Rally Planning to Ride Out the Storm

The sixth annual Wharf Rat Rally is still on in Digby through next Monday and organizers have “decided to cancel hurri­cane Earl instead," says a post on the popular motorcycle rally’s Facebook site. “People keep asking the question and I say, ‘Please remember that we’re in At­lantic Canada and anything’s possible,’ " rally chairman Glenn Dunn said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

“They’re calling because the storm has been sensationalized. Again I say, ‘Yeah, OK, so every year we get a little rain, so take a Valium.’ Bikers are used to riding in the rain and they carry rain suits."

Organizers have secured the local arena to store thousands of motorcycles if Earl hits Digby.

“But quite honestly, I don’t anticipate a problem," Dunn said. “We’re expecting between 25,000 and 30,000 motorcycles.

We’ll be pushing 100,000 people as well."

Based on grid counts done by hel­icopter, an estimated 80,000 attended last year’s Wharf Rat Rally on the Digby waterfront.

“A lot of people aren’t aware just how big this rally is," Dunn said, noting that bikers come from all across Canada and the United States and from elsewhere.

“This is billed as the largest in Atlantic Canada and we’re poised to be the larg­est in Canada this year. It’s a fantastic thing for the area. . . . It’s all of western Nova Scotia and literally it’s all of Nova Scotia that benefits. (Hotel) rooms are booked a year in advance."

Up to 125 people have come forward to volunteer at the motorcycle rally, which began Wednesday and includes water sports, aerial acrobatics, a comedian, demonstration rides and vendors.

With thousands of visitors expected to come to Digby for the rally, the RCMP will be adding traffic enforcement pa­trols, notably in the area around the Bear River Bridge.

“Delays will be inevitable and there will be zero tolerance for violators caught speeding," the RCMP said in a news release.

Officers will also be looking for any­one not wearing a seatbelt.

“Night patrols have been beefed up with a focus on impaired driving," the release said.

Police have had few problems related to the rally in past years.

“We’ve got additional resources work­ing from neighbouring detachments to assist with the increased presence," said Cpl. Victor Whalen of Digby RCMP. “And of course, with the influx of people comes additional traffic concerns."

As for the possible hurricane, the RCMP will follow the lead of the pro­vincial Emergency Management Office and other agencies.

“And hopefully Earl will decide to go farther out to sea," Whalen said.

Story by SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY

The Halifax Chronicle Herald

Thu, Sep 2, 2010