The bikes blared, the music rocked, the police kept the Mongols
and Hells Angels in check and people reveled in the sun and fun for
three days during the Independence Rally.
The bikes blared, the music rocked, the police kept the Mongols and Hells Angels in check and people reveled in the sun and fun for three days during the Independence Rally.
Hollister hosted another great tribute to motorcycles and the free wheelin’ American spirit for the Fourth of July weekend.
To be sure, there were bumps in the road. Police nabbed 44 people for driving under the influence and one man was killed by a drunk driver on the eve of the Rally, according to police. We’d like to see the Hollister Independence Rally Committee and police think over strategies to cut down on drunk driving during the event – perhaps there could be sobriety check points on the way out of town.
Also, while they blustered, the rival motorcycle clubs the Mongols and Hells Angels, were held in check. All hell did not break loose. For that, we can thank the good work of local police and all the departments from throughout the state that lent Hollister a helping hand for the weekend. When the Mongols and Hells Angels rode through town Saturday night, making a show of force, police were quick to form a protective phalanx between the groups that prevented any major problems.
The event took on the tone of successful street festivals found in many towns, just accented with leather and chrome. People shopped, drank some beer, watched daredevil riders defy the laws of gravity on the Motordome Wall of Death and got into the swing of the party.
While the final numbers are not in, Police Chief Jeff Miller said attendance may be lower than last year when throngs of people came to Hollister to pay tribute to Marlon Brando – a biker icon who portrayed “Johnny” in the classic film the “Wild One” – who died the day before the event got underway. Still, on Saturday and Sunday, crowds of people packed the streets full to bursting and vendors were doing a steady trade. In fact, there were a number of T-shirt booths still going strong Monday morning.
Overall, the rally was a success. It provided a good time for thousands of people, an economic boost for many businesses and solidified Hollister’s reputation as the “Birthplace of the American Biker.”
