Blue Knights hope for big numbers at Motorcycle and Car Show

Thibodaux Police Lt. Thomas Cope is in love with his Yamaha motorcycle. “I baby it a little too much and don’t ride it as much as I should,” he jokingly professed.

Cope expects to be in good company at the Blue Knights first-ever Motorcycle and Car Show, which is set to run Saturday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

The event will showcase a variety of antique, hot rod and classic cars, in addition to a plethora of motorcycles.

“They will range from your plain motorcycles to your Crotch Rockets, to your fully-dressed sport bikes and $100,000 choppers,” Cope explained.

The Blue Knights is an international organization of law enforcement officers who ride motorcycles that was founded in 1973. Since its inception, the fraternity has expanded across the nation and globe.

Cope is a member of the Blue Knights LA Chapter VI, which includes officers belonging to Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary’s law enforcement agencies, as well as the Louisiana State Police.

“We’re a nonprofit group,” he said. “When we collect money for something, we donate it. A couple of years ago we had an event that raised money, and we donated it to two juveniles who were in need of money because of medical problems.”

This year, the Blue Knights hope to raise money for the Child Advocacy Center.

“Our only goal is to do things right this year so we can learn from it, and do it again next year,” said Thibodaux Detective Donald Tomlin.

The organization’s Motorcycle and Car Show will include concessions, booths (selling auto and performance parts) and games for children.

Other activities are in the works.

“We’re going to try to get one of our old police cars and charge people to beat it with a sledge hammer,” Cope said. “We’ll have a DJ in the morning and a band in the afternoon. We’re trying to do a whole day that’s family-oriented.”

Tickets are $5 for attendees ages 12 and up and $2 for children ages 6 to 11. Children ages 5 and under and all emergency responders with proper ID will be admitted free.

Registration fees are $60 for inside set-up and $20 for outside set-up.

The Blue Knights are hoping to showcase several hundred cars and motorcycles.

“Southern Louisiana is becoming a motorcycle area,” Cope said. “Everyone seems to buy one now, whatever brand it may be. People are just really getting into it. I think the event will spark other people to buy one when they see ours.”

For more information about the Blue Knights or to register a vehicle, call Tomlin at (985) 790-4257.

The Blue Knights LA Chapter VI on a group run at Deals Gap, N.C.