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As White Rose Thunder wrapped up, organizers were left wishing the weather had been better for the first-year event aimed at motorcycle enthusiasts.
"The first year out of the chutes, it is a little tough; people have to find out about it," said Larry Racey, event coordinator.
Total attendance for the first three days was about 15,000, but Racey and the other organizers had hoped for at least 20,000.
Their numbers were not that far off, but heavy rains on Thursday really affected attendance, he said.
"We were happy with the turnout, and we'll be back next year with some minor adjustments," Racey said.
The KIX and Vince Neil of Motley Crue concerts on opening night were well attended and Racey said organizers plan to include concerts again.
They will add a multi-day pass so that event-goers can pay a flat rate to attend the event on all of the days it is held.
Whether the event will be a four-day event again or cut down to only three days is still to be determined, Racey said. If it would begin on a Thursday again, it would start later in the day instead of at 9 a.m.
Vendors filled the York Expo Center and fairgrounds all four days, and a tattoo expo featured 30 different booths where people could get tattoos and piercings.
Shawn Saylor of Marked 4 Life, a custom tattoo shop at 2375 Eastern Boulevard, attends about 30 tattoo and piercing shows a year and sees a lot of potential for White Rose Thunder.
Saylor did piercings for about 40 people at the event, with Saturday being the busiest day.
Yamaha demonstration rides were available for anyone with a motorcycle license.
"This has good potential as an event because it's a good market," said Kim Knupp, national events manager with Yamaha Motor Corp. USA.
With a full range of sport bikes and cruisers to choose from, Knupp said the sport bikes seemed to be a hit among the many cruiser riders who stopped by and wanted to mix it up. Flat track racing on Saturday night drew the largest crowd, Racey said.
The inaugural All Star National Flat Track Series was held in memory of Randy Texter, the 1990 AMA Twin Sports Champion who ran the Lancaster Harley-Davidson dealership.
Texter's son, Cory Texter of Lancaster, placed first in the Expert Singles race on Saturday.
The races had 151 participants, which was the second-largest total that the race's promoter, Steve Nace Racing Promotions, has ever had.
On Sunday morning about 55 bikers participated in a charity ride to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
"It was a nice ride," said John McGeary, 45, of Bloomsburg, who participated with three other friends. "Most of the participants were law enforcement officers."
The 40 mile ride went through East Berlin and Hanover before returning to York via Route 30.
- Reach Chelsea Shank at 505-5432 or cshank@yorkdispatch.com
