Each Friday the 13th, the population of Port Dover grows by thousands as motorcycle enthusiasts flood the southwestern Ontario town.

This year, the area's Norfolk County tourism officials are hoping the event will help the town of 5,000 secure a spot in the Guinness World Records book.

Officials hope to set the record for the most motorcycles in a location for a single day.

By early afternoon, the number of motorcycles that entered the town exceeded their goal of 10,000.

"We've surpassed 12,000 at this point," Chris Baird, general manager of planning and economic development for Norfolk County, said early Friday afternoon.

And he said more bikes continued to roar into the town on the shores of Lake Erie.

The event originated when resident and bike enthusiast Chris Simon hosted a small gathering of two dozen friends in 1981, then decided to hold it every Friday the 13th.

Officials estimate the event draws as many as 100,000 people, not all bikers.

With files from the Canadian Press