Bike Week Founder’s Legacy Carries On
A well-known local Harley-Davidson dealership owner may be gone now, but his legacy endures at Bike Week. The annual festival Bruce Rossmeyer founded draws tens of thousands of bikers and bike enthusiasts to Daytona Beach. Family members have taken on the task of running the family business, and they are taking the helm of organizing and promoting the Bike Week event and showcasing the family’s dealerships, Destination Daytona.
The Rossmeyers decided to continue to use their father’s name and image on local billboards promoting the event as a lasting tribute to the man who built his business with a hands-on approach and invested so much of himself in creating the Bike Week event. The current recession has taken a toll on disposable income that drove motorcycle sales and popularity over the last several years. However, the family has seen these cycles come and go over many years of being in business and remains optimistic.
Each of the Bruce’s five children, at least one spouse and his former business partners are still active in managing the businesses. All of the children are directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the businesses, and one sibling said that they all pitch in as their schedules allow. One daughter directly involved in managing the businesses said that although some of the family’s dealerships are for sale, they plan to focus on growing and improving many of their businesses in and around Daytona and other central Florida locations.
She said, “It’s not a secret that my father started here, and at the end of the road, knew that his core business would end up here. He ventured to those other dealerships because he had that opportunity. He loved the challenge of taking other stores and building them out to be profitable. At Daytona, we have no intentions to do anything but make it stronger. We’re moving together as a team, being involved, keep moving forward. My dad brought so much to the table in different aspects. There will be strengths he had that I’ll never have.”
One of the unfortunate aspects of celebrating and participating in Bike Week each year is the spike in motorcycle accidents that accompanies the influx of riders into Daytona and the surrounding area. Some of the most common factors that contribute to the regrettable rise in Bike Week motorcycle accidents are driver negligence and failure to honor a motorcyclist’s right of way. Whether you live in Central Florida or came here from hundreds of miles away, if you or someone you care for has been injured or worse in a motorcycle accident, Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer James O. Cunningham will review your potential claim to determine what compensation you may be entitled to under the law. . For experienced and skilled personal injury representation, contact Bike Week motorcycle accident attorney James O. Cunningham today.
Resource Link: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-03-03/news/os-shelly-rossmeyer-bike-week-legacy-20100303_1_bike-week-destination-daytona-motorcycle
