Steve Whiteman wants redemption.

The last time the lead singer of KIX performed at the York Fairgrounds, it didn't go so well. An audience member fired random things from the crowd, and Whiteman was struck in the head with a ball bearing.

"I went down instantly," he said.

Whiteman will get his desired do-over when KIX takes the York Expo Center grandstand stage at 6 p.m. Thursday on the opening day of White Rose Thunder, a new local event that transforms York's Bike Night into Bike Week.

Tickets can be purchased at Expo Center gates for $15 the day of the concert, beginning at 9 a.m. Another $15 will admit guests to all other events of White Rose Thunder.

"We're always excited to come back to an area

that used to explode when we came into town," Whiteman said. "Central (Pennsylvania) is like a second home."

The popular '80s hair band from Hagerstown, Md., will play a few songs from each of its six albums before Vince Neil of Motley Crue takes the stage, he said.

KIX hits include "Don't Close Your Eyes," "Blow My Fuse," "Midnite Dynamite," "Cold Shower," "Atomic Bombs" and more.

The band played in Gettysburg in July, drawing a crowd of 15,000 people. White Rose Thunder organizer Jeff Rehmeyer expects the combination of KIX and Neil to fill the grandstand seats, which can accommodate about 10,000 concert-goers.

Held Thursday through Sunday, the four-day event is expected attract nearly 35,000 visitors who are predicted to spend $6 million in the county, according to Cara O'Donnell, marketing manager for the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Several events and attractions will be featured during White Rose Thunder, including a 2,000-motorcycle parade downtown on Friday, stunt shows, poker games, charity rides, 150 tattoo artists, 25 food vendors, car shows and the return of flat track racing, which was an annual event in York from 1959 through 1994.

"We're very excited," Rehmeyer said.

The excitement will continue to build, he said, as he and other organizers on Monday will start setting up the event at the fairgrounds.

"It's interesting to hear people talk about what they're looking forward to," Rehmeyer said. "People 55 and older remember flat track racing and look forward to that. Others are into the bikes and music."

Rehmeyer falls into the latter category.

"I grew up on hair bands. I will listen and automatically feel younger," he said.

 

SCHEDULE:

Thursday, Sept. 27

9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tattoo Expo

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Yamaha demonstration rides

9 a.m. to noon Poker Run sign-ups

3 p.m. Starboyz Bike Stunt Show

4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Flat Track Racer autograph session

6 p.m. KIX concert

8:30 p.m. Vince Neil of Motley Crue concert

 

Friday, Sept. 28

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tattoo Expo

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Yamaha demonstration rides

9 a.m. to noon Poker Run sign-ups

Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Starboyz Bike Stunt Show

Noon Trailer Park Cowboys concert

2 p.m. Biker Games

3 p.m. Revelators concert

6 p.m. to 10 p.m. York City Bike Night

 

Saturday, Sept. 29

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tattoo Expo

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Yamaha demonstration rides

9 a.m. to noon Poker Run sign-ups

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bike Show, and Corvette & Muscle Car Show

10:30 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Starboyz Bike Stunt Show

1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Biker Games

1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Flat Track Racing

2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Biker Billy cooks with fire

3:30 p.m. Burn Out Pit

4 p.m. Flat Track Racing--Dash for Cash

6 p.m. Mustang Sally concert

 

Sunday, Sept. 30

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tattoo Expo

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Yamaha demonstration rides

9 a.m. CMA church service

10 a.m. and noon Starboyz Bike Stunt Show

11 a.m. Charity Ride to benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Noon Corvette Concourse Run

-- Candy Woodall can also be reached at cwoodall@yorkdispatch.com.