The dust has settled on another Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, as this year’s event welcomed around 400 people to the La Plata County Fairgrounds last weekend.
Event organizer and Durango Harley Davidson Owner Trevor Bird said there was a significant turnout this year, but was unable to give a specific number of visitors in town. However, he said many events such as the flat track races sold out this year.
The races at the rodeo arena brought around 1,600 spectators to watch a variety of different bikes rip around a short track. In addition, the La Plata County Fairgrounds were used for camping this year, where sites were located at the Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio.
“I think the experience for the campers was great. They loved the venue and it's nice to be able to have a central place to call home for the weekend,” Bird said.
Rally organizers worked closely with all law enforcement agencies to ensure that everyone was safe over the weekend.
The licensing agreement between the rally organizers and La Plata County allowed for up to 600 campers at the fairgrounds. With it being the first year allowing camping, Bird wanted to be a little cautious with the number of campers.
This year, Harley Davidson Chief Executive Officer Jochen Zeitz attended the rally. On Saturday, the rally hosted a ride to raise awareness and funds for The Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives of Colorado.
“I haven't had a chance to recap them. But you know, I know it raised a lot of money for the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives of Colorado task force, and it's really special we rolled out to the Southern Ute Reservation, to the museum and cultural center where there was a cultural presentation,” Bird said.
Bird also said he learned much more about the cause and how those impacted “need a voice.”
“They need people to be aware of some of the challenges that those communities face,” Bird said.
The rally team is already working on plans for next year’s event and has scheduled a time at Purgatory Resort for the return of the hill climb event.
The event had been taken off the schedule for this year’s event because of budgetary restraints.
“It's an expensive event but it’s something that really brought out a lot of the community and families to come watch,” Bird said, adding the hill climb event garnered interest from multiple big name sponsors.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
