The Greene County Motorcycle Charity (GCMC) has told plans for the 8th annual Bell Tower Festival motorcycle events on Saturday, June 11, as it continues to grow in popularity, drawing participants from all corners of Iowa and near-by states. In addition to the traditional Poker Run and Cycle Show in Jefferson, the committee is excited to announce a second guided tour ride to Dexter, IA. All rides begin and end in Jefferson.
The inaugural event entitled the “Bonnie & Clyde Tour Ride,” will depart Jefferson at 9 am. The guided motorcycle tour ride to Dexter will include hearing “real story” about the biggest shootout in Dallas County history from local orator Rod Stanley. A short walking tour of the downtown area where Bonnie & Clyde bought food, clothes and medicine will be available. Opportunities will be available to visit the museum and the historical marker north of Dexter where the shootout took place. Participants will get a special edition T-shirt, limited edition coin and lunch at the Dexter Roundhouse.
The very successful “Bootlegger Tour Rye’d” to Templeton will return for a second year. The tour includes a guided walk-through of their production area, barrel warehouse, bottling line and tasting room led by Templeton Rye co-founder and master distiller Keith Kerkhoff and is limited to 60 participants.
Tour participants will also have the opportunity to sign up for the Templeton Rye Bootleggers Society, a community of Templeton Rye enthusiasts that allows members to stay in-the-know about anything and everything having to do with “The Good Stuff.”
After the Templeton facility tour, the group will visit Schoeppner Designs, crafters of barrel furniture made out of used Templeton Rye Whiskey barrels. Participants will get a special edition T-shirt, a Templeton Rye shot glass, limited edition coin and lunch at The Still Restaurant & Bar in downtown Templeton.
After departing from Templeton, riders will stop at Carroll Cycle Center for a scavenger hunt including Templeton Rye product and merchandise that will be placed throughout the store.
The final stop on both tour rides will be at Doc’s Stadium Bar & Grill in Jefferson. Participants will then return to the event location to draw a poker hand and get their special limited edition coins sponsored by Trophies Plus of Templeton. The cost per person for each guided tour ride is $40.
The annual Bell Tower Festival Poker Run will travel to the northwest in 2016, taking riders on a 119 mile journey with stops in Carroll, Auburn, Rockwell City, Lohrville, and Paton before returning to Jefferson. Registration can be done in advance online at www.btfcycle.info, as well as onsite Saturday, June 11, from 8 am to 12 pm. The entry fee will be $20 per participant, and will include a Poker Run T-shirt (while supplies last), raffle ticket and a poker hand. Additional T-shirts and Challenge Coins will be available for purchase as well.
Riders may leave any time after 8 am, with last bike out by noon. All riders must be back by 5 pm. Poker Run prizes of $250 (1st place), $125 (2nd place) and $75 (3rd place) will be awarded to the best hands drawn.
After returning, riders can take a break at the Bell Tower Festival beer garden for a cold beverage and draw their poker hand. Hy-Vee will host a beer and wine tasting event in the afternoon, along with a Templeton Rye bottle signing with co-founder Keith Kerkhoff. Beginning at 2 pm, participants can enjoy live music, as Salty View Acoustic Review from Fort Dodge will perform until 6 pm.
As always, a free motorcycle show will be included with the activities. Registration will be from 9 am to 1 pm, with the show starting at noon and ending at 4. Show classes will include Metric, Vintage (pre-1990’s), Peoples’ Choice, Trike, Custom, Bagger, and Late Model. Plaques are to be awarded to winners of each class when the judging concludes at 4 pm.
Additionally, plans are to have a Dyno on site provided by VanWall Powersports at a reduced rate of $30. The popular motorcycle table lift raffle tickets are available for a cost of $20 each or 3 for $50, while 150 tickets last. Other raffle items this year include tailgate benches and Adirondack biker chairs. An auction is planned in the beer garden at 6 pm featuring some Templeton Rye items.
Doc’s Stadium of Jefferson is the 2016 Challenge Coin sponsor and will provide special promotions for coin holders. Other valued sponsors this year include:
T-shirt sponsor – Scranton Manufacturing (New Way Trucks/McLaughlin International /New Way Ford) Gold sponsors – Carroll Cycle Center, Van Wall Powersports, 209 Main/Tool Bar, Dan’s Spicy Barbecue Sauce, Neese Inc., Hamilton Redi-Mix, Jefferson A&W, Pemble Digging & Drainage Service, Templeton Rye, and Trophies Plus, Fenders Cycle/Indian Motorcycle of Des Moines. Silver sponsors – Oly’s Corner, Hog House/Lucas Oil and Wild Rose Casino/Jefferson. Sponsors and vendors will also have the opportunity to display and sell their products onsite.
As always, proceeds for this year’s event will go to the Raccoon Valley Kiwanis Aktion Club of Jefferson. Last year the Aktion Club was the recipient of $2,000 and with motorcycle enthusiasts’ help, even more will be available in 2016. More information about the Bell Tower Festival Motorcycle events can be found at www.btfcycle.info along with registration for the guided tour rides and poker run.
