Through many incarnations, the roar of motorcycles has arrived in Ignacio on Labor Day Weekend for the annual bike rally.
Now the new owner of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally hopes the roar of bikes and their owners will be back for the 23rd year.
The rally just opened a new office on Goddard Avenue in downtown Ignacio in what used to be a restaurant, and $1 raffle tickets for two motorcyles are selling briskly.
"The rally is not just for motorcycle riders," said Johnny Valdez, the new owner of the rally. "Do you like music? We have great bands." Motorcycle shows, biker bull riding, midget wrestling, and a Native American bike blessing are other events that attract a large cross-section of people, he explained.
Last year's rally attracted 6,000 visitors through the gates, and this year he and organizers are hoping for 10,000 or more.
Valdez purchased the rally from the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce earlier this year and has signed a three-year agreement to lease Sky Ute Fairgrounds from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.
The rally is open for all ages until 8 p.m., then rally-goers have to be 18 or over to stay on the grounds.
Tickets this year are $15 daily or $40 for a three-day pass.
A new twist this year: VIP tickets for $175 per person for the weekend, or $300 for a couple. The VIP tickets include unlimited food and drinks in a separate tent, a T-shirt, patch and pin, bike giveaway tickets, a camp site, and goodies from sponsors. Daily VIP passes are available, as well.
Valdez has lined up 30 sponsors for this year's event, and more vendors have signed up and early-bird tickets sold than in past years. He and other staffers are promoting the rally this summer at the Tejon Street Bike Fest in Colorado Springs and the Fire and Ice Bike Rally in Grants, N.M.
Riders will be in five 4th of July parades next week, including Bayfield's.
"We're just getting the word out, and we're getting positive feedback," Valdez said. Also, bikers kind of enjoy meeting an actual owner of a rally. Most are owned by a city or event-planning group, or in the case of Sturgis, S.D., multiple companies organize events for an entire week.
The rally is raffling a 2015 Indian Scout and a Harley Davidson XL 1200 "72."
Sky Ute Casino is offering a 2015 Harley Davidson Heritage Softtail and another Indian Scout, so four bikes will be given away in a matter of days a few miles apart.
While hundereds of volunteers donated their time in the past to the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce, which ran the rally for several years, Valdez said he still expects volunteers will be willing to trade their time for admission to the rally. A four-hour shift gets a one-day admission pass, while eight hours earns a pass for the weekend.
Valdez said he's working closely with other entities to provide a great experience for the people who come for the rally. That includes Friday night welcome parties, a bigger biker parade on Sunday morning in Durango, two charity rides benefitting Operation Second Chance and the Durango Powerhouse, as well as the Mayor's Ride on Sunday, which provides funds for area breast cancer organizations.
Local basketball, wrestling and cheerleading squads work during the rally's day events raising funds for their programs, he added.
Valdez ran the rally for three years for the chamber, then offered to buy it this year. Building on the expertise of the past organizers, Valdez said it was time for a renewal of commitment and funds to build it into an even bigger event. He has two people meeting with businesses, civic groups and local governments in San Juan County this year to bring in more riders and sponsorships from New Mexico, he said.
Music on tap this year includes local favorites Ralph Dinosaur and the Fabulous Volcanoes, Third Time Charmed, and two other local bands competing in a contest this weekend.
Creedence Revisited, a tribute band from Los Angeles, and Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters, a New Orleans band, will headline on Friday and Sunday nights.
On Saturday, Sky Ute Casino will host Shooter Jennings and Black Stone Cherry.
"It's a fun lineup, and a little different," Valdez said.
A full schedule of events is online at www.fourcornersmotorcyclerally.com
