Suffolk News-Herald

There’s still a chance you could ride away from the 26th annual Peanut Fest on a new 2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Thus far, the Suffolk Rotary Club, which is raffling off the bike during the next weekend’s festival, has sold approximately 1,000 tickets, said Rotarian Lynette Brugeman. Ticket sales are capped at 2,500.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from any club member this week. The remaining tickets will be sold at the festival over the weekend. A member of Restless Heart, the country-music group performing at Peanut Fest next Sunday, will draw the winner.

The motorcycle, which is being supplied by Bayside Harley, is a 100th anniversary custom model chromed out with a black tank and fenders, a two-piece tank emblem with gold cloisonn, anniversary seat logo, and 100-year engine covers. It also features a 21-inch laced front wheel, chrome slotted rear disc, custom handlebar riser, forward foot controls, drag bar, and a powerful 1200 cc Evolution(r) engine.

The bike will be displayed at SuffolkFirst Bank early this week and taken to Suffolk Executive Airport for the Suffolk Ruritan Club’s annual shrimp feast. It will be displayed at the festival site through the weekend.

The raffle is expected to add approximately $10,000 to the Suffolk Rotary Club’s charity fund, said Everett Birdsong, who is helping organize ticket sales. The club will turn 100 percent of the funds back to the community through its donations to other organizations, he said.

Proceeds from last year’s motorcycle raffle went to several organizations, including the Boy and Girl Scouts, Nansemond Suffolk Rescue Squad, Salvation Army, Suffolk Art League, Suffolk Cheer Fund, Suffolk Meals-on-Wheels, Suffolk United Way, Suffolk Youth Athletic Association, and two scholarships to graduating school seniors. &uot;We hope everyone will come out and buy a ticket to support the Rotary Club,&uot; Birdsong said. &uot;It all goes back to charitable agencies here in Suffolk.&uot;

Several of these agencies are in particular need of help since helping Hurricane Isabel victims, Birdsong added.