This April '08 will mark the 26th Annual Laughlin River Run. April is a crazy time of year for many motorcycle enthusiasts on the West Coast. This year the event will run from April 23-27 and continues to draw the biggest vendors and crowds, not just from California's West Coast, but from all over the country. The River Run is located on the Colorado River in the rugged desert of Laughlin, Nevada, which is about 90 miles south of Las Vegas. This gambling town lights up in neon at night and has over 10 top-notch casinos for you to try your luck at while at the Laughlin Bike Rally. Every year all the big-name companies, including Harley-Davidson, Drag Specialties, JIMS, S&S, PM, Vance and Hines, Victory, Arlen Ness, Saddleman, and Big Dog set up their rigs amongst some of the biggest names in the custom motorcycle industry, such as Covingtons Custom Cycles, Matt Hotch esigns, and Central Coast Cycles.
Every day will be packed with live entertainment from one end of the strip to the other with poker/slot tournaments, demo rides, bike shows, and parties. In the past live concerts from bands like Foreigner, The Marshall Tucker Band, REO Speed Wagon, Cheap Trick, and ZZ Top rocked the biker crowd. This year's River Run Concert Series features rock band Foreigner appearing at the Aquarius Outdoor Amphitheater along with Warrant. For show times and tickets, check www.laughlinriverrun.com.
On Saturday the 26th, all of the best bikes on the Colorado River will line the River Walk Exhibit area to claim the event's $2,500 Best in Show prize money. The hottest women in the desert will turn up the temperature by competing in the Miss Laughlin River Run and Miss Hawaiian Tropic Laughlin contests (ladies, you too can try your luck at it if you are hot).
If you want to get out for a ride, you need to head out over the river into Arizona out Highway 95 to the Avi casino for the "Run What You Brung" drag races. The casino closes down the back road for a 1/8-mile drag strip and like the sign says you can race your ride. It cost about ten bucks to sign up, then about two bucks more a race-not bad to go headto- head with a friend in a safe way and not get a ticket (well, at least not for racing). If that's not your thing, but a cool ol' ghost town is, then keep heading out on Highway 95 till you come to Silver Creek Road, then look for a small sign that says old Route 66 to Oatman and head east about 18 miles. Once you see wild burros and the Ghost Riders Gunfighters putting on a show every two hours, then you've found it, as if all the motorcycles aren't a big hint. It is a good idea to head out there early because it's a small town that can fill up fast. There is plenty to see with tons of food and drinks to be had. If more riding is what you are looking for, other nearby destinations to explore include Hoover Dam, Old Route 66, the Grand Canyon, and the London Bridge in nearby Lake Havasu City, Arizona.