HOLLISTER, CA -  The bikes rolled back into Hollister, California last Friday for the sixty-ninth anniversary of historic American Motorcycle Association sanctioned Gypsy Tour Event held in the city where "evil bikers" (the 1%) invaded the city in 1947.

After staged photo outside Johnny's Bar was published in Life Magazine in 1947, followed by a Harper's Magazine's article "The Cyclists Raid" and the Marlon Brando movie "The Wild Ones" hit the theaters, the legend of the outlaw biker was born. However the events in Hollister in 1947 bore little resemblances to the movie or the article, the bikers did not run amok nor become violent. But as we have learned from the movies, "when the legend becomes the fact, print the legend."

This year the rally would be ran by another new promoter, the third in four years.  In the agreement with promoter Reno-based Roadshows, which runs the Street Vibrations events there, the promoter agreed to pay $135,000 to cover city costs such as police, fire and public works. The promoter also agreed to collect city business license fees and sales tax revenue totaling an estimate of $45,000. The city of Hollister had a falling out with last years promoter, ConvExx which runs the Bikefest Rally in Las Vegas,  that they say still own the city roughly $90,000.

Thousands of bikes lined a four block area of San Benito Street and rally-goers checked out their favorite bikes up and down the street. While motorcycles revved morning to night throughout the weekend, attendees purchased leather jackets and souvenir T-shirts front vendors on each side of the street. Other vendors offerings included insurance promotions, sunglasses, THC infused juices and beef jerky.

Friday morning there was a slight hiccup with beer sales, but once that was taken care of the rally ran farley smooth with no more issues. Many of the forty thousand attendees made a be-line for the bar where the legend was born, Johnny's Bar and Grill. "I do a month and a half worth of business in a week," said Charisse Tyson, owner of Johnny's.

Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez was very happy with the turn-out for this years rally and is looking forward to continuing to work with the Reno promoter Roadshows in years to come. Next years rally is scheduled for June 30th, July 1st and 2nd. But if you can't wait there is always Sturgis in August, Reno's Street Vibration in September and of course the Las Vegas Bikefest in October.

See you in Reno.