Rockerbox, held annually in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, is the premier, free, Midwestern motorcycle show and street party. The one day festival features a mix of Euro, Japanese and American vintage café racers, choppers, sport bikes, racers, super motos, scooters and sidecars. Last year, the five block show boasted 2,000-3,000 motorcycles and 7,000-8,000 people along with 50+ dealers and vendors of all things motorcycling.

Attendees with particularly rare/custom motorcycles are encouraged to enter their bikes in the ride-in-show judging 16 competitive classes including Best Café Racer, Best Chopper, Best Street Tracker and Best in Show. All proceeds from the bike show benefit the Steel Shoe Fund, a non-profit aimed at providing support and alleviating the financial strain facing flat track motorcycle racers who have been seriously injured during competition.

Rockerbox is the collaboration of Scott Johnson, owner of Fuel Café and Tim Schneider, owner of The Shop. Both were featured on Discovery HD’s “Café Racer” along with a profile of Rockerbox last December.

The day includes a bike show, ride-in-show competition, local and regional motorcycle vendors, swap meet, trials demonstration, food and beer.

• Date: August 4th, 2012
• Time: 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• Location: In front of Fuel Cafe. Center Street between Humboldt Avenue and Booth Street, Milwaukee, WI
• Cost: Free for visitors, minimal cost for vendors

“Rockerbox Motorcycle Show in Riverwest attracts a different, more youthful kind of biker counterculture—in particular, those side-burned, rockabilly throwback types who reside in the bars of Riverwest and Bay View. Between all the throwback sport bikes, street fighters, choppers, supermotos and sidecars, the vintage bike show is novel enough for non-enthusiasts to enjoy,”-- Shepherd Express Milwaukee

“You’ll see motorcycles that will inspire you to build one, or make you want to buy one, or impress you, or make you scratch yer head, or make you laugh, or remind you of the good ol’ days. For us, what makes the show interesting is the people who attend. It’s the scene, man. Our words and images only slightly showcase the gritty urban setting and the overall jollification waiting for you at Rockerbox,”- Corey and Casey Wilkinson, The Good Spark Garage

The Rockerbox Bike Show is the cornerstone of Rockerbox. Well over one hundred bikes enter each year for the chance to win one of the hand-made trophies created on-site during the festivities.

The Shop assembles a crack team of judges that categorizes the bikes and selects the winners. Not sure which category your bike belongs in? Don't worry, that's what the judges are for. In fact, you don't even have the opportunity to choose a category.

At this point we should explain what the Bike Show is, and what it isn't.

This show isn't Pebble Beach or The Quail. The judges may or may not know about some trivial piece of information about your bike that makes it the best in the world. Maybe they do and just don't care. The bikes are judged on criteria known only to them and the level of sun stroke they are suffering from. So if you feel you've been cheated out of a victory, calm down and remember that this show is all about fun and the spirit of motorcycling and not about period-correct spark plug caps. If you can't calm down that's okay, we've prepared a "special" trophy for you too.

So relax and enjoy the most amazing and varied group of motorcycles in the Midwest at one time. The Rockerbox Bike Show, there's nothing else like it.

Bike show categories

Because of the increasing number of bike show entries over the years, bike show judging has become increasingly complex and difficult. To simplify the judging process, while offering more people a chance at being awarded a trophy, the bike show team has established the following categories:

• Best of Show
• Cool as Fuck
• Best Cafe Racer
• Best Chopper
• Best Rat Bike
• Best American Bike
• Best British Bike
• Best European Bike
• Best Japanese Bike
• Best Scooter

There will also be 10 "Spirit of Rockerbox" trophies. We'll pick them based on any and all attributes about the bike, i.e the oldest, best paint, most miles, biggest rear tire, purplest, etc.

Rockerbox returns for the 10th year in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood; covering a five block run of Center Street in front of Fuel Café for just one day. The 2011 fest saw 3,000 plus bikes, over 60 vendors and 6,000 - 8,000 attendees. We're stoked to think this year is only going to be bigger and better.

Rockerbox is the premier Wisconsin motorcycle show and street party featuring an eclectic mix of Euro, Japanese and American vintage café racers, choppers, sport bikes, racers, super motor, scooters, and sidecars. All makes and models of bikes are welcome; a mash of bikes competing for space alongside dealers and vendors of all things motorcycling.

The day long festival includes the bike show, ride-in-show and competition, food, beer and vendors from throughout the city, region and country. Proceeds from the ride-in-show and competition benefit The Steel Shoe Fund. This non-profit organization assist flat track motorcycle racers with medical bills payment and immediate needs following a serious racing accident.

Whether you're looking to have a huge presence, or just get your name out to thousands of motorcycle fans in a matter of one day, sponsorship opportunities are available on all levels large and small.

Rockerbox 2012 Sponsorship Opportunities

Title Sponsorship - $6,000

• Company listed as title sponsor on all media including press releases, radio and print advertising
• Logo integrated into every part of Rockerbox social media and promo materials
• Company name on on-premise street banner, trophy presentation banner, Rockerbox t-shirts, stickers, etc.
• Complimentary 10' x 30' vendor space in premium booth area
• Sponsorship of "Ride to Rockerbox" Event
• Post-festival Rockerbox "Thank You" plaque for display in your showroom, shop, home or office

Silver Sponsorship - $3,000

• Logo integrated into every part of Rockerbox social media and promo materials
• Company name on on-premise street banner, trophy presentation banner, Rockerbox t-shirts, stickers, etc
• Complementary 10' x 30' vendor space in premium booth area
• Sponsorship of "ride to Rockerbox" Event

Bronze Sponsorship - $1,000

• Logo integrated into every part of Rockerbox social media and promo materials
• Complimentary 10' x 30' vendor space in premium booth area

Deal of a Sponsorship

• $100 for your logo on the back of the rocker box t-shirt!! (minimum 500 printed)

Other Ways to Sponsor

• $500 - Logo on street banner (hung over Center St. preceding event as well as day of
• $500 - Logo listed on web site (with Fuel, The Shop and Steel Shoe Fund)
• $1000 - Logo on front of t-shirt (minimum 500 printed) and sticker
• $500 - Publicized "Ride to Rockerbox" from your location
• $500 - Logo on trophy presentation backdrop (all award winners photographed in front of it)

Download the Sponsor Pack (.PDF)

For Vendors

Q. What time can vendors setup?

A.Vendor setup begins at 9:00a.m. Please have your vehicles off the street by 10:30a.m and be fully setup by 10:45a.m.

Q. What time is vendor teardown?

A. Street barricades will be removed at7:00p.m.so you can exit.

Q. Where do I park my vehicle?

A.Your truck/vehicle can be parked along the side streets. Anywhere but on Center St.

General Public

Q. What time does Rockerbox start?

A. Rockerbox begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m.

Q. Where is Rockerbox?

A. Rockerbox is held on Center Street between Humboldt Boulevard and Holton Streets, in front of Fuel Cafe.

Q. Where do I park?

A. Motorcycle parking is available on site at Rockerbox within designated areas. If you enter your bike into the show, you get to park in the center of the event in the VIP area. Street parking also available on adjacent side streets. PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK ALLEYS OR EXITS, vehicles will be towed!. If you have any large vehicles or trailers you need to park, plan on arriving early as parking fills quickly.

Q. Where do I stay?

A. Visit www.milwaukee.org to get more information on where to stay and more about our lovely little city by the lake.

Q. How do I get there?

A. If you need a street address to do a map search, we are located in front of Fuel Café at 818 E. Center Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212.

Q. How much is the show entry fee?

A. The motorcycle show entry fee is $15. Proceeds from the motorcycle show go to The Steel Shoe Fund, a charity benefitting injured motorcycle racers.

Q. Is there an admission fee?

A. No. Rockerbox is free to the public.

Q. Will there be food and beverages available onsite?

A. Yes. We will have food and beverage vendors onsite as well as a variety of restaurants on Center Street.

Q. Is there an official “Ride to Rockerbox” this year?

A. Perhaps. None are planned as of yet but stay tuned.

Information about the raffle will be comming soon.

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