On Saturday, vendors lined the Corbin grounds. Bands played on a stage. Visitors took in biker-related demonstrations. It felt a lot like a Hollister motorcycle rally, but without the police and on a smaller scale.
The Hollister City Council canceled an official rally this year due to the promoter backing out in the spring. Venues such as Corbin Motors, which holds an annual July 4 weekend event, kept the party going despite the lacking city support. Over in downtown Hollister, the Indian Motorcycle dealer at 411 San Felipe Road was holding a party of its own, while Johnny’s Bar & Grill buzzed throughout the weekend and there was a pop-up bar at the Veterans Memorial Building.
“I don’t understand how the city loses money on it all the time,” said Dave Fowler, a Hollister resident selling T-shirts at Corbin on Saturday. “It’s just a shame. Like I said, it’s a good event. It’s for commerce. It’s for local business.”
Tami Dober from Windvest Motorcycle Products came from Morgan Hill and said she comes to Corbin’s spot every year.
“We always have a great time, do a lot of great business,” she said.
Compared to last year, though?
“I feel like it’s a lot less people, especially yesterday,” Dober said. “It would’ve been nice if the city had joined in.”
San Juan Bautista resident Cesar Flores with the local Top Hatters Motorcycle Club was impressed with attendance, on the other hand, and said the group ran out of its allotment of 175 tickets for an annual Poker Run.
“We were wa over that. That’s an indication of the attendance,” he said. “They’ve been pouring in since 9 a.m. this morning.
Ken Pearson was walking through vendor booths Saturday. He came from Santa Clara and said he enjoys the people, the food and the beer, but said it was a downer without a sanctioned rally. The fun will go on regardless, though, he said.
“We gotta do what we gotta do.”
Dave Harrington of San Francisco was working the Teamster Horsemen booth. The organization is made up of Teamsters who ride motorcycles and fundraise for charity.
“One of the fundraisers we’re doing right now is childhood leukemia,” he said Saturday. “Last year, we raised $18,000.”
