Bike Week Sputters to a Close After Bad Weather

Bike Week, Daytona Beach’s annual 10-day festival that draws motorcyclists by the hundreds of thousands, wrapped up after light attendance because of heavy rain and scorching heat. One fatal crash was reported this year, down from 13 in 2002.

The gathering, which dates to 1937, had been expected to bring about $260 million to the local economy -- along with 500,000 motorcyclists to the area after it opened Feb. 28. But severe weather seemed to keep many bikers away.