Hundreds of people thronged Front Street yesterday for a glimpse of some of the island’s best bikes and cars as well as a series of fun events in the 2024 Scooter Mart Motor Fest.

The event featured a colourful display of drag bikes, customised cars, go karts, races, stunts and dancers as families, tourists and auto enthusiasts looked on.

David Cahill, the director of Bermuda Charge, which staged the Motor Fest, said the turnout was beyond what he had expected.

He said: “This has been really well supported; this is perhaps the best support we have had so far.”

He added: “This was a display of the community coming together to celebrate Bermuda’s authentic and unique motorcycle and car culture. It was really beautiful to see.”

“We’ve had a great time, packed full of various features. There was action all day.”

Mr Cahill said one of the highlights of the event was the “non-stop stunts, burnouts, wheelies and skill tests which went from midday until 4pm”.

Skilled bikers rode up and down a blocked-off section of Front Street as spectators looked on in awe.

Bob Guest, who is visiting Bermuda from England, was among those who witnessed the bikers in action.

He said he decided to take his mother, Tina, and his niece, Vivian, to the event, and according to him, they were all impressed.

He said: “It was lovely. It’s great being here. I came to Bermuda for a week. We missed Harbour Nights on Wednesday because it was cancelled but this is great. It makes up for it.”

Mr Guest said: “We plan to enjoy the afternoon and see the winners of all the other events.”

He said his nephew, Justin Cunningham, was among the winners of a powerboat race that ran earlier in the day.

As the afternoon progressed, an auction, a raffle and a slow motorcycle race took centre stage.

Organisers co-ordinated two races in the CG Insurance-sponsored slow race, each of which had two competitors vying to cross the finish line approximately 100 metres away from the starting line.

Eventually, Shawn Brangman, a first-time participant who raced with a scooter, crossed the line behind a woman competitor.

Mr Brangman said he felt elated after winning the $500 prize.

He said: “I really enjoyed it. To be honest I didn’t think I would have won because the lady on the other bike, she was really good because she won it last year.”

He added: “There were lots of things here, lots of opportunities for the public to come down and enjoy themselves in the community.

“It really was a good output for those who like to pop wheelies and do anything on bikes to come and show Bermuda their skills.”

During the afternoon activities, a classic BMW Z3 sports car was auctioned off in front of the crowd.

With a starting bid of $28,0000, the car was eventually driven away by a bidder who offered $30,000 for the vehicle.

The car, which was produced in 1998, drew admiration from spectators after the covers were pulled off it.

Prizes were handed out to winners of the Madhouse Motors Award and the People's Choice Award.

Through a raffle system, spectators were given an opportunity to choose their favourite bikes in the People’s Choice Awards category.

J. Shia, of Madhouse Motors, selected the bikes customised with the best in creativity for the Madhouse awards.

Meanwhile, Justin Lindo, the president of the Bermuda Karting Club, said he was surprised by the interest which parents showed in joining the club.

He said many parents who visited the organisation’s tent at the event signed their children to join.

He said: “The feedback we have had here is great. We had a lot of people coming and a lot of them are interested in our sport.

“Today was a big day for us. We came out and show what we are made of, all of our different classes, our cadet programme.”

He added: “This event helps us because it brings more and more people to us.”