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July 4th & 5th 2025 Hollister Independence Motorcycle Rally

NorCalBusa

NorCalBusa

Member #294
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Location
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Moto(s)
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So our egomaniacal City Council, against the strong advice of the police Chief (and Sheriff) not to, has decided to go ahead with the previously discontinued event this year. DSQ'd because there are not a sufficient number of officers (even when some are borrowed from other agencies on overtime) to adequately staff the event that brings 10k (20k?) people or so. It is in about 7 weeks. The event has made some money for vendors, not so much for the city, but its popular among a local, vocal crowd. Hope this works out- historically its been gang factions getting into it (including a shooting or three), some years not.
 
Will the county park be open for this event too?
Camping, showers, were available, back in the day.
The cattle call for more LEO's,
Does anybody remember all the quality help they hired for the real anniversary rally?
The DOJ compound @ the airport??
 
CDONA said:
Will the county park be open for this event too?
Camping, showers, were available, back in the day.
The cattle call for more LEO's,
Does anybody remember all the quality help they hired for the real anniversary rally?
The DOJ compound @ the airport??
Click to expand...
I do and their Blackhawk doing laps around town at 300'agl. I don't think Bolado Park is hosting anything, I'd have seen something by now. No other agencies are available to support the vent- that's what prompted me to post. Begging for trouble, I hope its avoided.
 
we have a trophy in our trophy case from the justly famous 1947 Hollister Rally, for the "best dressed club," that we're super-proud of. :clown

will have to see if I can get a pic of that trophy to post here ... I don't usually like big rallies, but if my presence might annoy the powers that be in San Benito County, I may have to make an effort to make an appearance this year. :laughing :ride
 
SFMCjohn said:
we have a trophy in our trophy case from the justly famous 1947 Hollister Rally, for the "best dressed club," that we're super-proud of. :clown

will have to see if I can get a pic of that trophy to post here ... I don't usually like big rallies, but if my presence might annoy the powers that be in San Benito County, I may have to make an effort to make an appearance this year. :laughing :ride
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No kidding? My grandfather (who was one of the ranchers 150 (?) years ago that broke the new San Benito County off of Monterey County). Years later, during the first motorcycle rally back then- he approached the HA's and "If you let me move some cattle, I have a field you guys can camp in". They accepted, he moved the cattle, 60 or so guys motored in, all went fine and the rest is history (per James Dean & The Wild Ones!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_One

1747254178793.png
 
super cool that your grandfather was a rancher in (the new) San Benito County ... I spend as much time riding/camping there as I can, because it is such a beautiful place ... :thumbup
 
SFMCjohn said:
super cool that your grandfather was a rancher in (the new) San Benito County ... I spend as much time riding/camping there as I can, because it is such a beautiful place ... :thumbup
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My brother scored the oak cubbyhole, leather top, desk that was inside the Wells Fargo train station in Tres Pinos. Was quite the trade HQ back in the day. Cattle, minerals & stone from New Idria and of course hay. Same was true for San Juan Bautista- massive trade point for NorCal/SoCal.

Fast forward- you know enough ranchers and drink enough iced tea making friends, both southern San Benito and south of San Juan to Monterey County you'll have enough gate combos to ride for a decade.
 
Confirmed a go. Instead of police, a private security company has been hired. What could possibly go wrong?
Never mind the city council's claim of a $4mm deficit this year.
 
I wasn't there, but word is drive by shooting, half a dozen motorcycles 1 fatality crashed on Hwy 25 all at the same place/time. Friday not much attendance until the evening then was "busy", Sat saw same thing but got going around noon. Nobody counting noses or money this soon.
 
I heard it was great. I was thinking of going to ride dirt that weekend but didn’t. Probably would have been way too packed anyway with the rally in town.
 
Had friends go.

Even better was seeing some Harley trains on 101 coming back.

I went years and years ago. It was fun, but my sled is gone and not feeling the DU CAT is the right tool.
 
I gave up worrying about what others think long ago. What's that line, something about "You'd worry less about what people think of you, if you realized how seldom they do".
 
CDONA said:
Never ever got flack riding my Duc, around HD's, way more lust & envy.
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NorCalBusa said:
I gave up worrying about what others think long ago. What's that line, something about "You'd worry less about what people think of you, if you realized how seldom they do".
Click to expand...
Certainly this does not apply to my reason not to go.
I have hung with bikers on various bikes and like CDONA never got any flack.

Sure not worried either.

Just part of the vibe for me choosing to go was being on a sled. Sled sold.

I was not impressed enough to do the ride again even when I had the sled.

Thinking Sturgis in '26. DU CAT will behave with all my biker bros. :teeth
 
Wow, a big info nugget, buried in this dying thread.

I will say this, I have ridden there and back with two weeks,
Drag my rig, I stay for a month or two, I stay in Custer for all the park/roads, then move to Sturgis/Spearfish, about 60 miles, and ride out of there, & out to Devils Tower.
 
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