Hollister, California, USA (January 9, 2025) - The Hollister City Council has unanimously approved the return of the Independence Bike Rally for 2025 during a special meeting on Tuesday night. Hollister’s annual downtown Independence Day motorcycle rally has drawn large crowds of bikers and spectators for the summer holiday since the city began officially sponsoring it in 1997. The rally dates back more than 70 years, starting out as an informal gathering that was more loosely organized by the Hollister biker community.
Formerly an annual occurrence, the last formal rally event took place in 2017. Since then, various factors including financial concerns and the Covid-19 pandemic have derailed plans to host an organized rally. Johnny's Bar and Grill owner Peter Lago spoke at the meeting speaking about how the rally would be beneficial to the city. "If you're wondering if it's just we, the people, or just business owners, it is in fact every single business in San Benito Street wants this rally back," Lago said.
Rally supporters touted the event’s proven financial boon to local businesses, and stressed the advantages of hosting such an ingrained tradition that draws visitors from far outside of Hollister. Mike Corbin, founder of the Corbin motorcycle saddles company which is based in Hollister, thanked the council for considering hosting a rally in 2025. “This is all done with a high cooperative spirit,” Corbin said of past motorcycle rallies in Hollister.
Corbin and other observers said the city shouldn’t expect large crowds for this year’s rally, largely because of the short notice in organizing and promoting the event before July 4. City Councilmember Rudy Picha voiced his support of the rally at the meeting with hopes that it can be done safely. "I'm very optimistic that it can and I can see this being a very powerful thing for our local businesses," Picha said. City Councilmember Rolan Resendiz also proposed a motion that to ask Amazon to sponsor the fireworks show due to the company having a warehouse in Hollister.
Allegheny Township, Pennsylvania (July 30, 2022) - At least eight people were hospitalized following a multi-vehicle motorcycle crash in Westmoreland County on Saturday afternoon.
According to emergency dispatchers, the collision occurred near Lynch Road in Allegheny Township around 1:30 p.m.
Four of the injured people were taken to the hospital by air transport. The other four were taken by ground vehicles, dispatchers said.
A Facebook post from an account called Riding for the Cure said the crash happened during their annual ride for breast cancer patients.
“We have been made aware of the accident that occurred on the ride,” the post reads. “Everyone involved has received medical attention. Please keep those involved in your thoughts and prayers, as well as those that are continuing on.”
The post emphasized that reports saying 30 bikes were involved in the crash were incorrect.
Oakland, California, USA (July 17, 2022) - The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has requested to hold Sonny Barger’s memorial service at the Oakland Coliseum complex, just a couple of miles away from the Foothill Boulevard clubhouse where he founded. Barger died June 29 at his home in Livermore.
A funeral at the coliseum may or may not happen, but it is up for discussion. Henry Gardner, the executive director of the Coliseum Authority, plans to discuss the club’s proposal with his board.
In a memo to the board, Gardner said the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club have asked to use the stadium’s parking lot for a service in August, but he’s waiting to hear back from authorities.
“We have consulted with the city’s leadership, including the Oakland Police Department, to seek guidance on whether or not this event can be safely and securely managed,” Gardner wrote. “The group estimates there will be approximately 2,000 of their members in attendance".
"The Oakland Police Department is taking the lead in determining a safety plan and will be providing us with their recommendations on whether and how we should proceed.” it continued
Events at the Coliseum, which is publicly-owned, do not necessarily need the approval of the Coliseum board, which is made up of members of the Oakland City Council, county Board of Supervisors, and members appointed by both government bodies.
Sturgis, South Dakota, USA (December 4, 2020) - Confident that open air festivals can be held responsibly and hot off the heels of a successful 2020 event, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip is blowing the gate wide open for the 81st Anniversary of the Sturgis Rally with the largest live entertainment announcement since the pandemic began. The American Badass, Kid Rock, will take the legendary Wolfman Jack Stage at The Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling® on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021.
In addition to kicking off the campground’s festival lineup, the Buffalo Chip® has partnered with two dominating names of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Black Hills Harley-Davidson and Liv Hospitality, to award a once-in-a-lifetime $30,000 King of Sturgis prize package to one winner and three of their friends. The King of Sturgis™ Giveaway registration is now open. The Kid Rock video announcement can be seen here below. Entertainment is free with camping.
“We know from last year that outdoor events can be safely held when proper precautions are taken,” said Rod Woodruff, President and CEO of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “The majority of people act respectfully and practice social distancing when they are expected to act responsibly. Plus, we feel good about the highly effective vaccines coming soon to market.”
The Buffalo Chip took the pandemic seriously in August 2020 and it plans to do so again in 2021. The 2020 event included social distancing built into the amphitheater, prominent signage providing information on COVID-19 and encouraging social distancing, hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the campground, free face coverings for those entering the amphitheater and a strict backstage policy that included mask requirements, temperature checks and limited in-person contact.
The Buffalo Chip’s nine-night music and motorcycle festival is an open-air, outdoor festival located on a campground with over 600 acres on which guests can spread out. The venue is not a closed environment like a crowded indoor bar. With the safest environment offered at the Sturgis Rally, the Buffalo Chip will again provide guests the safest place to camp and experience the benefits of social interaction, without restricting their personal rights and freedoms.
“We’ll be here in 2021 celebrating the freedoms we thought to be the birthright of all Americans, and I can think of no better way to kick off our 40th anniversary as a campground than to bring back legendary fan favorite Kid Rock. To top it off we’re going to drop a $30,000 bomb of amazing prizes on someone,” said Woodruff.
The 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is On: Aug. 6-15
When asked why an event like the Buffalo Chip is important, Rod Woodruff continues, “Our event provides people the freedom to come together despite differences, share moments and make real human connections. That’s something no amount of internet or TV can ever provide. It is essential for people’s mental health, self-worth and general well-being that they get out and socialize.”
The outlook of the live music industry is optimistic. Bands are announcing tours again, and several major music festivals have announced events in summer 2021. With the recent news of successful vaccine trials, the Sturgis Buffalo Chip is optimistic that by August 2021 the pandemic will be on its way to being under control.
The world-class Buffalo Chip concerts and giveaways are just a piece of the many activities happening at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the 2021 rally. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience countless events including legendary rides, powerful freedom celebrations, top-tier bike shows, white-knuckle racing events and so much more. Entertainment is free with camping. More announcements coming soon.
About The Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the award-winning leader in music and motorcycle lifestyle experiences. Hailed as The Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling® and The Best Party Anywhere®, it has been the epicenter of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally since its establishment in 1981. Every August, the Buffalo Chip brings together the world’s largest gathering of music and motorcycle fans, with visitors from all 50 states and over 20 countries. As the first and leading entertainment destination for the motorcycle enthusiast, it remains one of the world’s most televised and longest running independent music festivals.
Located three miles east of Sturgis, SD on 600 creek-fed acres, it offers nine nights of world-class concerts, multiple stages of entertainment, races, motorcycle shows, a swimming hole, bars, food, showers, cabins, RVs, camping and more. The Chip’s entertainment is free with camping.
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina (September 13, 2020) - A popular biker bar closed Wednesday night after requesting assistance from police.
Horry County police said the owner of the bar near Murrells Inlet requested assistance on Wednesday night to clear the crowd. The owner closed down in compliance with the governor’s orders.
The crowd was dispersed without incident. No citations were issued, according to police.
This is not the first time attention was called to the biker bar during the pandemic. The bar was cited in July for having a concert. The concert was part of the 81st annual Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally.
A state senator sent photos of the concert to the governor or South Carolina as an example of “recklessness,” and called it a “super spreader event.” The business posted live videos from the concert and throughout the week on its Facebook page.
“HCPD continues to monitor and respond to activity around the county,” the department posted on social media. Additional patrol officers have been assigned to work weekend coverage. “Community members and visitors are reminded to act responsibly.”
SBB, as it's often referred, was issued an administrative violation for violating the governor's executive orders back in July.
Patrols have been stepped up in the South Division to monitor and respond to any activity.
Sturgis, South Dakota, USA (May 7, 2020) BSB - From bikers to boxers, a partnership between a biker-run boxing team and the world’s largest motorcycle and music festival will deliver high-impact entertainment this August during the 80th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Team Certified Promotions and the Sturgis Buffalo Chip® have teamed up to present “The Takeover” professional boxing event on Aug. 8, 2020 at the legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip. This historic professional boxing event will feature two ABO title bouts and will be broadcast live worldwide through Adversary Sports Entertainment directly from Sturgis Buffalo Chip.
The Takeover will be featured on the opening weekend of the Sturgis Rally, preceding a headlining knockout performance from rock band Shinedown.
Team Certified Sports is the first-ever professional boxing team founded by a motorcycle club. Coach Ernie Haines, whose family has had MC chapters for over 16 years, dreamed up the idea of bringing professional boxing to the largest gathering of bikers anywhere because it promises to be one of the most unique boxing events in the history of the world.
Pro boxing event confirmed for August 8 during Sturgis Motorcycle Rally https://t.co/ui3IUaTnq6
— 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙇𝘿 𝘽𝙊𝙓𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 (@WorldBoxingNews) May 7, 2020
When Team Certified Sports makes the transition from the road to the ring at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, some real heavy hitters will come out to play.
The ASE team will be led by broadcast producer and boxing hall-of-famer Ira Glass, and will include Emmy Award winning program host Jay Adams, Florida Boxing Hall of Fame play-by-play color commentator Bob Alexander, and TV sports commentary announcer Dan Hewitt.
“The lineup of fighters will be announced soon and will be action packed”, says M. Talley of Team Certified Sports.
Special guests at the event include:
“Sugar” Ray Seals, the 1972 American boxing Olympic gold medalist and former NABF and USBA middleweight champion
Craig Houk, a retired pro fighter and CEO of the Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame
Leon J. Muhammad, who worked with eight world champions, including heavyweight champs Muhammad Ali and Michael Spinks
Team Certified Sports and Buffalo Chip President Rod Woodruff are determined to broadcast this competitive boxing card for free.
“It’s important for fans to be able to share the sports they love with the people they love, and we won’t allow cost to be a factor,” says Tom Reed of Team Certified Sports.
For more information about the boxing event, fans may access Team Certified Promotions’ website TeamCertifiedPromotions.com and email at Teamcertifiedsports@yahoo.com for more information, including sponsorship and investment opportunities. For more information about the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, or to purchase passes fans may visit BuffaloChip.com
Laughlin, Nevada, USA (January 16, 2020) BSB — After 37 years, the future of the Laughlin River Run is a mystery. What is less of a mystery is that the event typically held in late April isn’t on anyone’s calendar this year.
The longstanding promoter of the event, Dal-Con Promotions, of California and Nevada, have no listings for the 2020 run on their websites which are dark, and no one at Dal-Con is answering the phones when called directly.
Emails left on the Dal-Con website have so far gone unanswered and the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce has unlisted the event from its calendar due to lack of timely communication — that is, they haven’t heard from Dal-Con or anyone else in the time frame necessary to bring the event together.
An official communique from the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce to the Laughlin Nevada Times, the chamber said, “The promoter of 37 years has not been in communication with the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce, Laughlin Tourism Commission or Laughlin resort properties.
Additionally, the Laughlin River Run and Dal-Con Promotions websites have gone dark. Without promoter communication, the Laughlin River Run has been removed from our event calendar.”
The Edgewater and Colorado Belle resort casinos posted dates and even room specials for this year’s 2020 River Run during last years outing, suggesting the dates for the 2020 event would be April 23-25.
Multiple calls to Dal-Con and a major sponsor of the event — Law Tigers, a motorcycle specific law firm — have yielded no solid answers.
When the possibility of no run in 2020 was posted to a Laughlin social media site, several people responded passed along information that they had heard the event had been canceled. Some blamed the resort properties, others blamed the promoter.
Several people who contacted the Laughlin Nevada Times and the Mohave Valley Daily News to inquire about the event’s immediate future said they weren’t surprised that it unceremoniously had come to an end.
“It’s been going downhill for some time,” said one caller from California, who added he had added at least 10 previous River Runs. “It used to be a big deal.”
There has been consistent decline in numbers for the event that routinely drew more than 20,000 motorcycle enthusiasts with an estimated 70,000 participating in it in 2005, earning it the title of the largest motorcycle gathering west of the Rocky Mountains.
The decline has been attributed to a number of factors: the novelty has worn off; competing events at the same time frame; economic issues — especially during the Great Recession of the late 2000's to early 2010's; police presence and other policies that some said they felt stifled the event; and an absence of new attractions.
The River Run historically has been a big economic boon for not only Laughlin and the resort properties but also to Bullhead City, Oatman, Kingman, Lake Havasu City and surrounding communities. It also has been used as a springboard for several charity poker runs and for other events geared toward motorcycle enthusiasts and their families.
As for the long-term future of the event, no one seems to know — or at least isn’t saying — if the River Run can be resurrected or reimaged.
For now it’s wait and see
Given the longevity of the event, it is entirely possible that bikers may show up anyway simply based on habit. “It’s April so it’s time to go to Laughlin.”
For the moment, however, it seems that the original, organized, and titled Laughlin River Run will not be held this year.
UPDATE 1/17/2020
After this story broke, they updated their website, it may be a go.
Albuquerque, N.M.USA (May 28, 2019) BSB — New Mexico State Police say two people are dead and four others are in critical condition after a head-on crash involving two motorcycles near Red River Saturday.
Hundreds of bikers were headed to the 37th annual Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally.
"Motorcyclists are about riding, chasing the wind, riding free," said Raymond Gallegos, president of the New Mexico Motorcyclist Rights Organization. "It's a weekend to recognize those that have fallen for us. It really is a rally it's about the brotherhood and sisterhood of riding motorcycles."
Gallegos has a passion for keeping bikers safe and alive. "This is Memorial Day weekend, we've lost some dear friends in the past, when there's a ride," Gallegos said. "We are very attentive to what's going on especially safety and alerting the public that there is going to be more riders on the road."
"We saw four ambulances pass us and immediately we had that feeling that something was wrong," said Annette Torrez, who was one of the hundreds of riders gathered at Red River.
She got a text on her phone: "6 motorcycles down, two fatal, three critically injured."
New Mexico State Police say the motorcycle crash happened on Highway 38.
"It was someone that I knew," she said. "It was someone in our community that lived close to my parents and you just you know, your heart breaks."
Police say two people on a Harley Davidson were killed.
The driver of the motorcycle was 58-year-old Lawrence Robert "Tiny" Cortez. His family said he loved to ride, was very giving and was always there for his friends.
His passenger was identified as 43-year-old Jennifer Lynn Ashley. "Hold your memories closely and tell your family you love them," Torrez said.
Police say Cortez crossed the center line into traffic and collided head-on with another Harley Davidson. "We would like to express our sincere condolences to the families of those that lost their life," said Jessica Cisneros with the Red River Visitor's Center.
"We have a slogan this year 'If you live to ride, you need to ride to live,'" Gallegos said.
He has some reminders for all drivers: make sure to do safety checks on bikes or cars, check braking distance and check blind spots. "I want everyone to make it home safe," he said. "We have some incoming weather that's going to impact the ride home, just make sure you're taking your time. Don't become a memory on Memorial Weekend."
Since January the organization has recorded 128 crashes, 16 of which were fatal.
As for Saturday's crash, police don't believe alcohol was involved. Four other people are in critical condition.
