Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Napp said. The latter event allows motorists to practice driving race cars and testing their speeds.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday and admission can be purchased at the entrance, Napp said.

"Hopefully, we’ll get some people to come out, have a nice time and get some practice time in," Napp said.

Raceway Park had not sold any tickets for the popular Harley event, but it had advertised the festival in several newspapers, Napp said. Planned radio advertising was pulled. It is the advertising costs, as well as those of planned entertainment that Napp hopes to recover with Sunday’s events, which are open to the general public.

Despite the financial loss, Raceway Park is committed to working with local authorities and keeping its customers and nearby residents out of harm’s way, Napp said.

Two years ago, Raceway Park officials were forced to bail out of hosting Harley-Davidson’s 100th Anniversary Tour, which had been scheduled to bring concerts and other entertainment to the drag strip for three days.

Fearful that violent confrontations between rival biker clubs that had erupted at separate motorcycle events in Long Island and Nevada in the spring of 2002 could be repeated in Old Bridge, township officials demanded that Raceway Park cancel the event.

"We want to work with the town whenever possible. We certainly don’t enjoy losing an event," Napp said. "Unfortunately, we had to do so two years ago."

The reality is that many Harley riders are professionals such as physicians and attorneys, many with families, Napp pointed out.

"They come from all walks of life," he said.

Groups such as the Hell’s Angels and Pagans are part of a minority who have created a negative perception of motorcyclists in general, Napp said.

"If [rival motorcyclists] would put their [club] colors aside, we would have been able to have a great event for everyone," he stressed.

The 41-year-old drag strip successfully hosted the Vans Warped Tour for the first time on Aug. 8, without any major incidents.