Interviewer: So you like Bikers? Did you go one- when d-- well last year let's say- Speaker: Um, see I don't really like Bikers-Reunion. Interviewer: Why not? Speaker: It's too family-oriented (laughs)- Interviewer: (Laughs) Speaker: I-don't-know, it's just- I-don't-know it's not like- it's not teenager based. It's more at the older crowd and the younger crowd.

Speaker: Ah, I don't know if you're familiar with the Bikers Reunion or not. Interviewer: I hope you'll tell me about that. Speaker: (Laughs) Interviewer: Oh I'm sorry, do you- Speaker: Not doing too bad. Interviewer: Okay. Speaker: Time goes quick, eh?

Speaker: Well that- that worked out- except for my one son. Interviewer: Oh. Speaker: Ah, which he operates the New-Liskeard-Bikers-Reunion. Interviewer: Oh. Speaker: And his business is Picard-Signs. Interviewer: Yes! Speaker: Yeah. That's right.

Speaker: If there was a scratch on them we had to document it- tell Harley because y-- you got a scratch on the tank, you can't get it out, there's like fifteen-hundred dollars. So and then he says, "Well what about the Bikers-Reunion up in Liskeard this year?" He gives a bike every year to them, eh? Interviewer: Yes! Speaker: And- Interviewer 2: Mm-hm. Speaker: Yeah so, I said, "Well, we'll do it again this year." So my wife and I do that.

Speaker: I say, "We're smart, we buy- we bought bulk and ah, we were able to ah, buy off other dealers w-- what they couldn't sell and we sold it here." Interviewer: Yeah? Speaker: But we do that every year, the Bikers-Reunion. Interviewer 2: Mm-hm.

Speaker: I don't know what to say there's- there's nothing bad about this community. Nothing. People complain about this or about that and you-know, when you see the money they gather up for cancer and-that, like the Bikers-Reunion. Interviewer: Mm-hm. Speaker: What can you say? And that's only one little thing. everybody in their own way, is like that. You-know, if it isn't a Bikers-Reunion it's something else. You-know, it's just not one thing. Interviewer: There's always been a great sense of community here, eh? Speaker: The best.

Interviewer: So also being (inc) involved in the- a lot of the big events that have shaped the community. Speaker: Oh yeah, you-know you're always m-- yeah. 'Cause the radio station gets involved in all a-- Interviewer 2: Bikers? Speaker: Like the hundredth anniversary, the Bikers-Reunion all-that-stuff. Interviewer: Melanie-Ethier disappearance? Speaker: Oh that stuff, yeah yeah yeah yeah.

Interviewer: What do you say, arguably is like the biggest event to impact our community? Speaker: The biggest event, wow. Interviewer 2: (Laughs) Interviewer: (Laughs) Speaker: That's tough. Well I-guess the Bikers-Reunion, since it started I-mean it's- Interviewer 2: It's- Speaker: It's just amazing, I don't- that's- nothing's brought that many people in here- Interviewer: Mm-hm. Speaker: In one shot ever. Summerfest used to be huge.

Speaker: Summerfest used to be huge. Interviewer: Yeah. Speaker: You-know I used to go to all the- all the concerts and-stuff and- but no the Bikers-Reunion is amazing you-know? Interviewer 2: Mm-hm. Speaker: To see that tent over here, the huge tent and all acts that come in and-stuff-like-that yeah it's- yeah it's something.

Speaker: Ah, homecoming, well everybody has their home-coming. But tomorrow is what? Is it the Bikers-Reunion's July-first? Interviewer: Mm. Speaker: And that's tomorrow. Is it not in New-Liskeard? So that's a big draw. They have a lot of motorcycles. That's a very successful event. And I-think it's because more people have motorcycles.

Speaker: No, I didn't like it- well I guess so- and the rides. I remember the octopus, I almost got thrown out of that one year. Interviewer: (Laughs). Speaker: Um, yeah I went to the Fall-Fair and-stuff but I never really- and Summer-Fest and Bikers-Reunion and-stuff but, I-don't-know- life in New-Liskeard is- like growing up, I just got drunk- Interviewer: Did you? When did you- Speaker: There's nothing else to do.

Speaker: ... maybe you don't know them personally but you feel bad and you try and- the community tries to get together, try and do something that will help the co-- the family that is either mourning or whatever happens. Interviewer: Mm, that's interesting. Speaker: And I know even with the Bikers-Reunion that we have every year. Interviewer: Yeah. Speaker: There's tons of volunteers and we all have fun with it and there's lots of people who like the banner boys, they- they're doing this like year-round and they're getting banners ready and setting them up ...

Speaker: ... one of the Pillens passed away because of cancer and one of the big things for him was he loved motorcycling. Interviewer: Oh yeah? Speaker: So they decided that they're going to make this big Bikers-Reunion just so they can support his memory and bring all this money together to fight cancer and all kinds of stuff and I know there's people who come like overseas to be able to come to this reunion and there's lots of fun and fireworks usually.

Speaker: I think Kirk-- like I don't know other than Kirkland but I think Kirkland is pretty unique. Interviewer: Yeah. Speaker: I get a sense that like you all- no, you'll hear like they- no I shouldn't say that because New-Liskeard has a Bikers Reunion that is very popular. It's a fund-raiser for cancer, they make a lot of money. They raise a lot.

Speaker: And ah I was talking to one of the fellows and I said, "Where are you going next?" And he said, "Well I-don't-know, there's some talk about a a biker's group that go way way way up north." Interviewer: (Laughs) Speaker: "Oh!" I said, "Do you mean the Bikers-Reunion at- at- in New-Liskeard?" "That's the one!" Interviewer: (Laughs) Speaker: So yeah. Mm-hm. It's well-known and- and everybody supports it. Everybody.

Speaker: It was- it was just- it was a wonderful wonderful um ah combined project for everybody here. And Kirkland-Lake like all the areas around had their input too. So it was ah- Interviewer: Would you say the same for the Fall-Fair and the Bikers-Reunion? Speaker: Bikers-Reunion was wonderful. Yeah.

Speaker: You're in luck; I could take you for a ride. Interviewer: (Laughs) Interviewer 2: (Laughs) Interviewer: So I- that means that Bikers'- you must really enjoy Bikers-Reunion. Speaker: Yeah, I enjoy Bikers-Reunion. Yeah and ah, I enjoy riding the bike. Yesterday um, as far as riding the bike is concerned, I've been on some pretty big trips.

Speaker: So your Bikers-Reunion in New-Liskeard has five, six, eight-thousand bikes. Interviewer: Mm-hm. Speaker: The biker party in Sturgis has over seven-hundred-thousand bikes. Interviewer 2: Oh my God. Interviewer: No. Speaker: And it's the same size town, so.

I- I-think that the Bikers-Reunion will be a success, not just because of the people that work at it and it's a good idea and it's a great place, but you-know it's a good day's ride from just about anywhere in the province.

The I-P-M was quite large, like the biggest thing here, other than Bikers-Reunion, I'm sure you've seen the signs.