People ride in from all over the country to spend just a few
days in historic downtown Hollister for the city’s annual
Independence Rally. For many, like legendary Hells Angel Sonny
Barger, subject of many books about the club, the ride here is as
much fun as the rally itself.
Hollister – People ride in from all over the country to spend just a few days in historic downtown Hollister for the city’s annual Independence Rally. For many, like legendary Hells Angel Sonny Barger, subject of many books about the club, the ride here is as much fun as the rally itself.
Barger made the 570-mile ride from his home in Desert Hills, Ariz. on his Harley-Davidson Road King just to be a part of the rally.
“I try to make it to every event that involves motorcycles,” Barger said.
Barger credits local resident Mike Corbin, owner of Corbin Motors, for the getting the rally started again in 1997, but said the idea came from the Hells Angels.
“It was our idea,” Barger said. “When the city got involved it almost failed, but Corbin kept it going.”
Motorcycles parked along San Benito Street boasted license plates from Florida, New York and North Carolina, but the majority of bikers here for the rally live in California.
Others, like Boozefighter Motorcycle Club member Jim “History” Quattlebaum, who came 1,600 miles from Texas, keep returning to Hollister every year to see old friends and meet new ones and talk with fellow Boozefighters from other chapters.
“We’re just in it for the fun,” Quattlebaum said.
Murray “Showtime” Haywood rode 750 miles down from Vancouver, Washington on his 1995 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail with 14 of his friends to experience the Hollister Independence Rally for the first time.
“The scenery around Mount Shasta was amazing,” Haywood said. “But it just got hotter and hotter the whole way down.”
Also from Washington, Curtis and Merlyn Cushman made the 16-hour journey to Hollister for “the rally and the sunshine.” Although this is the couple’s first rally, both are familiar with biker crowds and culture.
“We’re just here to mingle with all the other Harley Riders,” Cushman said. “And hopefully we’ll get in a few shorts rides ourselves.”
Before making the 6-day, 3,200 mile trip from Tampa, Fla., Fred Burcaw had to sell his wife on the idea.
“It was very difficult to convince my wife,” Burcaw said. “But it would have taken two weeks if she had been on the back of my bike.”
Burcaw and 6 other member’s of Reno’s Renegades said they just needed a reason to make a long journey.
“We were really looking for an excuse for a long ride,” Burcaw said. “And having a beer at Johnny’s was a good excuse.”
Brett Rowland is a staff writer for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
