Motorcycle rallies feel friction

[Jake]

The board of the Four Corners Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally is accusing organizers of a new motorcycle rally of capitalizing on its name and reputation, but the beleaguered biker board said it still plans to offer its own events.

Organizers of the new rally, the Four Corners Rally in the Rockies, acknowledge the Iron Horse board’s concerns, but remain focused on putting on the Labor Day weekend event.

The Four Corners Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally, which has put on events in Ignacio since 1993 with the exception of last year, says Rally in the Rockies is using the Iron Horse’s name and history to promote itself.

"They appear to be trying to utilize our name and likeness to their benefit," said Tim Craig, vice president of the Iron Horse rally board. "That’s the only problem we have with it. If they would come in with their own stuff, that would be no problem.


A couple rides a motorcycle on Main Avenue on Friday. Rally in the Rockies promoters and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office both said they see no reason to believe this Labor Day weekend’s rally won’t be peaceful.
"It appears to us to be a mirror image of what we’ve always done in the past."

The Iron Horse rally was held at the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Sky Ute Events Center in Ignacio for nine years. But in 2002 the rally’s board failed to reach an agreement with the tribe on the use of the center. Subsequent attempts by the board to secure a site of its own or find an alternate location have also failed.

Last November, Dan Bradshaw and Creig Wallace, both of New Mexico, announced that they had successfully reached an agreement with the tribe to hold a rally at the Sky Ute Events Center. Running the event as a for-profit business – the former board is a nonprofit entity – the organizers have promised to out-do past rallies.

Bradshaw said he anticipates better traffic control, higher quality entertainment, better vendors and better food than in years past.

Bradshaw said Craig is entitled to his opinion. But he added that Mike Lovato, one of the first board members for the Iron Horse rally, is now serving on the Rally in the Rockies board. He also said the Southern Ute Indian Tribe has always been an integral part of the rally, and the Tribal Council now stands behind Rally in the Rockies, just as it traditionally did for the Iron Horse board.

When asked if there are any bad feelings between the two motorcycle rally boards, Bradshaw said: "It has become evident that some members of the Iron Horse board are very disturbed that we will be putting on a rally, and they have not been able to secure a site to hold their event."

Craig said, however, that the Iron Horse rally is viable, and it will sponsor "high-class" events, shows and giveaways in the Durango area apart from the Rally in the Rockies’ four-day event schedule during Labor Day weekend.

"Our mission is just to raise money for charities and increase motorcycle awareness," Craig said. "We are not sponsoring or supporting any controversial activities."

Craig said the Iron Horse will give away a 2003 anniversary edition Springer Soft Tail Harley and will auction off a .45-caliber Henry gold-plated rifle with an engraving of the Iron Horse’s 10th anniversary on it. "It’s just a beautiful piece," Craig said.

He also said Ricky and the Readstrikes, a band from Las Vegas, will be in town to perform.

He would not disclose where the events will be held, but said the board has nearly secured two private venues. A call to the Durango Police Department on Thursday seeking information about any permits being held by the Iron Horse was not immediately returned.

Rally in the Rockies will help sponsor entertainment, a bike and car show in Durango, a concert at Durango Mountain Resort, up to 150 vendors and the Vietnam Moving Memorial Wall.