Hollister Rally Canceled Again

Hollister, “birthplace of the American biker”, doesn’t want to welcome a 2009 rally. For the second time in three years, city council members in November canceled the July Hollister Motorcycle Rally. The city wants expenses for the event to be paid up front. The 2008 rally saw the city invest taxpayer money in rally merchandise, ending up losing $125,000 on the deal. The total cost for the rally was $365,000. The question is how many bikers will still show up in Hollister in July if the rally remains officially canceled.

24 Responses to “Hollister Rally Canceled Again”


  1. 1 fuji Dec 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    Why should we care . Why do people cry every time some one goe’s against the grain of what we believe should be . Some times we act like little children that had there sucker pulled from there lips.

    Holister was and always will be a situation that was perpously over blown by an over eager news release just like some of the movies that made there way into our lives in the fiftys and sixty’s find another location to ride to and drag your feet at will. I ride because I like to ride not because of some mythical pouser image.

    Holister doesn’t need you so why press the issue. Just like Daytona, I get close to it but don’t stop. Screw them and any other town that doesnt want me. WHY KISS THERE ASS ; JUST RIDE !

  2. 2 fuji Dec 26th, 2008 at 5:41 pm

    Why should we care . Why do people cry every time some one goe’s against the grain of what we believe should be . Some times we act like little children that had there sucker pulled from there lips.

    Holister was and always will be a situation that was perpously over blown by an over eager news release just like some of the movies that made there way into our lives in the fiftys and sixty’s find another location to ride to and drag your feet at will. I ride because I like to ride not because of some mythical pouser image.

    Holister doesn’t need you so why press the issue. Just like Daytona, I get close to it but don’t stop. Screw them and any other town that doesnt want me. WHY KISS THERE ASS ; JUST RIDE

  3. 3 OWOF Dec 26th, 2008 at 8:13 pm

    The Boozefighters will be there! We like it better without the rally anyway.

  4. 4 Crash Dec 27th, 2008 at 9:34 am

    Holister doesn’t need you so why press the issue. Just like Daytona, I get close to it but don’t stop. Screw them and any other town that doesnt want me. WHY KISS THERE ASS ; JUST RIDE

    Hey AWOF…..Why is it Boozefighters can’t believe like this comment by fuji reads ?
    WHY KISS THERE ASS ; JUST RIDE

  5. 5 rodent Dec 27th, 2008 at 11:59 am

    It’s better when it’s not “OFFICAL”. It’s more real.

  6. 6 Nitrous Phil Dec 27th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    I ride because I can. Maybe I’ll go to Holister, maybe not – but I don’t give a rats ass about the “official rally”.
    I care about riding with my bros, having a great time and if there isn’t a 2009 Hollister rally black t shirt to buy – then boo hoo hoo.

  7. 7 Errrh Who Cares? Dec 29th, 2008 at 6:26 am

    Who cares about the official rally? It came into being because bikers took the initiative and created it. Not some town hall politicians.
    BTW it’s ‘Their’ not ‘There’

  8. 8 u sta care Dec 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am

    I say stay out of Hollister year around. There are plenty of cities that will take the 7 million dollars that Hollister says was spent with their stores in 3 days. Don’t show them they can’t stop bikers from coming then they win. The 92,000 plus bikers the city says come to Hollister should never come back. That will show them.

  9. 9 ChopperGuy Dec 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am

    Isn’t it all about the ride and the atmosphere? If we don’t have vendors and organized events, I’m OK with that. I just like the atmosphere of people with common interests collecting in one location. I hate it for the vendors who make their living from rally to rally, but to me it’s all about the ride anyway.

  10. 10 EzJ Dec 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Hollister’s City Fathers want what the neighboring town of Gilroy has…a Garlic Festival. There is an alternativee to Hollister…www.shastasalutetoamerica.com

  11. 11 metalarts Dec 29th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Well, that’s too bad.. I feel really sorry for all the cops who won’t get plenty of overtime for standing anround in tactical outfits, eating donuts, checking out all the good lookin women in the hot weather, and hasseling ma and pa biker who came to town to look around and spend a little vacation money, drinking cold beer, eatin food and buying tee shirts. The dog and pony show will be missed. It was always fun .. amusing…even when I was arrested…
    My hat is still off to Seth Doulton for attempting to bring back Hollister after it was first cancelled. IHe invested not only money, but his heart into to promotion, only to get this. Check out his other shows at http://www.horsepowerpromotions.com

  12. 12 aft customs Dec 29th, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    I feel bad for Seth.He is one of the hardest working promoters in the west.I think that there are plenty of towns that could use the revenue in this economy.If they want you there you won’t get hassled as much or gouged.

  13. 13 raycwheeler Dec 29th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Not to worry .

    The next GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH will be coming to a town near you this summer , SOMEWHERE U S A .

    BE THERE …

    With a little luck it will be a huge success with Seth & Crew running the show , these guys are the best in the industry .

    See you there ,

    Ray

  14. 14 Nicker Dec 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Yep, i here the.
    Hollister’s significance to “Biker-dome” is about as historically authentic as Qunza is to ethnic minorities.

    RE:
    “….a situation that was purposely over blown by an over eager news release just like some of the movies that made there way into our lives in the fiftys and sixty’s…”

    And the AMA didn’t help by that unfortunate “1%” quite.

    In reality the true 1% of committed motorcyclists were Bikers like the Depression era “Motorcycle Gypsies.” They were rugged folks who set out on epic journeys, crossing this great country by motorcycle, not the people who hang out at the local Road House on Saturday or Sunday

    IMHO anyway.
    -nicker-

  15. 15 Jeff Nicklus Dec 29th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    To my humble opinion, Hollister falls in the same catagory as does Myrtle Beach …. The “Not Gonna Waste My Time or Money On Catagory! ” Fuck ’em!

    Naturally I say this with all due respect.

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  16. 16 Jeff Nicklus Dec 29th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    That would be “In” my humble opinion not “To” ….. damn it is Monday!

    Over & Out,

    Jeff

  17. 17 Nicker Dec 30th, 2008 at 5:53 pm

    -BTW-
    If it takes a “rally” to gecha on your scoot, it may be time to question your priorities.
    Golf could be in your future.

    -nicker-

  18. 18 Bud Jan 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    Errrh – ya crack me up with your simple response – cuz you are SO damn on spot.

    I’ll be there this year anyway. Might end up just as a token ride thru perhaps. Maybe I’ll support a local tavern that I may pop down into. Whatever suits at the time.

    Gotta wonder if the “Council” spends too much time watching old movies. Are they still antsy (as evidenced by the company of local and regional cops that were on site the last couple of times I visited)? Hell, the last couple of times I was there … even talking with the “old timers” that were … THERE (’47)…. not a big deal. Then … and especially now.

    The hell with it. Errrh (gotta get a better name though) – we all outta ride through just to show some class and make them realize the $ that coulda been, but ain’t gonna be, in the coffers.

    B

  19. 19 JR Jan 6th, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    Wind & Fire MC will be there. We hold our club’s western national rally during Hollister weekend. Firefighters have planned their time off to travel across the USA to be there.

    So we will be there…… Better without the city running things anyway.

  20. 20 Wings2Fly Jan 27th, 2009 at 11:07 pm

    As promotors we feel bad for Seth and bikers. Seth is a hardworker and puts on great events. We have made the decision to change the dates of the 2nd annual Shasta Salute to America Motorcycle rally to 4th of July weekend 7/3 – 7/6/09 to salute our military and freedom to ride. We hope you will consider coming to an area that welcomes bikers and a great venue. The riding is awesome with Crater Lake, Lava Beds and Mt. Shasta. Biker games, arm wrestling, tattoo contest, corset contest. Free camping on 100 acres with R.V. spaces clean restrooms and hot showers. Huge Wings2Fly Saloon with “Hot Wings” & Roosters tending bar. Live entertainment. Day run on Saturday, Military parade on Sunday, vendors & great food. Outdoor display of Traveling Wall and support of Operation Gratitude. Adults 18+ Friday & Saturday, Sunday family day until 6:00 pm.

  21. 21 rupert Jun 12th, 2009 at 12:11 am

    There will still be an event this year at bolado park–check out http://www.gtmcboladopark.com for more of the skinny on what’s going on this year. It ain’t dead yet.

  22. 22 Grayhawk Jun 12th, 2009 at 2:53 am

    The Hollister event should be dead and buried, went out there the year after it was first canceled. Worse police state you could imagine. City/Seth, whoever; had the vendors set up in the middle of the main street, all bikes were off on side streets. Had to be the safest scenario for ones bike yet, not.

    Go a couple streets over and in an open door of a warehouse were massed enforcers congregated in the warehouse just a waiting. Those that weren’t were strolling in mass up and down the few blocks of tents and rigs looking for wild tourists I’m sure. More police wearing swat gear than bikers flying colors.

    Vendors initially congregated at Corbins waiting for the town folks to shut down the normal days end then looked like a vendor mad rush down the road to main street to start setting up, what a cluster. Middle of night when last vendor tents got up, of course they started on both ends and met in middle; for the unlucky last few do not have to tell you what happened to those poor souls, of course there was not enough room left. What a joke, only good thing was it was happening in front of Johnnie’s bar located appropriately in the middle of town. Myrtle has nothing on Hollister, 9am to 6pm, was run like your local weekend flea market.

    No I am not dishing Horsepower Promotions, maybe you play with the cards you’re handed.

    City Fathers for ever, no wonder they lost their investment last year. I would say they deserved such but for sure vendors must have lost their ass also surely not good in flat economy for a vendor making an effort.

    No wonder Corbin is selling out, no I do not know why he is supposedly trying to sell out.

    Big time history, if ya call a staged movie historical, small time attempt for a rally at least what I saw, 2500 mile run one way for me I won’t go back. West Coast bikers can do better. Is four Corners still going on in the west after Sturgis or is that one still shut down as well ??

    Grayhawk

  23. 23 CW Dec 31st, 2009 at 8:29 am

    The goverment of hollister can’t stop bikers from coming, so it’s not officially called a rally it wasn’t when it started, it’s still going cost the city money on those guys that stand there on the corner with on hand on there belt buckle and one on there gun in the famous I’m god pose. I agree we should line up and roar through and show them it’s not about buying T-Shirts.

  24. 24 Doc Jan 16th, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    If there’s no official Hollister M/C Rally again in 2011 then life as I know it will cease to exist and I shall have to suicide myself; or perhaps I’ll attempt to pick up the broken and shattered pieces of my life and ride somewhere else with my good friends, if you catch my drift…meanwhile, as I contemplate which avenue to pursue I wish you all the best. Peace. Doc.

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Cyril Huze