MOUNT AIRY — Downtown Mount Airy has seen its fair share of classic cars and motorcycles in the past month, most recently with the Harley Owners Group Rally. The chamber of commerce says to expect more of these events in the future.

“We’re trying to take a more aggressive role with helping them get organized,” said Jessica Icenhour, director of tourism for the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce.

By the end of the year, the town will have been visited by at least eight vehicle groups or tours in 2009. The Harley Owners Group brought more than 1,000 motorcycles to town. The Buick Driving Enthusiasts will visit downtown tomorrow as a part of their Winston-Salem tour.

“It definitely brings people downtown and to Mount Airy,” Icenhour pointed out.

As part of its new effort to bring in riding groups, the chamber is working with groups to get permits if they are interested in closing the downtown streets. When the caravans of vehicles come, people from the chamber meet them outside with assistance. The chamber is even creating visitors bags for the members of the vehicle groups that come here. These bags contain brochures and information about the area.

Icenhour said, “We’re really hands on with these guys.”

In addition to the aggressive approach the chamber has taken to recruit car groups, Icenhour said it’s the area’s natural attractions that bring such a large number to the city.

“One of the biggest hooks for the groups is the Blue Ridge Parkway,” she noted.

She said in past years only a few car or motorcycle groups have come to the city. Mount Airy hosted a large event for hot rods in 2005, which she thinks was a jumping off point. The area is not only visited by yearly car tours, but monthly car shows also take place in Mount Airy.

“I think that Mount Airy is really becoming a premiere destination for car shows,” Icenhour noted.

All car shows and tours are listed on the visitmayberry.com Web site and the chamber’s newsletter which goes out to 30,000 people. Icenhour said she is continuing to try to get riding groups to come to Surry County. She said one event is in the works for later this month.

“We’re going to be making contact with other groups to bring here, especially in the slow months.”

Connie Brumbaugh has helped with the planning of the Buick Driving Enthusiasts tour. Of Mount Airy, she said, “We just thought that it would be a nice place to visit. Everybody knows Mayberry.”

As the group has neared its arrival, Brumbaugh said coordinating with the chamber has been smooth.

“Things have been just perfect,” she said. “We just love the area. It’s a beautiful place you’ve got here.”

When Bobby Bridges of Fayetteville came to Mount Airy for the HOG Rally, he said, “I’ve never seen the red carpet rolled out like you guys have done.”

He also complimented the area as Connie Brumbaugh did.

“It is beautiful up here,” he said.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or at 719-1952.