Whether it be daredevil riders challenging the Wall of Death,
ladies in leather and lace, tattoo contests or tasty tri-tip
sandwiches, those at the Hollister Independence Rally had myriad
options for a good time Friday.
Hollister – Whether it be daredevil riders challenging the Wall of Death, ladies in leather and lace, tattoo contests or tasty tri-tip sandwiches, those at the Hollister Independence Rally had myriad options for a good time Friday.
Food vendors lined Sixth Street east of San Benito Street – an area known as gourmet alley – selling tasty treats ranging from funnel cakes to barbecued tri-tip. Also, for rally attendees in need of an oil change, vendors offered fried calamari, clams and corn dogs. And other vendors were set up along Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets selling T-shirts, leather chaps, sunglasses, motorcycle helmets and more.
On East Street, Jason “Bling Bling” Pullen wowed the dozens of spectators as he performed stunts on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The crowd cheered as Pullen rode on his back tire – front tire in the air – with his legs dangling over the handle bars of his bike. Later during the 20 minute show he spun the bike around in tight circles, leaving circular tire tracks on the street. As the crowd filed out after the show, Pullen received high-fives and handshakes from his fans.
“I thought it was great,” said Joel Sakamoto, who traveled from Morgan Hill to attend the rally. “I liked everything he did. I liked the high speed power slides.”
Over on the Sixth Street stage Lynn Atkinson of Salinas beat out about five competitors Friday afternoon and won best of show in the Tattoo contest.
“I’m very surprised,” she said.
Atkinson, 59, got her first tattoo when her co-workers dared her. That was six years ago. Now she is covered neck to ankles with artful ink, including the faces of her three grand children running up her left leg and a picture of a Cherokee shaman.
“They said they created a monster,” Atkinson said.
She has been entering competitions since she got her first tattoo. She even met her husband at a tattoo convention.
“I think it’s great,” she said.
There was more motorcycle excitement on Seventh Street, where five stunt riders challenged the Wall of Death – a 90 degree circular wall – and performed aerobatic riding tricks as the crowd watched from above.
Mikey Maeurer, 12, from Washington state saw the show twice on Friday and was planning on seeing it one more time.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said.
His favorite part of the show was when rider Samantha Morgan rode up the wall of death and grabbed dollar bills being waved over the railing by spectators.
While the food, shopping and events are enjoyed by many rally attendees, there is little question as to what the really draws people from across the nation to Hollister each July. Maurice Reynon who rode his Harley-Davidson down from Stockton put it succinctly.
“It’s the people and the bikes,” he said.
