Americade
Encyclopedia
Americade is a week-long motorcycle rally
that is held during the first full of June. The headquarters and location of many rally activities are in Lake George village, New York
. The event is open to all motorcyclists and brand and type of motorcycles, and in recent years attracts over 50,000 people annually. Americade is billed by its organizer as the "World's Largest Motorcycle Touring Rally", and is distinguished from events such as Daytona Bike Week by its emphasis on touring
and by its organization.
Attendees participate in demo rides from all of the major manufacturers, boat cruises, motorcycle judging, and group rides called "MiniTours" to various destinations in New York and Vermont.
Americade also offers a large motorcycle trade show, TourExpo, located in two locations in Lake George: Million Dollar Beach and The Forum.
The TourExpo tradeshow was held at the Glens Falls Civic Center, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) to the south. This first event drew over 2,000.
. The name came from an annual civic festival, which celebrated the changing colors of the aspen
(birch) trees. Dutcher arranged with Aspencade organizer Til Thompson to use the Aspencade name for the eastern touring rally.
In 1986, "Aspencade East" became "Americade," because the new name better signified the multibrand national-sized rally it had become. By 1986, total attendance at this event was nearly 10,000. The name Americade was suggested by the organizer's wife, Gini Dutcher.
In 2004, TourExpo expanded the tradeshow to include The Forum, Lake George's newly built convention center, providing more room for the Americade's TourExpo tradeshow.
For many years, Americade has been named one of the American Motorcyclist Association
's three national rallies (along with the Lone Star Rally in Texas and the Golden Aspen Rally in New Mexico).
A few riders, none of whom were registered attendees at the Americade event, subsequently expressed that they felt singled out and threatened not to return in several of the local newspaper editorial sections.
During the Americade event of 2009, checkpoints were set up at an Interstate 87 rest stop and on Route 9 during the rally. Warren County sheriff's deputies issued 84 tickets for unapproved helmets, 19 for modified exhausts and 32 other vehicle and traffic violations. New York State Police
made additional unspecified criminal arrests.
Prior to the Americade event in 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation informed the organizers of Americade it would increase the fee it charges the event to occupy the parking lot behind the Million Dollar Beach from $52,000 to $90,312. This prompted the organizers of the event to begin courting other locations, including some in Vermont. Community leaders in the Lake George area have expressed how important this event is to their economic survival.
Motorcycle rally
A motorcycle rally is a gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts. Rallies can be large or small, and one-time or recurring. Some rallies are ride-in events, whereas some like the Iron Butt Rally involve days of riding and an actual gathering only at the end of the ride.-North America:Notable annual...
that is held during the first full of June. The headquarters and location of many rally activities are in Lake George village, New York
Lake George (village), New York
The Village of Lake George is a village within the town of Lake George in Warren County, New York, United States. The population was 985 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The event is open to all motorcyclists and brand and type of motorcycles, and in recent years attracts over 50,000 people annually. Americade is billed by its organizer as the "World's Largest Motorcycle Touring Rally", and is distinguished from events such as Daytona Bike Week by its emphasis on touring
Touring motorcycle
A touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle designed for touring. Although any motorcycle can be used to tour with, manufacturers have brought specific models designed to address the particular needs of these riders...
and by its organization.
Attendees participate in demo rides from all of the major manufacturers, boat cruises, motorcycle judging, and group rides called "MiniTours" to various destinations in New York and Vermont.
Americade also offers a large motorcycle trade show, TourExpo, located in two locations in Lake George: Million Dollar Beach and The Forum.
History
May 1983 was the first "cade" in the east coast. Veteran motorcyclist Bill Dutcher, and a small staff, hosted "Aspencade East" in Lake George, NY. The event's headquarters were at Roaring Brook Ranch, from which most of the demo rides departed.The TourExpo tradeshow was held at the Glens Falls Civic Center, approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) to the south. This first event drew over 2,000.
Original name
Since 1971, there had been an Aspencade touring motorcycle rally in Ruidoso, New MexicoRuidoso, New Mexico
Ruidoso is a village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, adjacent to the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 8,029 at the 2010 census...
. The name came from an annual civic festival, which celebrated the changing colors of the aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
(birch) trees. Dutcher arranged with Aspencade organizer Til Thompson to use the Aspencade name for the eastern touring rally.
In 1986, "Aspencade East" became "Americade," because the new name better signified the multibrand national-sized rally it had become. By 1986, total attendance at this event was nearly 10,000. The name Americade was suggested by the organizer's wife, Gini Dutcher.
Growth
By 1986, the TourExpo tradeshow had been relocated to Lake George village, to keep it closer to the motels and riding activities. Initially located halfway down Beach Road in a large gravel parking lot, in 1994 TourExpo was relocated to the larger, dust-free quarters, which it now occupies at Million Dollar Beach Parking Lot. This facility is owned by the State of New York, from which Americade and TourExpo rent this property.In 2004, TourExpo expanded the tradeshow to include The Forum, Lake George's newly built convention center, providing more room for the Americade's TourExpo tradeshow.
For many years, Americade has been named one of the American Motorcyclist Association
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
's three national rallies (along with the Lone Star Rally in Texas and the Golden Aspen Rally in New Mexico).
Staff and volunteers
Along with 10 full-time, year round employees, over 220 volunteers help staff the event during Americade Week. The volunteer staff assists with numerous hospitality, tour escort, and competition administration duties.Controversy
Entering the Americade event of 2008, New York State Police had set up several "safety check points" on the major roads leading into the event. Amber alert signs were placed on the highways which read "Motorcycles - exit right", which directed motorcycle traffic to police inspection points. Police helicopters were in the air nearby, in case someone attempted to outrun the police. All told there were approximately 200 citations issued, principally for documentation (registration, inspection), insurance, helmets and loud, custom exhaust systems.A few riders, none of whom were registered attendees at the Americade event, subsequently expressed that they felt singled out and threatened not to return in several of the local newspaper editorial sections.
During the Americade event of 2009, checkpoints were set up at an Interstate 87 rest stop and on Route 9 during the rally. Warren County sheriff's deputies issued 84 tickets for unapproved helmets, 19 for modified exhausts and 32 other vehicle and traffic violations. New York State Police
New York State Police
The New York State Police is the state police force of over 4,600 sworn Troopers for the state of New York. It was established on April 11, 1917 by the New York Legislature, in response to the 1913 murder of a construction foreman named Sam Howell in Westchester County, which at that time did not...
made additional unspecified criminal arrests.
Prior to the Americade event in 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation informed the organizers of Americade it would increase the fee it charges the event to occupy the parking lot behind the Million Dollar Beach from $52,000 to $90,312. This prompted the organizers of the event to begin courting other locations, including some in Vermont. Community leaders in the Lake George area have expressed how important this event is to their economic survival.