Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Despite Record Breaking Heat Thousands Attended Hog Happenin'


Lincolnton, NC (June 10, 2008)-- This past weekend the streets of downtown Lincolnton came alive as the revving of motorcycles and the sweet aroma of smoked BBQ filled the air at the Toyota Tundra State Championship BBQ Cook-Off, Terrell Camping Center Bike Fest and the 8th Annual RE/MAX Crossroads Hog Happenin'. This year's Hog Happenin' was a huge success despite the record breaking heat, with approximately 8,000 people attending.

Attendees shopped at the various apparel and merchandise vendors set up along Main Street, participated in competitive food eating contests and enjoyed live music performed by local bands. Some lucky individuals even got to judge entries in the AnythingButt and Dessert Competitions held Friday night.

At the KCBS sanctioned BBQ cook-off event, 25 Professional Teams and 11 Tailgate Teams competed for the title of Grand Champion. The Cool Smoke team, led by Tuffy Stone, from Richmond, VA was named Professional Grand Champion of the event, taking home 1st place prizes in the Chicken, Pork, and Brisket categories, and 2nd place in the Pork Ribs category. This qualified the team for the Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbecue event held in Lynchburg, TN and free entry to Hog Happenin' 2009. Local team, The Hog Winders, led by Ned Dellinger from Vale, NC, took home the Tailgate Grand Champion winning 1st place in Ribs and 2nd place in the Brisket categories.

During the event bikers had the opportunity to compete in bike games such as a keg race, slow race and a burn out competition. The Christian Motorcycle Association, Ambassadors for Christ #539, organized a bike show with prizes awarded in the following divisions: Sport Bikes, Antique, Radical, Custom, Dresser, Cruiser, Best Overall/People's Choice and Best Of Show. Approximately 150 motorcyclists took part in a poker run with four stops at local bars and grills.

On the Special Events stage, the competitive eating contest consisted of pizza, wings, pies, doughnuts and chocolate ice cream in honor of National Chocolate Ice Cream Day. Event goers jammed out to The Thunder Brothers, Cattlertruck, Paris-Keeling, Chrome, and Madderdon't on the Budweiser Entertainment Stage, as well as ParisCountry on the American Roots Stage.

The City of Lincolnton, The Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton, Christian Motorcycle Association and Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors organized the event.

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