Motorcycles roar into Forks for Rainforest Run
By Tom Callis, Peninsula Daily News
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The weekend-long festival at Tillicum Park ends today with an awards ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Elks Lodge in Forks, followed by a motorcycle ride through the Hoh Rainforest.
Organizers Bob Wishon, Jeff Wishon and Dan Roth, all of Forks, had hoped to see between 3,000 and 9,000 people.
That didn't happen, but the three plan to bring the festival back next year, and promise that it will be "bigger and better."
"This was a learning experience, but it wasn't a shim-sham event," Jeff Wishon said.
"We already got ideas for improvements for next year."
Jeff Wishon said the festival was family-friendly with entertainment — including live music and movie showings — for people of all ages.
"We have lots of kids, moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas," he said.
"I think we hit the mark on that."
The festival's main events were a poker run through Clallam Bay, Sekiu, Neah Bay and Forks on Saturday, and a motorcycle ride through the Hoh Rainforest scheduled for today.
Though neither are considered a race, prizes are given for the riders with the high- and low-hand in the poker run.
Jeff Wishon said the poker run consisted of five checkpoints, where the riders pick up playing cards.
Their hands at the end of the race determined if they received prizes.
Hard luck story
A raffle consisting of goods from some of the vendors will be split between the raffle winner and the person with the best "hard-luck story."
The person who had the most trouble getting to the festival wins the hard-luck story award, Jeff Wishon said.
He said the organizers wanted to put on a festival that allowed participants to move at their own pace.
"The name of our company is Don't Tell Me What To Do Promotions," he said.
"We didn't want to tell anyone what to do."
Jeff Wishon said the festival was organized over more than six months with the help of the city of Forks.
The city handled traffic control and assisted vendors.
About 43 vendors, both local and from out of town, were at the festival, Pat Soderland, city events coordinator, said
Many of the out-of-town vendors attend motorcycle rallies around the country, she said, and were eager to see how the festival was going to turn out.
"I've only heard positive feedback" from the vendors and festival attendees, she said.
"I hope they all come back next year, and they've seen what a friendly, helpful town we are."
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or by e-mail at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: August 16. 2008 9:00PM