‘Kernville Kampout’ Brings the Party to Sleepy California Town

Over 1,000 riders bring the fun for a weekend of burned rubber and endless partying at event that’s already being called a ‘baby Sturgis.’

A gathering of like-minded, party-oriented motorcyclists–mostly Harley-Davidson riders–traveled to a sleepy little town near Bakersfield, California, to party it up at the fifth annual “Kernville Kampout,” which took place Oct. 4-6. According to biker bible RideApart, this relatively new biker event is quickly becoming a “baby Sturgis of the West Coast.” And we like the sound of that!

The three-day annual event is held at the Frandy Park Campground along the Kern River and sponsored by Temecula, California-based Biltwell, which sells custom motorcycle parts and accessories, with a focus on Harley-Davidson Sportster and Dyna models. The Kernville Kampout can best be described as a camping keg party that definitely is successful in drawing in those H-D Sportsters and Dynas. And according to RideApart, there was also a “heavy attendance from the chopper and club-style subcultures within the Harley community.”

Then again a big turnout should have been expected considering entrance tickets were only $50 each and included two nights of free booze, a campsite to pass out at, and all the rowdiness you can take. So, it’s also no wonder that this year’s event sold out quickly. Fortunately, RideApart‘s Dustin Wheelen was in the heart of the party and provides a great party report for the website.

“Like a baby Sturgis of the West Coast, the Kampout celebrated bikes, bravado, and booze in one of the most scenic locations in the country,” writes Wheelen, before going on to describe the daily debauchery that included an arm wrestling pit, where eager onlookers hooted and hollered at their favored contestant like a scene out of Sylvester Stallone’s Over The Top.

“The grunts of contenders joined the yells of the crowd as challengers fell,” recounts Wheelen. “A champion was eventually crowned, but there’s really no losers when there’s free booze, right?

In tune with the bellows of the arm-wrestling fanfare, bike owners across the campsite also revved their engines “call and response style” as the sun fell below the California horizon while bonfires sprung up across the campsite.

‘Like a baby Sturgis of the West Coast, the Kampout celebrated bikes, bravado, and booze in one of the most scenic locations in the country.’

“With only a few sightings of Triumphs, Yamaha Bolts, Ducati Scramblers, and one KTM 1090 Adventure R this year, it’s safe to assume that the roar of the v-twin reverberated through the canyons of Kern the entire weekend,” concludes Wheeler.

It’s a freewheeling, fun-loving, easy boozing crowd to be enjoyed at the Kernville Kampout. Clearly, the motorcycle community has created a party that sticks to its motto, “Ride Motorcycles, Have Fun.”

Check out RideApart‘s full coverage of the Kernville Kampout here.

Photos: RideApart

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Caitlin Shook

Raised around her family’s colorful imports and antique mechanic shop, and with a car museum as a classroom. Yes, really, she was homeschooled out of a car museum. She still has problems with fractions. Caitlin is most at home wandering alone in a car museum or popping a beer behind the desk of her father’s mechanic shop, Shook Enterprises.

With a constant flow of beloved antique and classic sports cars running through the family business, it’s no wonder the origin of her automobile passion.

In efforts of making Caitlin less of a troublemaking brat during her teenage years, her father found a 1976 Porsche 912e to absorb her time. She, with the expert supervision of Steve Shook and Sidney Arnold, began a total restoration. Engine overhaul, all mechanicals, EVERY DAMN THING.

After that, she would soon learn the mind-bending qualities of auto bodywork. Taking the 912e down to metal while branding herself with a heat gun multiple times. Plus, did you know airplane acid hurts like the dickens if you get it a piece of curled paint soaked in it stuck between your leg and your sock? It does. Once down to metal, it was clear the Porsche 912e had been applied Bondo by a Jackson Pollock admirer. Anyways, enough about the restoration.

Now she spends her time good spiritedly harassing mechanics at the family shop, drinking whatever beer is in the fridge, and creating informal YouTube videos on beloved cars to post on The Bad Blonde CARS + TRAVEL.

She hopes you like her work, and if you don’t, best you keep it to yourself.

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