For the past two years, Tiffany Munoz has been riding motorcycles to escape daily stress and enjoy the camaraderie shared by bike enthusiasts.

The Shell Beach resident typically spends time on her boyfriend's 2006 purple Harley Davidson, a bike that brings the gift of freedom.

“There's nothing like it in the world, when you just get away from everything,” Munoz said.

Additionally, Munoz said she's able to experience being a woman in a male-dominated hobby, and that's something she's proud of.

“It's just fabulous. A lot of old-schoolers think I should be riding on the back of a bike, but I love riding by myself,” she said.

Munoz was one of thousands who attended the Motorcycle Madness event at the Santa Maria Fairpark Saturday, which featured bikes, vendors and stunt riders.

As the majority of people rode into the event, they parked their bikes on the fairpark's grass lawns, creating a glittering motorcycle showcase for people to view and admire.

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For Ventura resident John Savarese, attending these shows is a great opportunity to meet friends and other professionals who view motorcycles as an entertaining hobby. Since buying his 1996 Yamaha Royal Star five years ago, he's put 115,000 miles on the bike.

“It's a spiritual release to leave everything at home and ride,” said Savarese, who's in the real estate business and is known for showing houses on his motorcycle.

Those attending weren't just hobbyists.

A huge metal globe stood in the center of the park, and two stunt men rode their motorcycles inside and over the head of their friend.

Richard Hardesty of the Jesus Christ & US Ministries is friends with the stunt riders, and said he's not scared risking his life inside the “Globe of Death.”

“I have no problem going in there, because if something happened, it's what God wanted,” Hardesty said. “I find when I go in there the audience gets really into it.”

Hundreds of vendors also lined the outside of the fairpark, offering people anything from parts to motorcycle patches.

Events such as this weekend's motorcycle show have raised the ire of neighbors and the fairpark in the past because of what some people have said is excessive noise. In 2004, several neighbors near the fairgrounds on West Stowell Road organized an unofficial group called the Fair Neighbors Association.

The show, organized by Santa Ynez-based Horsepower Promotions, continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the fairpark.

Randi Block can be reached at 347-4580 or rblock@santamaria

times.com.

May 21, 2006