Hot paint jobs, gleaming chrome and big V-twin engines are expected to draw big crowds to the 27th annual Freedom Riders Motorcycle Club Bike Show this weekend.

Bismarck's Ramkota Inn will again be the site of the motorcycle show, which will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Nearly 60 bikes will take part in the judged portion of the show, but there will be many more put on display by area vendors.

Damian Bean and Tim Kellar are co-chairmen of the show, which has been in the works since last year's ended.

"People don't realize how big a show this is, or how much time and work the Freedom Riders put into it," Kellar said. "We usually draw between 3,600 to 3,800 people over the weekend. We want to provide the best show you can find in the upper Midwest."

There will be 24 vendors participating with items ranging from jewelry and leathers to custom made motorcycles. Admission is $7 per person though children 12 and under get in free when accompanied by an admission paid adult.

Of special interest, particularly to University of North Dakota fans, is the "Sioux Bike" which was built by Bismarck's own Kustom Inc. and was recently raffled off by UND. The bike was built by Travis Feist and painted by Jason Doll of Doll Kustom FX. The bike will be on display along with a number of other Kustom Inc. motorcycles.

"This is a bike you just have to see," Kellar said. "They did a phenomenal job with it. If you like the kind of work that Orange County Choppers does, well, this is even better."

Bean, who has been chairman of the show for the past five years, notes that this year's event is being specially dedicated to the members of the armed services. A portion of the admission proceeds will be donated to the Disabled American Veterans organization.

Also new to this year's show will be an auction starting at 3 p.m. Saturday. A number of donated items will be put up for auction, and all the money collected will go to the DAV.

Bean and Kellar agree that it takes a team effort to put on an event of this size, and it extends far beyond the 43 members, all of whom will be helping in one way or another, to the entire community.

"We've got the vendors, our corporate sponsors, people from all over the community helping out," Bean said. "We're hoping with the rainy weather we're supposed to have people will have nothing better to do than come in and look at the bikes. It's not all Harleys; we've got all different types. Everybody is welcome. A lot of people think that because this is put on by a motorcycle club that it's only of interest to bikers. That's just not true. We've got a lot of different things for a lot of different people."

The Christian Motorcycle Association will again be a participant, providing entertainment for those youngsters who may not take as much interest in the motorcycles as the adults.

Judging will go on throughout the weekend, with the trophies given out on Sunday afternoon.

None of the five judges are members of the FRMC, but all have extensive background in motorcycles. Spectators also will be able to vote for their favorites with a People's Choice award also being handed out.

"While this is the Freedom Riders' 27th bike show, this year marks its 30th year as an organization," Kellar said. "The Freedom Riders were started in 1977 as a club. That's a long time for any group to be around. People don't realize all the contributions we've made to the community over those 30 years."

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)