Thanks to attendance of around 14,000, The Gypsy Tour Motorcycle
Classic, Inc. event held over the weekend turned out
”
okay,
”
a local event organizer said. It has become a follow up to the
city-sanctioned Hollister Motorcycle Rally canceled before this
July’s traditional trek by bikers. Hollister’s primary expense was
policing for the event, while law enforcement officials are saying
the private event was quiet on the security side and prompted only
a slight increase in crime over the weekend.
HOLLISTER
Thanks to attendance of around 14,000, The Gypsy Tour Motorcycle Classic, Inc. event held over the weekend turned out “okay,” a local event organizer said.
“By and large, we were happy with the amount of advertising we did … everything turned out well,” said event organizer Roger Grimsley.
On Friday, the organizers counted around 4,000 motorcycles, with an additional 8,000 on Saturday. On Sunday, things didn’t get started until around noon, which prompted organizers to not charge a fee for parking. While Sunday was “very light,” around 1,500 to 2,000 people showed up.
The event, which was free and only a $5 fee was charged for parking, was held at Bolado Park and featured food and beer, a car and motorcycle show and a swap meet. The car and motorcycle showed featured around 20 to 30 cars and 12 motorcycles.
It has become a follow up to the city-sanctioned Hollister Motorcycle Rally canceled before this July’s traditional trek by bikers. Hollister’s primary expense was policing for the event, while law enforcement officials are saying the private event was quiet on the security side and prompted only a slight increase in crime over the weekend.
Sheriff Curtis Hill noted how his office did not have to spend any overtime expenses. He believes a lot of bikers are “phasing it out of their plans.”
“That was pretty much what we saw,” Hill said.
Overall, there were 26 bookings at the county jail, 12 for driving under the influence, between Friday and Sunday. That is about a quarter of the usual number of arrests during a sanctioned rally, while there were no violent crimes reported in connection with the visitors.
Below, see the premiere of The News and You, with Gypsy Tour Motorcycle Classic promoter Roger Grimsley as a guest.
