Nearly 400 motorcyclists gathered in Sept-Îles this weekend

Motorcycles are in the spotlight this weekend in Sept-Îles. Nearly 400 motorcyclists gathered to celebrate a double anniversary: ​​the 50th anniversary of the Quebec Motorcycle Federation and the 40th anniversary of the Sept-Îles Motorcycle Association. The meeting, huge and noisy, brings together travelers from all over Quebec.

This is the largest gathering of motorcyclists of the year in Sept-Îles and the first of the Fédération motocycliste du Québec in five years. Its members had not met since the COVID-19 pandemic; the atmosphere was festive and lively.

Getting back on track with the celebrations was not easyagrees Sylvain Bergeron, president of the Federation. Before the pandemic, the organization changed regions from year to year, and its last foray into the Côte-Nord was in 2014.

It’s an exotic destination! It’s less commercial, it’s a little wilder.

With the gang, it’s the first time we’ve come! exclaims Maryse Lévesque, from New Richmond. She is part of a contingent of 19 travellers, the Motos-Touristes de la Baie-des-Chaleurs, who are taking advantage of this event to raise funds for the fight against breast and prostate cancer. All members are working hard on thisshe adds.

Carmen Leblanc, a breast cancer survivor, is part of the association Les Perles-Blanches. The small group of motorcyclists from Sept-Îles has already raised more than $7,500 for research against the disease as part of the Girls Ride from Drummondville.

Social causes are thus intertwined with the pleasure of the road and the love of racing cars, the real driving force behind this Sept-Îles event.

Maryse Lévesque makes no secret of it: It’s really my hobby! I put the music on loud and then I ride. We travel a lotrecognizes Normand Gamelin, from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. 000 to 25000kilometers, and some people I’ve spoken to do 40000kilometers per summer”,”text”:”From 20,000 to 25,000 kilometers, and some people I’ve spoken to do 40,000 kilometers per summer”}}”>20,000 to 25,000 kilometers, and some people I’ve spoken to do 40,000 kilometers per summerhe said.

For the Sept-Îles Motorcycle Association, bringing together so many people from outside ready to rack up the miles is a golden opportunity to showcase the Côte-Nord. In fact, an expedition of 180 people is planned for Sunday in Havre-Saint-Pierre.

We stop at Manitou Falls, at Rivière-au-Tonnerre, at Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, at Magpie, specifies Antonio Bassanese, one of the members of the Association. Its president, Paul Bilodeau, will guide another contingent to Gallix, Rivière-Pentecôte and Baie-Trinité.

On Sunday, a little more than 350 kilometers will be covered by motorcyclists leaving from Sept-Îles, or a little more than a third of the 844 kilometers of Route 138 separating Tadoussac and Kegaska.

With information from Paul Fontaine