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Last year's Thunder Across the Thumb drew an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 bikers for the ride from Fairgrove to Sandusky.

This year's event on May 6, which starts at the Fairgrove VFW Post at 11:30 a.m. and ends at the Sandusky Wal-Mart around 1 p.m., could be bigger.

"We've got a lot more people calling about it," said event spokesman Ken Gainforth of Unionville. "All the way from Chicago, Illinois. Firefighters - they ride motorcycles. They went to Ground Zeo last year."

He said, "We're kind of guessing we may get as many as 5,000. There's a lot of enthusiasm about what we're doing."

Many of the participants remember the shabby treatment received by soldiers returning from the Vietnam War in the 1960s and Ô70s. They don't want the same thing to happen again.

"There was no hoopla," said Gainforth. "We ignored them. So now, people want to let our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq know that they are very much appreciated. Nephews, brothers and sisters Ð we appreciate what they're doing for us. It doesn't mean we have to agree with the war. But we appreciate what they're doing."

"It's something I believe in," said Vickie Davis of Deckerville, another spokesperson for the ride.

" I believe we should show our support. You may not believe in the political policy, but these are our boys and girls and you need to support what they're doing."

There's an added attraction to Sunday's event: The new Truck of Honor Ð the tractor-trailer that honors the victims and heroes of the Sept. 11th attacks will be part of the parade of vehicles.

You don't have to ride a motorcycle to participate. Bring you car, pickup, or SUV Ð because any street legal vehicle is welcome.

Line up starts at 11 a.m. and the group leaves the Fairgrove VFW at 11:30. You can ride the entire route, or join up along the way.

About a half-dozen police on motorcycles are expected to escort the group.

The Sandusky Wal-Mart will rope-off the west half of the parking lot for the rally. The featured speaker is a former national commander of the VFW. The color guard will come from Selfridge Air National Guard base in Mt. Clemens.

Food and refreshments will be sold as a fundraiser by Explorer Scouts from the Sanilac County Sheriff Department.

Thunder Across the Thumb T-shirts can be purchased, and you'll have an opportunity to sign the "We Support our Troops" flags that will delivered to a Michigan Guard unit stationed in Iraq.

All this week the Sandusky Wal-Mart will be a collection point for donated items that will be sent to military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. The list of suggested items, which is posted in the store, ranges from breakfast bars and instant coffee to personal hygiene items, DVDs, CDs and baseballs.

All the money raised through the event, including contributions by motorcyclists, T-shirt and food sales, will be used to purchase phone cards for soldiers and to cover mailing costs to the war zones.

Here's the route if you'd like to cheer on the bikers, the Truck of Honor and others as they go by:

Fairgrove south to M-81; east on M-81 to Caro and Cass City; south on Cemetery Road in Cass City to Bevens Road; east on Bevens to M-53 where Bevens becomes Snover Road; east on Snover to Sandusky Road; south on Sandusky Road to M-46 in Sandusky; west on M-46 (Sanilac Avenue) to Wal-Mart.