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HOGs return for state rally

Festivities staged

for visitors, locals

Get ready to hear the roar of hundreds — maybe even thousands — of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles as the 2001 Arizona State HOG Rally thunders its way into Williams on Thursday.

This year, the Arizona Harley Owners Group (HOG) “Ride the Rim” Rally returns to town after a successful event last year. Events will be staged Thursday through Saturday.

“Each morning starts with a pancake breakfast at Grand Canyon Harley,” said Jim Panke, Arizona Harley Owners Group (HOG) Rally coordinator. “Friday, there is a street party with different vendors set up downtown.

“Saturday is the bike show and games at the rodeo grounds.”

After the show and games, the HOGs will line up for a parade through town. Following the parade, the motorcycles will be parked downtown and a second street dance will start.

Limbs Akimbo, a Flagstaff band, will perform during the community block parties, held at Route 66 and Third Street, which are sponsored by the Sultana Bar.

“We’re really excited about the HOG rally coming to town,” said Michael F. Vasquez, HOG Rally chairman for the Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce. “The town is ready, and it looks like the weather is going to be beautiful.

“What more could you ask for?”

More than 800 HOGs pre-registered for the rally, Vasquez said. He added the number of actual participants could exceed 2,000, which means the town could see as many as 3,000 participants and guests.

“The bike games and shows are for registered HOGs,” Vasquez said. “However, community involvement in the block parties and with vendors, which are located downtown, is highly encouraged.”

Another event residents should not miss is the parade.

“The best event of all is the parade, which will enter town traveling west on Railroad Avenue to Monument Park where the bikers will turn east on Route 66 to travel through town,” Vasquez said. “Three blocks of downtown will be set aside for motorcycle parking.”

Golf tournament

The chamber of commerce and the Williams Rotary Club are sponsoring a golf tournament at Elephant Rocks. The proceeds from the event will benefit both organizations’ scholarship programs for high school seniors.

Four-person scramble shotgun starts are at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Registration fees are $50 per player and participants will get a chance to walk or ride away a winner because a 2001 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and a 2001 Harley-Davidson Ford F-150 are hole-in-one prizes.

Downtown vendors include leather distributors, tie-dye T-shirts, custom-made knives, wigs, mini figurines, a motorcycle repair shop, flavored popcorn, personalized pin striping, photo booths and much more.

HOG games

Some of the bike games for HOGs include the wienie bite, the slow race, ball and chute, old man’s home and the bike tire throw for men and women.

“The wienie bite is a rider and passenger game,” a Arizona Bike Rally Bike Games brochure states. “The passenger who bites off the longest piece of wienie off the string will determine the winner. Riders and passengers may not place their feet on the ground and no hands may be used.”

The hot dog dangling on the string is also slathered in mustard. The club from Yuma sets up and runs all the games.

The weekend ends with the corporate meeting on Sunday. This is where the club elects officers for the next year and selects the site to hold next year’s rally.

HOG schedule

This weekend’s HOG events include:

Thursday

• 7 a.m. — Pancake breakfast at Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson in Bellemont.

• Noon — Scenic tour (departs from Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson).

• 4 p.m. — Safety seminar at rodeo grounds.

This is also the day put aside so participants can ride the Grand Canyon Railway and play in the Arizona State HOG Rally Golf Tournament, sponsored by the chamber of commerce and the Williams Rotary Club. The walking poker run for downtown businesses also begins Thursday.

Friday

• 7 a.m. — Pancake breakfast at Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson in Bellemont.

• 10:30 a.m. — Poker run (departs from Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson).

• 2 p.m. — Safety seminar at rodeo grounds.

• 5-11 p.m. — Block party with Limbs Akimbo in downtown Williams.

Saturday

• 7 a.m. — Pancake breakfast at Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson in Bellemont.

• 10 a.m. — Safety seminar at rodeo grounds.

• 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Bike show and bike games registration at rodeo grounds. Walking poker run merchant tally sheets and riding poker run hands must be turned in.

• 10:30 a.m. — Poker run (departs from Grand Canyon Harley-Davidson).

• 1-4 p.m. — Bike games and bike show.

• 6:15 p.m. — Parade staging.

• 7-11 p.m. — Block party with Limbs Akimbo in downtown Williams.

Registration for the rally is at the city parking lot Thursday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Friday 8-10 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-noon.

Anyone who wants to volunteer to help register participants Thursday, Friday and Saturday, can call Connie Hiemenz, chamber Ambassador, at 635-4426 or 635-4836 (evenings).


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