Four Corners Motorcycle Rally: Wondrous weather, terrific turnout

Sunday, Sep 4, 2016 10:47 AM Updated Sunday, Sep. 4, 2016 4:11 PM

Motorcyclist: Last year, we were stuck in the rain

Beverly Palumbo left, and Kathy Tucker, both with the Hardly Angels precision motorcycle drill team, make their way down Main Avenue on Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade in Durango.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

De Colores Civitan in Action volunteers work the Building Homes for Heroes booth selling burritos and coffee at the Durango Transit Center on Sunday morning before the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade. Jon Sigillito, center, a founding board member of Building Homes for Heroes, said, “We gifted 26 homes last year and are on track to give one mortgage-free home away every 10 days this year.” Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcycle fans line Main Avenue on Sunday morning for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Linda Campbell and her husband, former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, wave to the crowd as they cruise down Main Avenue during Sunday morning’s Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade, which went up Main Avenue in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe lead the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Sunday morning on Main Avenue in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

All kinds of motorcycles were on display Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Main Avenue on Sunday morning. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Kevin Linville kick-starts his 1928 Indian Scout 101 as a crowd gathers Sunday morning at the Durango Transit Center to marvel at the classic bike before the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcyclists begin line up at Durango Transit Center on Sunday morning before the start of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Members of the Hardly Angels drill team line up for photos at the Durango Transit Center on Sunday morning before the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Pink is the preferred color for the Hardly Angels precision motorcycle drill team. Members gather at the Durango Transit Center on Sunday morning before performing in the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Beverly Palumbo, left, and Kathy Tucker, both with the Hardly Angels precision motorcycle drill team, make their way down Main Avenue on Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Beverly Palumbo, left, and Kathy Tucker, of the Hardly Angels motorcycle drill team, make their way down Main Avenue on Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade in Durango. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcycles of various makes and models were featured Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

If you love motorcycles the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Sunday morning on Main Avenue offered an opportunity to see a wide variety of makes and models. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

If you love motorcycles the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade Sunday morning on Main Avenue offered an opportunity to see a wide variety of makes and models. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Johnny Valdez, owner of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, rides Sunday morning in the parade on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcycles of various models were featured Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcycles enthusiasts enjoyed participating and viewing the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Sunday morning on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcycles of various models were featured Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcyclists show off their rides Sunday morning during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Participants demonstrate their skills during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Sunday morning on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

A few classic cars took part in the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Parade on Sunday morning on Main Avenue. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

IGNACIO – The officials numbers aren’t in quite yet, but Johnny Valdez, owner of Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, said the annual event saw at least a 25 percent increase in attendance compared with last year.

“We’re definitely up,” said Valdez, who estimated on Sunday afternoon at least 7,500 attendees passed through the rally center gate at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds in Ignacio.

The 24th annual rally, which kicked off Thursday and came to a close late Sunday, drew thousands of motorcyclists from all over the country, and even brought in international travelers.

The reason for the increase in popularity from last year, Valdez speculated, boiled down to two factors: favorable weather and the appeal of the national act, Los Lonely Boys.

Last year, rainstorms, thunder and lightning wreaked havoc throughout Labor Day Weekend, culminating in a near tornado on Saturday night. The storms cause difficult riding conditions, and made for a muddy campground.

Valdez, who is entering his second year as rally owner, said over the course of the last year, event organizers worked with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, installed new drainage and despite a few storms this weekend, encountered no problems.

As for booking Los Lonely Boys, Valdez said the right circumstances fell into place. The band, most widely recognized for their 2003 hit “Heaven,” brought in 2,500 to 3,000 attendees on Friday.

“That’s the largest Friday night I’ve seen in at least five years,” Valdez said.

The improved weather conditions were on the lips of most bikers on Sunday, as the event started to wind down. Kenny Lizer from Albuquerque was enjoying his second time at the Four Corners rally.

“Last year, we were stuck in the rain,” Lizer said. “But this year, the ride up here was nice.”

For Lizer, his friend Rick Sullivan, and most other motorcyclists who attended the rally, the four-day event is a chance for people with a shared interest to gather, and, perhaps most of all, go on beautiful rides throughout the Four Corners.

“I like to come and mingle with people,” said Sullivan, who attends similar rallies throughout the country. “You don’t get a bunch of high society snobs here. Everyone here is down to earth. That’s what this is about.”

As Durangoans wake up to a quieter town Monday, so too do local law enforcement officers, who finally get a chance to breathe after the busy Labor Day weekend.

While summer’s last holiday can keep officers hopping, officials with the Colorado State Patrol, Durango Police Department and La Plata County Sheriff’s Office all said despite a major increase in motorcyclists, law enforcement actions did not increase compared with any other holiday weekends.

“It’s a little bit busier than usual, but not as busy as motorcycle rallies have been in the past,” the Sheriff’s Office Lt. Sam Eggleston said. “We’re not overwhelmed.”

Valdez already has his sights on next year, which should be all planned within the next several weeks. He said for the event’s 25th anniversary, expect to see even more of a party.

“We’re hoping to book two or three national acts to celebrate,” he said. “It’s going to be good.”

jromeo@durangoherald.com