Bikies doing good… in a bar?

Mayor Peter Blundell rides his Yamaha XVS 1300 through the bar. He resisted the urge to do a burnout. “Somebody yelled ‘Light it up’ and I said ‘I’d go through the back wall if I did that!’” 108052

By STEVE GRAY

BIKIE war, what bikie war?
While outlaw motorcycle gangs are allegedly on the run, organisers of the weekend’s ‘Bikes Thru a Bar’ charity event had nothing but praise for local police.
Thoughts that police action cracking down on bikie gangs might affect the event were quickly put to rest.
“Police had a very minimal effect on it, due to the fact the local inspector knows the difference between local riders and outlaw motorcyclists,” said organiser and president of the Ulysses Club in Warwick, Wayne ‘Angry’ Farrugia.
“We were treated like royalty,” said Mr Farrugia.
“The inspector himself was very, very positive about what we were doing.
“The Ulysses Club are known to be on the right side of the law.”
Southern Downs mayor Peter Blundell agreed, saying there’s been a lot of emphasis on the criminal activity of motorbike riders but bikers like the Ulysses Club do a lot for charity.
“It’s really important that people do recognise it’s not only the criminal activity – these guys do a lot of good in the community,” said Cr Blundell.
The mayor and a police officer were among those who rode their bikes through the bar.
Mr Farrugia said 500 people attended the event at Bony Mountain Recreation Reserve, and while the number of bikes was down slightly on last year, the event had been a great success – and a great party.
He said the 280 bikes through the bar was nowhere near the record of 1278 set five years ago, but only just behind last year’s 300 bikes.
Bikes Thru a Bar supports RACQ Careflight, Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland and the Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund.
The three charities will receive at least $1000 each.
One rider paid $250 at auction for the privilege of being first through the bar.
“The generosity of people out there was unbelievable, that’s for sure,” said Mr Farrugia.