Inuvik (Feb 21/03) - The Inuvik chapter of the Ride for Sight held a party last Saturday night to thank all the people who have worked on their campaign over the years.

The Biker's Bash was held in the community hall of the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex and offered guests drinks, dinner and dancing till the wee hours of Sunday.

The club has been together for about 19 years and one of the early founders of the club returned to Inuvik for the Biker's Bash.

Garry and Anne Kaulbach lived in Inuvik for 20 years before moving south to Chetwynd, Alta., about five years ago.

Garry recalled how the club grew into a positive thing for the community from some negative complaints about local bikers.

"It was the same old story; motorcycles were making noise and disturbing the dogs or whatever, so we put the club together," Kaulbach said.

There was no age restriction and as it is today, you didn't have to own a bike to join the club.

"It just brought everybody together and we were successful in cleaning up the complaints," he said.

The club held their meetings in the old fire hall and the town allowed them to use the gravel pit for a race track. They also held flat track ice races on the river.

The club was together for about a year when club member Bob Hess suggested they do the Ride for Sight.

Hess organized the first ride and was transferred out of town and that's when Kaulbach took over. He stayed at it for the next 13 years.

Gary and Anne moved away from Inuvik in 1997.

"There have been days where we wondered why we ever left, but, to be honest, I don't miss the cold," he told the crowd and raised his glass. "Thanks for being a part of our life for 20 years."

Club president Cyril Gregory said the party was a big hit with all who attended.

"Everybody I talked to had a really good time," Gregory said.

The event took a lot of work, but they all enjoyed the weekend and the reunion with the Kaulbachs.

"A small committee makes the hands busy," he said.

As far as making the bash an annual event, Gregory wasn't sure on that.

"There's a year to go for that," he said. "If there is a lot of interest, we'll do it again."