Rainy Weather Impacts Motorcycle Event

After a week of rainy weather and a gloomy forecast for Saturday, attendance at this year’s Mountains, Music & Motorcycles was down drastically from recent years, but any substantial rain that fell downtown occurred primarily outside the event schedule. Thursday’s movie night at the drive-in was the only event impacted by rain.

Friday was partly cloudy as vendors set up and bikers started rolling in. Riders registered for various events and were encouraged to take advantage of one of the scenic, curvy routes suggested in the program. They also participated in two walk-about scavenger hunts in downtown businesses, with gift certificates as prizes.

Friday night music on the square featured a blues concert with the Arkansas Brothers. Stilt walkers and fire breathers from the Arkansas Circus Arts provided additional entertainment.

Saturday’s early morning rain cleared for another overcast day with only intermittent sprinkles downtown.

A car show was held at Centennial Bank, and the bike show was held on the courtsquare.

Biker games included the weenie bite and water balloon toss, both won by Mike and Melinda Walker of Perryville. A Texarkana biker won the slow ride.

Things heated up at 2 p.m. when eight individuals entered the hot pepper eating contest. Without eating or drinking anything else, they munched their way through eight different peppers, ranging from the mild Bird Beak pepper through the Jalapeno, Brazilian Starfish, Tobasco, Bellingrath Gardens, Fatali, Habanero and culminating with the world’s hottest, Carolina Reaper. Contestants gradually dropped out, with the Habanero round narrowing the field to three. Each of the final three successfully consumed pieces of the Carolina Reaper, and then a whole pepper, but it was down to two men after sampling a combination shot of three of the mid-range peppers.

Finally, his opponent conceded and Nathan Longeway of Heber Springs was declared the winner of the $100 prize and plaque.

See more in the Aug. 24, 2016 issue.