What’s old is new
Florence picks up motorcycle event Cassoday dropped
Staff writer
Well on its way to once again becoming known as a motorcycle city, Florence now boasts a second recurring event.
It joins Florence Grand Prix, a Memorial Day weekend event that drew enthusiasts from all over the nation for six years before it disbanded. It was rebooted in 2022, and has since drawn hundreds of riders and enthusiasts.
The long-running Cassoday Bike Run, which ended in 2024 after more than 30 years, has been picked up by Christian Motorcyclists Association and Florence organizers.
Motorcycles lined three blocks of downtown Florence on Sunday for Florence Bike Run, replacing the Cassoday run.
Florence Community Impact president Andrew Weber said Florence Bike Run would be the first Sunday of each month March through November.
This month, motorcyclists gathered at a gazebo in Veterans Memorial Park and took off to ride, then returned to a shelter house across the street for a 10 a.m. prayer service.
Vendors set up booths to sell merchandise and services, and local eateries including the American Legion did booming business.
“I think as time goes on, in the next months, it’s going to grow,” Weber said. “It’s a learning curve for all of us. I’ve got a lot of community support behind me, and that helps.”
Weber said Christian Motorcyclists Association is talking about doing a Sturgis-type rally the same weekend as the Florence Grand Prix.
On Sunday, association member Kenneth Stringer gave words of welcome, an invocation and a sermon to motorcycle enthusiasts. He also invited them to join the association.
Riders showed up as early as 8 a.m., milled among vendors lining Main St., and visited with each other during a 10 a.m. break before mounting their machines and taking off to ride again.
The association also sponsors bike runs in Beaumont and Potwin, and Peabody’s Sunday Cruise.
Member Bob Warne of Bentley, who counted motorcyclists as they came to Florence, said 200 had arrived by 11 a.m.