Recession canceling motorcycle rallies

April 26, 4:22 PMMotorcycle ExaminerKen Bingenheimer

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Motorcycle rallies are feeling the economic crunch

Motorcycle rallies are being canceled across the country, with the difficult economic situation being blamed, but some bikers suspect that discrimination, not money, is sometimes the factor.

First, a short list of cancellations. This is in no way comprehensive.

Legend of the Motorcycle, an annual concours d'elegance in Half Moon Bay, CA, has been put on hold this year due to "the effect the world economy has had on many sponsors."

After 15 years, American Honda has shut down the annual Honda Hoot that last year drew 250,000 bikers to Knoxville, TN Honda said they expected the economic crisis "may have significant impact on our customers during 2009."

The 2009 San Diego Off Road SuperShow, presented by the Off-Road Business Association, has been cancelled. The "unprecedented global economic downturn" was cited as the culprit.

In Hollister, CA, the city council voted to cancel the 2009 Hollister Motorcycle Rally, saying they feared the potential cost to the city's general fund.

You get the picture. But one biker commenting on the Hollister cancellation, questioned the official position.

I have lived and worked in Gilroy, CA for years. We are just down the road from Hollister. I have attended every rally and there is no way there has ever been 100,000 people there for the rally. We have the Garlic Festival and that brings upwards of 100,000 to 150,000 during the event. This as always been an exaggeration by the rally promoters to build up the event. I would think about 30,000 people attended the past rally, tops.

In Snohomish, WA, the Old Snohomish Antique and Classic Motorcycle Show has also be axed. In this case, the local police wanted organizers to pay for 70 police officers to keep the peace due to the "potential for motorcycle gang violence." That figure was later reduced to 44 police officers, at a cost to the rally of $30,360. According to one blogger, Mac, "Until this year the Sky Valley chapter of A.B.A.T.E paid about $5,000 for security and no other event in the city had been required to have more than two police officers present although outside agencies were used for some crowd control. Just last September the Snohomish car show organized by the Chamber of Commerce brought in an estimated 15,000 people and only two officers were on duty before and after the event. There were volunteer Fire Explorers and organizers were charged only $1,200."

In cases where the rallies are wanted, it surely is a sign of economic hard times when the rallies are canceled. In cases where it's more a matter of the bikers simply not being wanted, such as Myrtle Beach, SC, you have to wonder how the local merchants feel about having a major chunk of their annual income cut off, especially during a recession.

One thing has become very clear in all this, however. For every town that shuts down a rally there are plenty of others more than happy to welcome the bikers and their dollars.