Daytona Bike Week A Week of Sun, Fun, and Chrome In
a few short weeks, Daytona Beach, Florida will play host to hundreds of
thousands of riders during the 73rd annual Bike Week. The event runs
from March 7th – March 16th. Daytona Beach is located on the central
East Coast of Florida, about 90 miles south of Jacksonville and 250
miles north of Miami. The crown jewel of the events is the “Daytona 200”
motorcycle race, which has been held at Daytona International Speedway
every year since 1961. Riders come from all over the world for Bike
Week – In fact, more languages are spoken during Bike Week than at any
other time of the year in Daytona Beach.
There
will be a full week of motorcycle racing events at the Speedway.
Events include dirt track races, the Daytona Supercross, the Harley
Davidson TwinSports race, the BMW "Legends of Racing", and the
SuperSport International Challenge. Harley Davidson also has a museum
for enthusiasts to visit. Outside of races, the Speedway will entertain
guests with several other motorcycle shows including vintage and
custom bikes, European & Japanese motorcycles, sidecars, and
trikes. The city will have concerts, fashion shows, technical seminars
and demo rides – so there will be no shortage of entertainment. Other
activities include Poker Runs, motorcycle swap meets, free BBQs, and
late night parties.
While in the area, riders commonly visit
attractions in nearby cities, like the Kennedy Space Center in Cape
Canaveral or Walt Disney World in Orlando. However, one of the most fun
things to do during Bike Week is people watching! Especially on Main
Street in Daytona Beach – that’s where the late night party action is.
The
#1 ride every newcomer to Bike Week must go on is the “Loop.” It's
like no other ride. It's open road, sunshine, ocean views, and every
riders dream. The Loop starts going north on John Anderson Drive in
Ormond Beach until you reach Highbridge Road. There, you hang a left to
go across the bridge overlooking the beautiful Halifax River. After
winding through several curves in the road, riders take another left to
go further west towards Old Dixie Highway. Take another left once you
reach Old Dixie Highway, back towards Ormond Beach, to finish out The
Loop. There are plenty of places to stop along the way to take in the
beautiful surroundings. Check out the Fairchild Oak tree at Ormond Park
– it’s one of Florida's oldest living Oaks. Pack a boxed lunch, your
camera, a free spirit, and enjoy the 22 mile ride – a must for riders
who would enjoy a nice leisurely ride along Florida’s countryside. If
you’ve never been on the Loop, we highly recommend giving it a try.
