ADAMS -- Local motorcycle riders are gearing up for this year's 31st annual Fall Run, scheduled to take off from Bowe Field on Sunday, at 11 a.m.
Michael Robert, owner of Custom City Cycle and one of the event's organizers, said a "couple hundred" have already signed up at the Pleasant Street shop, with riders coming in all day Tuesday and Wednesday.
Since 1989, all proceeds from the charitable motorcycle ride -- given by riders who determine the amount of their own donations -- have gone to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield.
Last year's ride has helped the total amount donated over the years reach $456,374, or less than $50,000 away from ride organizers' goal of $500,000.
On Wednesday, Robert said the event averages between 1,200 and 1,300 motorcycles, with some years reaching as high as more than 2,000 bikes with 3,000 riders. Other years, when the weather wasn't quite ideal, have seen just 200 riders.
Robert hopes this year to raise over $20,000, which would make it consistent with prior runs.
"Even with the economy as it is, it's been running $20,000 to $25,000 each year," Robert said.
The ride -- a roughly 70-mile trek -- takes participants up Route 116 and through Savoy and over Route 8A, then onto Route 9, Route 112 and finally Route 2 through Charlemont and to the Mohawk Trail. The caravan also stops at Mohawk Park Campground on Route 2 in Charlemont.
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Robert would also like to pull a bigger crowd at this year's Bike Night, the Fall Run's preamble event scheduled for Saturday, from 6 to 9 p.m., on Park Street.
"We started doing the bike show on the 25th anniversary of the Fall Run, and it's been going ever since," Robert said. "We'll have preregistration for the run, a big Chinese auction, a custom bike show and a couple of bands."
The two bands playing the event are Johnny's Ghost and The Walling Road Gang. Food will be provided by Adams Lions Club and Berkshire Freemasons.
"It's not exactly the Orange County Choppers, but you'll see some nice bikes, local people's customized bikes and some vintage bikes," Robert said.
To reach Phil Demers, email pdemers@thetranscript.com.
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