HOLLISTER
Another motorcycle rally will be held the same weekend as Hollister’s this year in Los Banos, but promotors of both events said they don’t plan to be competing for riders.
Seth Doulton, the Hollister Motorcycle Rally promotor, said he doesn’t have a problem with the Central Valley Motorcycle Rally being held at the same time – July 11-13 – in Los Banos.
“It’s 45 miles away,” Doulton said. “No one is going to go to that and not come to the Hollister rally.”
Steven Lopez, whose American Marketing Productions company is promoting the Central Valley Motorcycle Rally, said it’s another option for riders in the area that weekend.
“I want them to come to Hollister,” Lopez said, “and I want people from Hollister to come to my event.”
Lopez said the Central Valley Motorcycle Rally, to be held at the Merced County Spring Fairgrounds, will be motorcycles only. The rally will offer stunt shows, burnouts, music, vendors, races in the main arena and free camping.
It will be the second annual Central Valley Motorcycle Rally. Last year’s was held in September.
Doulton said it’s like comparing apples to oranges. The Hollister rally is free, while the valley rally costs $10 to attend.
Hollister City Manager Clint Quilter said the major vendors will be at the Hollister rally, so a similar event 45 minutes away won’t affect attendance here.
“I don’t think it hurts because there’s only so much room downtown,” Quilter said.
One council member reached Monday, Pauline Valdivia, expressed concern about the Los Banos event’s timing coinciding with the Hollister rally.
“That’s not good because Los Banos isn’t that far,” Valdivia said. “People are going to be making choices.”
Mayor Doug Emerson, however, doubts the Los Banos event will have a significant effect on Hollister’s attendance.
“Ours has been established and it’s there,” he said. “I’d have to see as we get closer what it is. I would say there’s not too much concern.”
Doulton said the Los Banos rally adds another venue where Hollister attendees can ride, fitting into his vision for the event.
“I want so much going on that people spend three or four days in the whole area,” Doulton said.
Editor Kollin Kosmicki contributed to this report.
