Hollister Independence Rally Committee staff and about a hundred
volunteers start today the monumental task of transforming downtown
Hollister into a huge outdoor venue for the largest motorcycle
rally on the West Coast.
Hollister – Hollister Independence Rally Committee staff and about a hundred volunteers start today the monumental task of transforming downtown Hollister into a huge outdoor venue for the largest motorcycle rally on the West Coast.
“It’s mayhem,” H.I.R.C. President Dave Ventura joked. “I wouldn’t want to do it, and I do it.”
Rally volunteers began setting up the custom bike builders showcase at Fremont School yesterday, but the bulk of the rally set up will begin this afternoon and continue through the night in preparation for the 8am Friday kick-off.
More than 200 vendors – selling everything from T-shirts to barbecued tri-tip – will arrive in town at about 1pm today to sign in with the rally committee. At 5pm the real work begins when H.I.R.C volunteers will start setting up the vendor booths that will line Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets during the three day rally, which is expected to draw more than 120,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from throughout the state and the nation.
“We’re talking over 200 booths. We have to coordinate them, get them into spots. For the last five years we’ve been out there until 6 o’clock in the morning,” Ventura said. “It’s pretty chaotic, but chaotic in a good way.”
Despite the appearance of chaos, Ventura said that the event is well-planned.
“Planning starts the day after the last (rally),” he said. “Well, we get about a week vacation, but it starts almost immediately.”
Ventura said he expects things to run smoothly today, thanks to the volunteers and the H.I.R.C. directors and block captains who oversee and coordinate the set up.
“It’s been really smooth,” he said, “I’ve been on board three years now and this is the smoothest it’s been. Helen Nelson (H.I.R.C executive director) keeps a tight ship.”
Ventura guarantees that by sun-up tomorrow everything will be ready.
“We have no choice,” he said. “It will happen, barring any natural disaster.”
Luke Roney covers politics and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
