Weather holds up for Four Corners Motorcycle Rally – so far

Saturday, Sep 3, 2016 11:42 AM Updated Saturday, Sep. 3, 2016 1:04 PM

24th annual Four Corners Motorcycle Rally an international draw

Dennis Morris of Pagosa Springs and his dog Toby showed up for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Jared Laurent of the Duke City Stunt Riders performs tricks during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Adam Dawson is about to find out how hard the ground is during the biker bullriding at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Payton Todeschi holds on tight during the mutton busting at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcyclists from near and far showed up for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Joel Figueroa of the Duke City Stunt Riders performs tricks during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

All kinds of motorcycles were on display like this built BMW R71 during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Jared Laurent of the Duke City Stunt Riders performs tricks during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

All kinds of motorcycles were on display like this Indian during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

All kinds of motorcycles with custom paint jobs were at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

All kinds of motorcycles were on display during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcyclists from near and far showed up for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

All kinds of motorcycles were on display like this Victory during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

There’s always one motorcycle that stands out at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Dennis Morris of Pagosa Springs and his dog Toby showed up for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

There’s always one motorcycle that stands out at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Eunice Lancig of Aztec and her dog Abby showed up for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcyclists from near and far showed up for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

William Mendoza holds on tight during the mutton busting at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Susie Yocum shows one of the early jackets from the Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally, while working the history booth during the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Payton Todeschi holds on tight during the mutton busting at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Payton Todeschi lands hard during the mutton busting at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Payton Todeschi gets up and no tears after landing hard during the mutton busting at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Motorcyclists from near and far showed up for the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Adam Dawson is about to find out how hard the ground is during the biker bullriding at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

A biker bullriding contestant lands hard at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Kimer Welch lands hard during the steer riding at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Justin Krumwiede is about to find out how hard the ground is during the biker bullriding at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Kaleb Hodgson works the rough stock during the biker bullriding at the Four Corners Motorcycle rally in Ignacio. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Lots of stuffed animals hitching rides on motorcycles at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio on Saturday at the rally grounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

This time last year, a tornado ripped through the Saturday night events centers of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally in Ignacio and Durango.

And although some bikers were caught in rain showers, and even bouts of hail, the temperamental weather of Southwest Colorado, so far, has been a welcoming factor for this year’s 24th annual event.

“It’s been perfect riding weather if you ask me,” said Richard Potts. “Not too hot, not too wet.”

Potts, who enjoyed a full day of events in Ignacio, which included bull riding and a drag race, is a Cortez resident who said this is his first year participating in the motorcycle rally.

The Four Corner Motorcycle Rally, which draws thousands of riders from all over the world, kicked off Thursday and continues with motorcycle-centric events through Sunday night.

Jeff Murray, general manager at the Harley-Davidson dealership in Durango, said he’s noticed an uptick in participation from last year’s event. He, too, breathed a sigh of relief for this year’s weather. “This is nirvana compared to what we had this time last year,” he said.

Murray, powering through the final hours of the work day, which started at 7 a.m. Saturday, said the motorcycle rally is not only the dealership’s most significant weekend, it’s also a major economic driver for the area’s hotels, restaurants and retailers. “This is good for everyone,” he said. “It’s a bunch of folks in a good mood, having fun.”

Kathy Tucker, a motor clothes manager at the dealership, had a theory on the increased number of motorcyclists at this year’s event: last year, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota was celebrating its 75th anniversary. “A lot of people traveled for that,” she said.

Tucker said she talked with bikers from Australia, New Zealand and even China. Proof, she said, of the event’s international draw. “This is a place for a lot of different groups to meet up.”

A little closer to home, two bikers, Jessica Hollis and Anita Belden, both from Gypsum, were just arriving. Hollis said it was her first year at the Four Corners rally. “I just wanted to spend time with a lot of wonderful people,” she said.

Belden, about to launch into her second experience at the Four Corners rally, said rain and a little hail made the ride Saturday “a little rough,” but the landscape of the San Juan Mountains made up for it. “Red Mountain Pass is beautiful,” she said. “It was a little rough, but you’re still on your bike and having fun.”