NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Dan Sawyer returned home to Orlando after the extended weekend Biketoberfest motorcycle rally. He rode out of town on his 1998 Harley-Davidson Road King. And yes, he wore his helmet.
The annual four-day fall biker rally in Volusia County was smaller crowd-wise and bikers like Sawyer were conservative in their spending, even with gas being as cheap as it is.
With the sour economy and the looming recession, there were far less bikers this time around. If there was a real positive that came out of this special event that is supposed to boost the local economy, it's that there were no road fatalities.
>That's a far cry from the record 26 deaths in 2006 -- six during Biketoberfest and the rest during the February 10-day Bike Week. Bike Week draws some half million bikers while Biketoberfest attracts about 150,000.
These two motorcycle rallies, along with Speed Weeks with the Daytona 500, Spring Break and Black College Reunion, are supposed to be the economic stimulus that drives Volusia County's tourism, though with the exception of the Daytona 500 and Bike Week, the other special events have shown less drawing power.
Still, Sawyer, 45, enjoyed the Biketoberfest, saying goodbye to friends Sunday night at Pub 44, the main attraction for Southeast Volusia's contingent, along with the New Smyrna Beach Harley-Davidson dealership next door.
Sawyer stayed with family in a home on Bethune Beach. Even with the thinner crowd, Sawyer said he had a good time. "We had great weather," he said.
Asked if he wore his helmet, even though Florida law doesn't require it, he responded Sunday night. "All the time."
NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera King. Cutline: Dan Sawyer of Orlando stayed in Bethune Beach during Biketoberfest, which concluded Sunday.