Thunder By the Bay revs up for 15th year

You are so very wrong. "Certain people, lining their pockets, misfits, etc." You are the misfit, Lucy is one of the hardest working women in the area. She makes this happen for the children. Check the numbers over the last 10 years. It is a great weekend with fun for all. Well, except for you.......I live on Palm Avenue and have a 45 year old Triumph I will enter in the antique category. I am the proud original owner It has been an award winner in the show. Come on down and join the fun. Or, continue to snivel about YOUR opinion and not the reality.

This event will lead to nothing but problems
Crowded streets,drunken brawls,scantily clad women,loud music,and trash all over.
What time does it start.

The only private businesses making money off of this are the vendors that pay for booth space and downtown merchants who will benefit from money spent in their stores, bars and restaurants by the thousands of people visiting the event. Money spent at the bars run by the event on the street benefit the charity and help pay the huge expenses for police, bands, stages, permit fees, cleanup, etc. Between this event and their boat race event in July, I don't think any other event can claim as much economic benefit to Sarasota as the Suncoast Charities for Children's events bring. Tourists actually come to Sarasota for this as opposed to events that tourists that were here anyway come to between January and April.

While it's great to raise money for worthy causes such as needy children, it's quite possible to do this with quiet motorcycles. In fact, most Americans, who donate to charities, manage to do this by simply making their donation online or mailing a check. They don't typically remove their car's muffler and roar around to bring attention to themselves. Most motorcycles made after 1982 must have an EPA noise compliant exhaust with a clearly visible label embossed into the muffler certifying such. It's illegal under federal law to replace the noise compliant exhaust with one that isn't compliant, or to tamper with the legal muffler to make more noise. California has adopted the federal law beginning this year and Florida and other states would do well to also adopt and enforce the law. There's more information about this on the MECALM Facebook page.

Kickoff Party tonight (Friday) is 7pm not 6:30.

After listening to all sides in this debate ,I must say that I agree that this event must never occur again.
I see the evil in people when they do things in the name of charity just so they can make a profit.

BORN AND RAISED IN SARASOTA ......YOU OLD SHOE.......NOW GO DROWN.

First let me say this is the 15th year for this event...it has grown to be a major motorcycle event for Fla. IT has been going on since before most of you condo kings even lived here. Lucy is a personal friend of mine and I see first hand what she goes through each year to make this and Off Shore Grand Prix work...whe only gets a salary , nothing more...and that salary is a fraction to what most people think she makes..YES the charity makes the money and over the years alot has been raised. If it was up to most of you Condo Snobs..Main st would be your personal domain. IT belongs to the people of sarasota who are entitled to have nightlife, recreation and special events. As far as the negativity of this event..there hasnt been one brawl or major law broken in its history..And as far as the appearence of the people in attendance...you should look close, most of them are the same people who show up at your Art/Opera/Symphony or any other high class sophisticated snobbish event you blue bloods flock too...If you dont like nightlife, music and recreation..go move to that cemetary across the bridge...LONGBOAT KEY

Bob, lighten up on the cemetary. I get a nice pension check from those folks each month.
To everyone else, Bob is correct. This is one of the best organized events in Sarasota and Lucy Nicandri is one of the most selfless people I know. Having been involved in much smaller motorcycle event in Sarasota for many years, I can attest to the amount of work this takes. Yes, Lucy makes a salary but if you factored it as an hourly wage for the time she puts in to her job, she is making less that minimum wage per hour. I also know the people involved and to accuse the organizers of this event of greed and being self serving is insulting. Keep posting and give us all confirmation of how out of touch with reality you are.
Say no to fun, say no to Walmart replacing a vacant building.......no, no. no. Here's a thought, pack your bags and move the The Villages and live in quiet isolation. Drive your little golf cart to the store and live out the rest of your miserable, hate everything life, in a boring little bubble.
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There are many more of us who call Sarasota home who appreciate what Sarasota has to offer, especially world class events like the Offshore Gran Prix and Thunder By The Bay. The Thunder By The Bay draws people from all demographics together to raise money for our most valuable asset, children.

Lucy, you ROCK!

Eliminate all pensions

Why can't we all just get along? There seems to be a lot of mean words being thrown back and forth on this page. I have lived here for longer than 15 years. Yet, this is the first I have ever heard of this 'Biker Fest.' I only found out about after going to three separate websites in order to figure out why I saw tents up this evening. For those who commented they don't like the event. Don't go. I personally do not like the Sarasota County fair at Robards that occurs every year. I also do not care for the crowd it draws. So, I do not go. Also, I do not go online and disparage those who attend. The same applies to those who do attend. Be nice, people. Stop judging one another & talking mean to one another. Everyone mentioned the financial impact these events have on our city. This is a public website which means anyone in the world has access to it. None of the rudeness displayed here, in the above comments, paints our beautiful city in a positive light to outsiders. Let's face the reality. Our city & state needs tourists' money. It is our biggest source of revenue. Be glad for every opportunity that brings people here. Be thankful for the amount donated to charity, no matter how much or how little.

HEY FERN IF YOUR LIP SCHLITZ THAN MY ARS$ TALKS

Generally I'm dead set against these Rolling Wet-Fart events,-- they bolster the belief of degenerate Harley owners everywhere that they should be welcome anywhere, regardless of their obnoxious, disruptive, vile presence,-- like National Parks or anyplace people might enjoy themselves, even downtown.
Let these affluent white pigs enjoy themselves in Sarasota once a year, but then get the heck out of here.

I just read the comments regarding Thunder By the Bay event.
It seems that the intention of this event is very positive one overall.

And the comments are mean spirited and seem to be based on some fears and prejudice
against the stero typed "biker" image.

Just know that it is your own stuff that blinds you from seeing the positive results,
charity and some merchants see a profit during the event.

Can't you find the positive in this?

Its over so you can relax again.