Hollister Motorcycle Rally is back

After a one year's "official" absence, the Hollister Motorcycle Rally (July 6-8) is back with Power House Productions in charge. The city council's concerns about security have been answered, and the rally is just a few weeks away.

Last year with the official cancellation, I swept into town and picked up a couple of "We Don't Want Bikers" t-shirts that should be an ebay item at sometime in the future.

Kevin and the crew are welcomed again at our house, and this year's production should be light years ahead of what has/has not happened in the past.

Ramblings about Hollister

Hollister's a weird place. It's got it's good points, but I guess too many Brando-wannabees over the years have soured the cops on ANY bikers. They have been known to strictly enforce the law there - even laws that aren't on the books.

......I had good service from the Hollister H-D dealer a few years ago when they first opened, but haven't been back that way since 2002.

.......The highway that runs from Los Banos/I-5 through Pacheco Pass to the Hollister/Gilroy area is also known as the Haunted Highway. S'posed to be the ghosts of settlers, soldiers and native injuns that fought it out there in some bloody battles. Not seen anything there myself, but I did just about join 'em when I hit the center cement barrier three times in 2000. Bent the crap out of my engine guards, but they saved me from flying into oncoming traffic.

.....Corbin Seats is located in Hollister, and they had a nice display of bikes and hot rods last time I was there, but their customer service SUCKED! I was there when I was still on active duty, and in uniform, so maybe they just had something against the military...but I doubt it. I just think it sucked for everyone. So I ended up with my Mustang seat, and glad of it.

..Need more coffee.........:drunk: ...........

The Hollister Independence Rally has had its share of growing pains. One of the biggest was the police and national guard presence at the first rally about ten years ago. Two military helos circling overhead....expecting...who the hell knows what??

At Sturgis you knew the police were there, but I couldn't readily pick them out. In Hollister you couldn't miss 'em, and this year HPP is hoping their appearance is minimized as the whole down town mainstreet is off limits to bikes...only vendors and visitors.

About Corbin's....I've had two experiences both of which were fabulous. When they had their manufacturing plant in Castroville, I drove in with my wife, they pulled the saddle, placed a foam fitted replacement on the template, and told to take it for a ride sans leather. We came back and the saddle builder filed off foam where we didn't want it, and added foam where we needed it. A final spin two up, back to the shop for leather fitting, and it turned out perfect for both of us. My wife loved that saddle to this day.

When we got our second saddle after Corbin's moved to Hollister, we got exactly the same treatment though the saddle is not nearly as comfortable as the first. The saddles have been 'bullet proof' with easy clean up and no foam degredation at all. Sorry to hear about the poor customer service in your experience.

Feedback? How was it this year?

I didn't figure it would be dead to long. To much money involved for the community.

Rode thru Hollister in '97... Cool town, no problems with the law... Nice town...