markus schmidt
progress-index.com
Nitro Harleys make their way down the drag strip at the Virginia Motorsports Park yesterday.
More than 2,000 Harley-Davidson enthusiasts wrapped up the 2011 Virginia Harley Owners Group Rally at the Dinwiddie Motorsports Park yesterday. And just as expected, the uniting theme of this final event was the thundering roar of around 1,700 heavy motorcycles.
"This has been absolutely phenomenal," said rally coordinator Jo Ann Emmons. "The area, the people, the merchants, the businesses - everything was just wonderful," Emmons said.
Harley lovers on their polished rides became a familiar site in the Tri-Cities area in the past days, and many residents came to like members of this eclectic subculture. "A lot of people put all bikers in that one group of one-percenters, the clubs that do bad things. But most of us are not like that at all," Emmons said.
Since Wednesday evening, riders could chose from a long list of well-organized events prepared by the H.O.G. and countless volunteers, including a dinner and tour of Weston Plantation in Hopewell, guided tours of the Petersburg National Battlefield and a Civil War re-enactment at Pamplin Park.
"I'd be hard pressed to say which one was the most popular event among our riders," Emmons said. One of the definite highlights was the parade into Old Towne Petersburg on Friday evening. Hundreds of bikers cruised down the Boulevard in Colonial Heights, over the Martin Luther King Bridge into Petersburg, where they explored the city by foot. "We got a lot of positive feedback about the small businesses and shops in Petersburg," Emmons said.
But yesterday's final event at the Motorsports Park was all about Harley-Davidson bikes. Judges determined the most sophisticated rides in a bike show, and there was a tattoo contest. Greg Hester from Virginia Beach said that he especially enjoyed the unity among riders at this last event. "A lot of us live very different lives and we have never met before," he said. "But in the past days, many of us got to know each other, because we all share the passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles," he said. "That's pretty powerful stuff."
Hester, like many other riders, had never been to the Petersburg area before. "This was my first time and I came with an open mind, but now I am a fan," he said. "I will definitely come back to ride around the area on my own and look around some more. There is so much to see," Hester said.
To Petersburg area tourism, this is good news. Emmons estimated that rally participants may have spent between $2.1 and $2.3 million during the three-day event alone - and they will spend more when they come back.
While many bikers rolled out to ride back home last night, many stayed over night and will leave today.
The Virginia H.O.G. Is one of 1,157 chapters worldwide, totaling more than one million members. Harley-Davidson established the H.O.G. In 1983 in response to a desire by riders for an organized way to share their passion.
- Markus Schmidt may be reached at 804-722-5172 or mschmidt@progress-index.com
Read more: http://progress-index.com/news/bye-bye-easy-riders-1.1167222#ixzz1QPSnTzRb
"This has been absolutely phenomenal," said rally coordinator Jo Ann Emmons. "The area, the people, the merchants, the businesses - everything was just wonderful," Emmons said.
Harley lovers on their polished rides became a familiar site in the Tri-Cities area in the past days, and many residents came to like members of this eclectic subculture. "A lot of people put all bikers in that one group of one-percenters, the clubs that do bad things. But most of us are not like that at all," Emmons said.
Since Wednesday evening, riders could chose from a long list of well-organized events prepared by the H.O.G. and countless volunteers, including a dinner and tour of Weston Plantation in Hopewell, guided tours of the Petersburg National Battlefield and a Civil War re-enactment at Pamplin Park.
"I'd be hard pressed to say which one was the most popular event among our riders," Emmons said. One of the definite highlights was the parade into Old Towne Petersburg on Friday evening. Hundreds of bikers cruised down the Boulevard in Colonial Heights, over the Martin Luther King Bridge into Petersburg, where they explored the city by foot. "We got a lot of positive feedback about the small businesses and shops in Petersburg," Emmons said.
But yesterday's final event at the Motorsports Park was all about Harley-Davidson bikes. Judges determined the most sophisticated rides in a bike show, and there was a tattoo contest. Greg Hester from Virginia Beach said that he especially enjoyed the unity among riders at this last event. "A lot of us live very different lives and we have never met before," he said. "But in the past days, many of us got to know each other, because we all share the passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles," he said. "That's pretty powerful stuff."
Hester, like many other riders, had never been to the Petersburg area before. "This was my first time and I came with an open mind, but now I am a fan," he said. "I will definitely come back to ride around the area on my own and look around some more. There is so much to see," Hester said.
To Petersburg area tourism, this is good news. Emmons estimated that rally participants may have spent between $2.1 and $2.3 million during the three-day event alone - and they will spend more when they come back.
While many bikers rolled out to ride back home last night, many stayed over night and will leave today.
The Virginia H.O.G. Is one of 1,157 chapters worldwide, totaling more than one million members. Harley-Davidson established the H.O.G. In 1983 in response to a desire by riders for an organized way to share their passion.
- Markus Schmidt may be reached at 804-722-5172 or mschmidt@progress-index.com
Read more: http://progress-index.com/news/bye-bye-easy-riders-1.1167222#ixzz1QPSnTzRb
