Thursday, June 5, 2008

Pageant enhances Lube’s Bike Nite

By Sarah Poulton

SHARON, Pa. — Shortly before 11 p.m. yesterday in front of a packed house at Tully’s, Amber Magada of Austintown was crowned Miss Bike Nite 2008.

“It feels great,” Magada said. “This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, so I’m pretty pumped about it.”

Magada was among 9 contestants hoping to win the crown. Carrie Longstreet , field marketing manager for Quaker Steak and Lube, said there were two preliminary competitions.

The first was at the Quaker Steak and Lube’s original location on April 30 and the second was at the Lube in Austintown May 8. Six winners were chosen from each preliminary to compete in the finals. Three dropped out, so nine women, ranging in age from 18 to 26 strutted their stuff to become Miss Bike Nite 2008.

“The girls are so sweet and so nice,” Longstreet said. “It’s competitive, but not mean-spirited in any way. It’s just a lot of fun.”

Contestants were judged in three categories: casual attire, swimsuit and biker attire, during which they were asked an on-stage question.

All of the girls were well-received by the crowd, making this event a success, despite the prediction of inclement weather, Longstreet said.

“The house is packed,” Longstreet said. “I think people are really behind it. The Bike Nite crowd really likes it. It’s just a good event all around.”

The finalists will be featured in a 2009 calender, which will be available in August at both Quaker Steak and Lube locations. Longstreet is excited about the calenders and said they were a big hit last year.

“We’re trying to do something for the customers to enhance Bike Nite,” Longstreet said. “We have cute, really outgoing girls.”

Rob Buydos served as the emcee for the event. He said he emceed the first Miss Bike Nite in 1997, and sequentially the ones afterwards. There have been five total, the past two being this year and last.

“It seemed like an enthusiastic field,” Buydos said of this year’s event. “They seemed to have motorcycles in their hearts and they seemed to have a good time.”

Buydos added that he thought this year was special because everyone seemed to have a little more fun than in years past and the contestants seemed to be more knowledgeable about what the crowd wanted.

Magada received $2,500 for winning the competition, along with gift certificates to area businesses. The incoming freshman at Kent State University said she plans to save the money for college expenses.

As in most beauty pageants, should Magada not be able to fulfill her duties, like appearances at special events, first runner up LeeAnne Fischer of Hermitage would be crowned Miss Bike Nite. Jessica Alexee of Hubbard was named second runner-up.

Bike Nite is held every Wednesday at Quaker Steak in Sharon and every Thursday at the Austintown location through mid-October.