WILDWOOD — The rumblings heard in this city over the weekend won’t be caused by thunder.
The roar of hundreds of bikes will be heard throughout the Wildwoods, during the annual Roar to the Shore motorcycle rally.
Last year hundreds of bikers braved the effects of Hurricane Hanna and were able to raise over $13,000 for the local chapter of the United Way.
This year an estimated 100,000 bikes are expected during the Sept. 11-13 event.
In addition to the festive atmosphere and rows of bikes parked up and down nearly every street, the event’s official Roar to the Shore Web site boasts “organized rides, a slew of ven-dors” and contests, such as the “best biker babe.”
For some, the draw to buy motorcycle memorabilia is strong and many businesses are only too happy to receive the throngs of bikers, who were widely regarded as being “big spenders.”
Business owners, it seems, are more than willing to trade a little noise for an economic boost. Restaurants and bars hang banners welcoming the surge of black leather and chrome. Merchants on the boardwalk proudly display wares from motorcycle themed shirts, to leather jackets, to stuffed animals perched on Harleys.
A few tourists, some that haven’t even sat on a Harley, even travel to Wildwood just to be a spectator to all the leather, the red beer cups, the beads, the bikes and the noise out in full force.
There are some residents who say they have to break out the earplugs or keep their win-dows shut when the bikers are in town.
“The noise pollution is terrible,” said one resident who lives on New Jersey Avenue. “The residents finally get the town quiet from the summer season and then we have to deal with this.”
With the exception of those naysayers, organizers of the event have dubbed Wildwood as “biker friendly” and urge the participants to keep things “positive.”
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