It gets their motor runnin'; Americade keeps 'em coming back | News

LAKE GEORGE - If motorcycles don't rev your engine, maybe you've never been to the Americade Motorcycle Touring rally.

They come from all over the country and all over the world, to see and be seen, on the two and three-wheeled machines. Upwards of 100-thousand motorcyclists.

A couple who was people-watching on Canada Street Thursday said they've motorcycled from Massachusetts each of the last 26 years and now at ages 75 and 81, they've already made reservations for next year.

It's not easy to keep what's billed as the "world's largest touring" rally fresh year after year. In fact, it's serious business making sure Americaders want to come back.

One of the attractions this year is Last Comic Standing Winner Alonzo Bodden, who was joking Thursday about the recent rainy weather. "That's the beauty of coming up here. Come up to Lake George for a nice motorcycle vacation; we'll bring the rain."

Bodden rides by day and entertains Americaders at night.

A recent study says Americade pumps 47-million dollars a year into the Lake George-area economy. It's been kick-starting the summer tourist season here for three decades.

"It's the first big event of the season. To make it happen, it's a partnership with the community. You have to put out the welcome welcome mat and be prepared and hire staff," said Christian Dutcher, general manager of Americade.

 Dutcher says business is good this year. He says manufacturers who'd missed a few years because of a lagging economy, have returned.

The 30th Americade concludes on Saturday.