Made in Austria:
The European Bike Week is rocking Faak for the 20th time
• The largest European Bike Week of all time: around 125,000 visitors
• Specially traveled to the European Bike Week: Karen Davidson
• All new 2018 Softail models in the Expo tent
• Flat track race on converted Street Rod 750
• 25 bands at the Open Air stage, including Black Stone Cherry, The Picturebooks and Danko Jones
• Over 70 bikes in the custom bike show
• More than 10,000 machines in the big parade
Around 125,000 visitors and more than 70,000 motorcycles ensured that things went well in Carinthia, Austria's southernmost federal state, for the 20th time in the first full week of September. United by their shared passion for Harley-Davidson , a wide variety of people from all over the world made a pilgrimage to Faak am See to experience European Bike Week
The festival, which traditionally forms the highlight and conclusion of the season with free admission, has long been considered Europe's largest motorcycle rally. One of the visitors who traveled the furthest was Karen Davidson . The great-granddaughter of one of the founders of Harley-Davidson Milwaukee to Austria specifically to experience “Faak”
There was a lot on offer for her and the other guests, as the organizers had come up with a number of highlights to mark the big “Bike Week” anniversary. Flat track races took place on a specially prepared area , in which 20 international journalists competed against each other.
On September 5th and 6th, they were allowed to drift to their heart's content over the loose surface of the racing oval on Street Rod 750 models, in which, among other things, the handlebars, seat, tank, exhaust, wheels and tires were modified - under the expert guidance of the international successful flat track champion Marco Belli.
Time and time again, the spectators were thrilled when the bikes took the curves incredibly close together in a wild slide. The winner was the Italian Elia Sammartin from Riders magazine. The Spaniard Ferran Mas (Solo Moto) and the Japanese freelancer Daigoro Suzuki took second and third place. Ferran Mas was rewarded handsomely for the fastest lap: he was allowed to take his bike home with him.
Not far from the flat track route, the heart of the event beat again: In the 40,000 m2 Harley Village, 22 Harley-Davidson dealers from five countries, around 100 independent traders and around 30 caterers presented an unbeatable offer for shopping, marveling and feasting.
The 2018 Harley models were on display in the Expo tent for the first time in Europe - especially the brand new Softail family. Of course you weren't just allowed to test sit, you could also test drive! Around 1,200 guests took the opportunity to enjoy the feeling of riding a 2018 Harley-Davidson before the rest of the world.
Jeep, the official partner of Harley-Davidson, also presented its off-roaders in the Harley Village. As part of the Test Drive and Off-Road Experience, visitors were able to get behind the wheel of a four-wheel drive vehicle to personally experience the qualities of the vehicles. After the test drive, everyone met in the Jeep Lounge at the merchandise stand, the presentation of the new Jeep Compass or at the barber, who trimmed their hair and beard.
Anyone who wasn't exactly enjoying the good mood in the village could have fun on their own or with the four guided tours in the winding curves of the Alpine surroundings. In the evening, 25 performers rocked the large open-air stage and the two festival tents, including the celebrated bands The Picturebooks, Black Stone Cherry and Danko Jones.
On Friday, over 70 of the most beautiful conversions the event had to offer competed in the custom bike show. Nedal Amin from Kuwait won the title “Best of Show”, along with a valuable brass trophy from 2Saints, Paris. The event will be etched in his memory forever, and Ana “Mamana” Ivancic will feel no different.
She took part in the story competition on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the European Bike Week and was rewarded for the most beautiful event story with a Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight, which was customized especially for the event. Peter Van De Luijster was happy about another Forty-Eight - he won the machine in the big annual raffle, in which 6,000 free, numbered bracelets served as tickets.
During the big parade on Saturday, around 10,000 bikes set off on a massive parade around Lake Ossiach. “Flying Bulls” gave the guests another feast for the eyes and ears : pilot Stefan Doblhammer presented fascinating aerial acrobatics Alpha Jet And on the last night, a spectacular fireworks display lit up the sky above the lake - a gift from the Motor Company to all fans.
Snowshoes and skis will soon be popular in Faak, but mopeds will also be back. Most certainly. However, it takes a year: the European Bike Week 2018 September 4th to 9th . So we'll see you again in Faak and until then you'll enjoy lots of nice event impressions
hoeuropegallery.com.