Kickstands up. Engines roar to life. Drivers exchanging last minute words, peace signs and thumbs up before taking off down Route 6. 45 bikes, 90 wheels.

Rolling thunder.

The Second Annual Brad Barrows Motorcycle Run almost doubled its turnout this year with 45 bikes participating over the 26 that rode last year.

Brad Barrows, the former owner of Rick's Tavern, is remembered with the ride after spending his life as a champion of local athletics. All proceeds from the run support local sports team throughout Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester and Fairhaven. Participants paid a $20 registration fee and there were plenty of raffles and prizes on hand to boot.

The run began at Rick's Taven, formerly Brad's, and took riders through Lakeville to Middleboro where they turned around and headed back to Mattapoisett.

"Anything around 50 bikes, that's a big run," said Skip Harris, a participant in the run who wasn't able to ride last year.

"We're all friends here, some of us for over 20 years," said Harris' friend Chris Nixon, of Fall River.

And the memories those friends hold are strong. Family, friends and former employees all turned out to pay their respects to Brad. A fellowship of steel and chrome, coming together for a lost friend.

"I remember coming here every Sunday as a kid," said Brad Barrows Jr., 20, grandson of Brad Barrows. "I wish I'd turned 21 while he still owned this place, I could've had my first beer here."

"It's a remembrance ride," said Chris Gray, of Mattapoisett.

"I've got my fingers crossed that I'll find a bike," said Nichole Barrows, of Rochester, Brad's granddaughter as she looked for a bike willing let her ride along. "I grew up here [at what is now Rick's], I learned how to play pool in there."

"He supported little league baseball and local sports," said Peter Collins, a founder and member of the Brad Barrows Foundation and friend of Brad's. "I was a coach on Brad's baseball team. He was a charitable man and all of the money here goes to fund little league sports."

Throughout the crowd was the undercurrent of respect for Brad and his legacy. Constant refrains of "Brad was a class act," could be heard throughout the morning.

The ride took off with kickstands up at 12:30 p.m. and 45 riders total, more than organizers expected.

"It's good to see people come out, pay their respects," said Brad Jr. "Good to see everyone still remembers who he was."