Members of the New Portland Fire Department water down the dirt roads at the New Portland Lion’s Club Fairgrounds last weekend for the 1,600 bikers coming to spend the weekend at the annual United Bikers of Maine Motorcycle rally. (Laura Dunham photo) NEW PORTLAND — More than 1,600 bikers made their way over the weekend to the New Portland Lion’s Club fairgrounds for their 24th annual United Bikers of Maine statewide gathering.

Mother Nature co-operated with bright sunny days and the members of the New Portland Fire Department did their part by spraying water on the dusty dirt roads leading into the fairgrounds.

There were small and large motor homes, campers, tents and sleeping bags all over the grounds.

Darrell Spears of Jefferson, President of the UBM, said that one of the main events Thursday night was the pig roast. The two roast pigs weighed in at over 110 pounds a piece and were served with all the fixings. The supper was followed by music by Matt and the Barnburners and was a big hit with all the bikers. Sponsored by the Franklin County Bikers of Maine, Tim Fournier, the director, said that the proceeds from the dinner go toward Christmas baskets for those in need in Franklin County. “We give out about 100 baskets, raising $3,500 for the food last year,” said Fournier.

Darrell Spears of Jefferson, president of the United Bikers of Maine, welcomes Tim Fournier, director of the Franklin County UBM, to the weekend rally at the New Portland Lion’s Club fairgrounds. (Laura Dunham photo) The UBM do their own policing said Spears, “We had over 1,600 bikers last year and only one incident, it’s very well managed.”

“On Friday, for the first time, we are having a mechanical bull from 2 to 6 p.m. and if that works out maybe longer,” said Spears.

During the day Saturday there were bike rodeos, a bike show, a tattoo contest and many more events.

Spears said that this year there were seven vendors that supplied food including the United Methodist Church from North Anson, who cooks the Sunday breakfast. “We didn’t have them last year and heard about it, too. Everyone wanted them back.”

There are also on hand about eight additional vendors with one of them a woman who travels from Florida all along the east coast in her camper fulltime selling patches and sewing them on if you want her to. “She’s a sweetheart,” said Spears.

Rose Woodard, the State UBM treasurer, commended the New Portland firemen for coming with their water tanker to keep the dust down on the dirt roads leading into and around the grounds.

Spears said “this is one of our big fundraising weekends along with the Annual Toy Run on Sept. 12. We will leave from the Augusta Civic Center and go to the Windsor Fairgrounds.

“It’s a sight to see, with some 15,000 bikers coming and 8,000 bikers traveling on the road taking part in the Toy Run from the bridge in Augusta to China. This will be our 29th year and is the biggest single event held in the State of Maine,” he said.

Spears said that they gathered there that weekend to promote bikers’ rights and to have a good family weekend.

Over $150,000 is raised by the UBM and given to charities throughout the year, he noted.

So, what did 1,600 motorcyclists land in Somerset County for the weekend do for the economy? Just ask the workers at Annie’s Market in Kingfield. Nickki Lovato, who works at the market, said “It was one of the busiest weekends all summer with so many bikers coming into the market for food, supplies and gas.”

At Tranten’s General Store, Carolyn Tranten, who worked Saturday and Sunday, said it “was very busy.” She saw lots of the bikers coming into the store for supplies. Tranten also praised the bikers for how very respectful they were while at the store.

Tammy Goldfrank at Longfellow’s Restaurant said there was not much of an increase in business there from the bikers but did praise their coming to the area in New Portland how much it helped the economy throughout Franklin and Somerset County.

“The weather was beautiful,” said Goldfrank, which she was sure drove the bikers to visit many areas while they were at the New Portland Fairgrounds —riding their bikes everywhere from Farmington to Rangeley and back to New Portland.