BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Motorcycles roar down a spectator-packed C Street in Virginia City during the Thunder on the Comstock event on Saturday.
When it hits, it pounds against your chest.
You could feel the rattle through your ears and into your head, jolting every part of your face from your lips to your eyelashes. The exhaust pipes exploded in deafening rumbles as motorcycle after motorcycle paraded down C Street on Saturday.
More than 8,000 bikes were expected to line the streets of Virginia City for Thunder on the Comstock, the mining town's version of Street Vibrations, their owners swapping biking stories and admiring the other motorcycles.
"If you come up here, you have to do one of the poker runs," said Cecelia Bayne of Reno.
The most crowded gathering spot in the town on Saturday was the Union Brewery and its renowned Bloody Marys.
"They adore my Bloody Marys," said owner Jett Aguilar. "We've gone through seven cases of the big cans of tomato juice today. It's the Bad Ass Biker Hot Sauce that we use."
Aguilar said she expects about the same number of people coming into the city this year compared to past years and has little concern about the potential for problems with the increase in population.
"You will have bad seeds in every crowd, but 99.9 percent of them are here to just have a good time," Aguilar said.
The businesses in Virginia City have embraced the annual motorcycle rally and celebration.
"You can go into any store in town and they will have something associated with Harley. The businesses have realized that to afford a Harley as your second or third vehicle takes money. These guys have jobs," Aguilar said. "This event is kind of our last hurrah of the season."
Beau Ellison of Sparks said he made the journey specifically to see the area and get in a couple of the side runs.
"We did the Hells Angel's poker run this morning, that's one of the better ones they do with Street Vibrations," Ellison said.
Aguilar expects it to remain pretty crowded through Sunday evening.
"It's about the same as last year. It's several crazy days, great days, but crazy," Aguilar said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
Winners
• All Harley Competition Ride-in Show
Best of Show - Jerry Esticoco, Sacramento, Calif.
• First-place winners
Mild Custom - Augie Ruberto, Mountain View, Calif.
Sport Touring - Brian Rhodes, Ripon, Calif.
Radical Custom Chopper - Bill Crow, Oxnard, Calif.
Radical Custom Solid Mount - Jason Davis, Reno
Special Interest -- Jerry Langerman, Windsor, Calif.
Sportster - Michael Williams, Carson City
Antiques, Trikes, Sidecars - Tom Nelson, Sparks
• Ladies Only Competition Ride-in Show
Best of Show - Mart-K Reno, NV (The Chop Shop)
• First-place winners
Twin Cam - Chris Wilson, Hermiston, Ore.
Special Interest - Andria Wiltshire, Reno
Evolution - Sharon McDade, Reno
Dresser - Kym Richards, Antoich, Calif.
Custom Built - Donna Ocranza, Sonoma, Calif.
V-Rod - Krissy Hays, Greshham, Ore.