Hollister
– No one knows exactly how many bikers rode into Hollister
Friday for the first day of the unofficial rally, but there weren’t
many compared to past years when the city hosted a sanctioned
event.
Hollister – No one knows exactly how many bikers rode into Hollister Friday for the first day of the unofficial rally, but there weren’t many compared to past years when the city hosted a sanctioned event.
The long-expected motorcycle hordes failed to materialize by late Friday afternoon, making the 2006 canceled rally the mildest invasion on record.
At many points during the day it seemed as though police officers, many borrowed from other jurisdictions, outnumbered bikers in downtown Hollister. Foot patrols of police officers walked San Benito Street in loose formation. Mounted officers rode on the street and sidewalk. There was even a contingent of bicycle cops. Police helicopters could be seen and heard roaring through the clear sky.
“There’s more cops than bikers,” Hollister Mayor Robert Scattini said. “We’re going to have to send some home because this is costing the city money.”
Although he didn’t know exactly how much the city would have to spend on public safety this year, Scattini said the small number of bikers didn’t justify the large number of police officers.
Citing financial concerns after being left with a $250,000 public safety tab in 2005, the City Council voted 3-2 in February to cancel this year’s rally. For many the rally, canceled or not, is a tradition to be observed.
Bob Stanley and his wife Caroline rode into Hollister early Friday afternoon from Merced on their 2004 Harley-Davidson Fatboy as they have been doing for the last nine years.
“We came because it’s always such a good time and this year is no different,” Stanley said. “It’s tradition for us.”
Stanley had already been ticketed by the California Highway Patrol by the time he and Caroline made the half-mile trip from their motel to Johnny’s Bar and Grill on San Benito Street. But Stanley didn’t let his first traffic ticket in 20 years dampen his mood.
“We always have fun here,” he said. “No matter what happens.”
Johnny’s and other local watering holes reported a steady stream of customers throughout the day on Friday, but many were hoping for a bigger crowd.
“It’s not as crazy as it usually would be on the first day of the rally,” said Johnny’s owner Charisse Tyson. “But it will be crazy tomorrow. And it’s still better than a normal weekend.”
Half a block down the road, Serena Chapman, general manager of the Vault Restaurant, said sales were lagging.
“Today it’s been a slow start, but I know things are going to pick up tonight and tomorrow,” she said early Friday afternoon.
One local vendor, selling T-shirts and other biker garb on San Benito Street, said sales this year were “way down” compared to last year. The vendor, who declined to give his name, said he was going to close up early on Friday and hope for more bikers on Saturday.
But the slow pace suited some bikers.
“I usually enjoy the Thursdays and Fridays more than the rest of the weekend during a normal rally,” said Andy Kasik, of Cupertino, who rode in for a drink at Johnny’s on his Harley-Davidson Screaming Eagle.
Other bikers craved more action.
“Hopefully we’ll see some fights, some action,” said Clark Valvorson, who rode in from Gilroy. “Tomorrow there should be more people here.”
Hollister Police Captain Bob Brooks said it was unlikely that out-of-town officers would be sent home.
“It’s always better to have more than less,” he said. “We’ll send officers home as the crowd dictates, but at this point it doesn’t look like that is going to happen.”
Brooks said “very few” parking tickets had been issued by officers on patrol downtown, but didn’t know exactly how many had been issued. Brooks didn’t know how many arrests had been made as of press time on Friday. He estimated at least 200 motorcycles were parked on downtown streets, but didn’t know how many bikers were in town.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
