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HISTORY of BIKES ON THE BRICKS

In the fall of 2007, an idea was developed for a motorcycle show to complement Back to the Bricks, an automobile show held in August in Downtown Flint since 2004. The community minded individuals with this great idea were: Don Williamson (former Flint Mayor), Larry Ford (former President of Genesee County Chamber of Commerce), Gary Hagler (former Acting Flint Police Chief), and Ron Lonsway (Sales Executive at then Cummings Vehicle City Harley-Davidson, now Vehicle City Harley-Davidson). Lonsway contacted Kirk Bowles (owner of Forest City Cycle Works), Ed Henderson (owner of Top End Cycle), and Jeff Wade (radio personality at WRSR 103.9) to see if they would be interested in participating.  They all agreed it was a great concept, an opportunity for Flint, and they would participate in the motorcycle show.

The City of Flint permitted the group to hold a motorcycle show on Saturday, October 6, 2007, which was approximately 3 weeks away. With only 3 weeks to plan the event, Bowles, Henderson, Lonsway, and Wade met with Tanya Lane (former employee of Flint Convention & Visitors Bureau), Hagler, John Benthal (former City of Burton Police Chief), and Charlie Schecter (former Flint Police Officer) to work out the details.  Bikes on the Bricks was a reality!

The first Bikes on the Bricks was held on Saturday, October 6, 2007.  Approximately 100 motorcycle diehards showed up that rainy, cold day. In addition to a motorcycle show, the idea grew to include a police skills competition.  Even though Bikes had a humble beginning, it is now a premier 3-day bike event in Flint, Michigan featuring bike shows, police skills competition, food and merchandise vendors, biker fashion show, special guests, and a police escorted ride – everything for the motorcycle enthusiast!

Bikes on the Bricks is proud to donate the proceeds from the police escorted ride to charitable organizations in Genesee County. In the past recipients included the Old Newsboys of Flint, Hurley Medical Center, Friends of the Flint Police, Young Marines, and St. Luke NEW Life Center.

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