Ray Price Capital City Bikefest gears up for 2017

Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, will rev into action once again Sept. 22-24, during the 13th annual Ray Price Capital City Bikefest, presented by GEICO Motorcycle. Held both outdoors on Fayetteville Street and indoors at the Raleigh Convention Center, the festival features a custom bike show competition that attracts motorcycle builders from across the nation. The free event also features live music, a tattoo festival for charity as well as stunt shows and action sports exhibitions. New to Bikefest this year: the Rumble in Raleigh Classic Car Show, plus the original extreme daredevil show, the Wall of Death.

“Top custom builders from across the country come to Raleigh to showcase their radical motorcycles,” said Mark Hendrix, general manager of Ray Price, Inc., the festival organizer. “Combined with the classic car show, 28 bands, and all the other free activities, we believe it makes for a fun weekend for families, bikers and non-riders alike. We honor our founder Ray Price by introducing people to motorcycling and spreading his passion for the sport.”

On Sept. 23-24, some of the country’s most exotic motorcycles will be showcased in Raleigh. Builders and hobbyists nation-wide have been invited for an annual competition sanctioned by the International Master Bike Builders Association. See radical designs in vintage and modern motorcycle fabrication, paint and engineering from the country’s top builders who vie for $15,000 in prizes. Free and open to the public.

Attendees can support Houston residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey by donating food, supplies and money at the unveiling of the Bedlam Bike. This custom motorcycle has been designed for the show in a partnership between Bedlam Vodka creators Graybeard Distillery and Ray Price. Both companies will match all donations.

Attendees can update their body art for a good cause. The 6th annual Raleigh Tattoo Festival, sponsored by 401 Tattoos & Warlock’s Tattoos, brings together more than 30 tattoo artists under one roof in the Raleigh Convention Center at Bikefest. Last year nearly $10,000 was raised for the USO of N.C., and U.S. Veterans Corps.

In addition to the two-wheel artistry on display, the national Road Devils Car Club will host its Rumble in Raleigh both indoors and outside, featuring pre-1965 hot rods, gassers, cruisers and low-riders. Free and open to the public.

Bikefest’s live music lineup stands out for its variety. Regional and national bands play R&B, soul, funk, southern rock, bluegrass, honky-tonk punk, eclectic reggae, metal and traditional country. All shows are free on three stages: City Plaza, Fayetteville Street at the capitol, and the Ray Price dealership. Musicians of note: 15 year-old Brooke Hatala, who’s fresh off her opening slot with Willie Nelson; 16 year-old Caroline Dare; The Wells Family; and Nantucket, among a wide variety of bands.

New this year is the original extreme daredevil show, the Wall of Death. Other indoor and outdoor thrill shows include: motocross, BMX and motorcycle stunt shows and drift trike exhibitions. Plus, 10-time women’s land speed record-holder Jody Perewitz appears with her 200+ mph motorcycle, the world’s fastest.

Ray Price Capital City Bikefest has an estimated economic impact of more than $5 million, verified by Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau.