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Cotee River Bike Fest going strong

Andy Jones/TRIBUNE

Hundreds of motorcycles lined Main Street in downtown New Port Richey during Cotee River Bike Fest 2008. The 2009 edition will begin Friday, Oct. 9.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: October 2, 2009

Updated: 10/02/2009 11:46 am

NEW PORT RICHEY - Due to popular demand, next weekend's annual Cotee River Bike Fest will roar through town for an extra day to treat attendees to an array of tunes, hogs and more.

Friday night has been added to the typical Saturday-Sunday event because of requests from participants to expand the popular downtown festival, said Dan Sullivan, a member of the Cotee River Bike Fest Committee since its inception five years ago.

Along with bikes of all shapes, sizes and designs motoring around town, Bike Fest organizers have a full slate of shows and entertainment scheduled at all times.

Two stages - one at the Sims Park Amphitheater and the other on Grand Boulevard - will be set up for the event's 15 performing acts.

The Bobby Friss Band and distinguished blues guitarist Sean Chambers will be the two headliners, both playing Saturday night in Sims Park. The Jimmy Sparks Band, who played this year's Chasco Fiesta, will have top billing Friday night.

An extra day of festivities isn't the only new addition, though, Sullivan said. One such supplement is the Disc-Connected K-9's show that Sullivan learned about while traveling around to other similar bike shows around the state.

The performance centers on Frisbee dogs that were previously rescued and now show off their stuff leaping, flipping and catching discs.

Catering to comfort, there will also be a 60-by-40 foot tent located in Sims Park furnished with chairs and tables to provide shade from the heat that likely kept some visitors away last year, Sullivan said.

As for the metal-bound, piston-pumping guests of honor, riders will find plenty of activities to sate a ZZ572 big-block sized appetite.

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White and the Sheriff's Foundation is putting on its fourth annual 50-mile charity ride throughout west Pasco that benefits the PACE Center for Girls.

Brothers Powder Coating and the magazine Florida's Full Throttle will be sponsoring two shows, one for vintage bikes on Saturday and a ride-in show on Sunday.

It costs $15 to enter and trophies will be given to the top-rated bikes.

For more information, call 727-842-7651.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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