PESHASTIN – The women’s pudding wrestling match was the headliner, but what really drew 150 bikers to the Timberline Motel and Motorsports in Peshastin Friday through Sunday was the camaraderie of visiting with other motorcycle enthusiasts.

Dozens of Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha sport bikes lined Highway 2 in front of the Timberline’s vintage buildings, originally built as a gas station and motel in the 1930s. Buell, KTM, Ducati, BMW and Harley-Davidson bikes were also present, with riders coming from as far as Portland, Ore.; Post Falls, Idaho; and Vancouver, B.C.

The rally was a benefit for the Pacific Northwest Riders Forum, a Web site that ties together more than 14,000 motorcyclists from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. A portion of the proceeds from the gathering was to be donated to the forum to upgrade its Internet servers.

"It’s a great community," said Amy Calkins, who rode her Ninja 500 sport bike from Spokane. "I’m a new rider so I’ve been able to get all kinds of help on my bike and learning how and where to ride. These people are like family." Members who use online names like Wild Angel, Crash, Shrek and Vigilante said the rally was a great opportunity to meet and ride with some riders they had only known before online.

Lizi Wesson, who owns the Timberline with her husband Jay, said she came up with the idea of a pudding wrestling match and benefit as a joke while chatting with motorcycle friends online.

"It started out as a joke and then became a reality. I almost broke down earlier this week when I realized what I was getting into," she said.

The Wessons have some experience in such things, however. They’ve held a motorcycle blessing each spring since they purchased the old gas station and motel and converted it to a motorcycle repair shop and gathering spot three years ago. The event has drawn more than 100 riders seeking an ounce of spiritual safety for their dangerous hobby each year. Before that, Jay had owned Alice’s Motorcycle Shop near San Jose, Calif., where similar events would draw thousands of motorcyclists.

Once they realized that word of the benefit had traveled fast on the Internet, the Wessons sought help from other local businesses and friends to pull the event together. Sand, hay bales and a plastic liner were donated to build a pit. A restaurant supplier provided enough chocolate pudding mix and milk to make 250 gallons. T-shirts were made. An offroad motorcycle course was laid out on the steep hill on the five acres the Wessons own around the motel. Weeds were mowed for a tent camping area. Volunteers were assigned duties to take the $10 entry fee, sell T-shirts and other benefit items, and maintain order. Many came just to help out the Wessons.

"I came because Lizi and Jay are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met," said Andy Nicholson, who rode his BMW R1150 GS from Duvall.

"I became friends with them when I showed up on a Sunday morning with steel cord showing through my tires. Where else are you going to find a motorcycle shop willing to help you out on a Sunday morning?" said a Seattle motorcyclist who goes by the Internet name of Crash. He rode a new 200 hp Suzuki Hayabusa he called "the fastest motorcycle on the planet, arguably." He said he’s only had it up to 220 mph so far.

"I think I’ve got chocolate lung," said Lizi, about the results of mixing up 50-gallon batches of chocolate pudding with a canoe paddle Friday night.

The pudding was kept in a walk-in refrigerator at a Leavenworth restaurant to set up before being transported to the motel Saturday evening.

About a dozen women and a few men slithered in the ring during the hour-long series of wrestling matches, which were far more comical than risque. Lizi wore a wetsuit to wrestle Amy, in a modest bathing suit. Both were soon coated in chocolate brown.

"It was so slippery we had to be really careful not to hurt each other," said Cherie River of Fife, who for her match wore a sexy Halloween costume that had been gathering dust in her closet for years. "I don’t think I’ll want to taste chocolate pudding again for awhile."

Copyright (c) 2009, The Wenatchee World, Wash.