Vermont Rally Set For June 6 through 8-08

By Mike Cameron

   Dirk Nakazawa's vision of pro-active community involvement is expected to sweep into Rutland Vermont like a fresh summer breeze on June 6th, 7th, and 8th of 2008.

   The Vermont Rally will give motorcycle enthusiasts and no-riders alike an exciting event filled weekend featuring “great rides and a great time this summer,” according to the organizations web site vermontrally.com.  

  The week-end event is being sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association and has found a major venue at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland offering what many riders say is an ideal location for the festivities.

   The Vermont Rally will also feature a major music festival scheduled into the three day rally.  It has captured the imagination of area clubs that look forward to organizing several motorcycle rides in and around Rutland County.  

   Spectacular freestyle stunt shows, biker rodeos, a custom bike contest, burnouts, and continuous live music on two stage areas are planned.  The event should attract bikers from all across the east coast planners visiualize and with good reason.

   Two internationally famous motorcycle rallies are held during this time of the year and both are within easy riding distance to Rutland and the surrounding area.  They are in order of schedule; Americade 2008 in Lake George Village New York scheduled for June 2nd thru June 7th, and Laconia Motorcycle Week, June 14th thru the 22nd in Laconia New Hampshire.

   The Vermont Rally will dovetail the Americade weekend giving bikers a brand new set of dates for their summer riding calendar.  

   Now instead of just passing through Rutland from Lake George to Laconia they can stop and enjoy Vermont's special kind of Green Mountain hospitality and take advantage of an equally exciting list of things to see and do while they are in the Rutland Region.  

   Some will visit just for the opportunity to add a new event to their summer biking season, meet new friends and experience new surroundings.  The Vermont Rally plans to present a multitude of opportunities for everyone involved.

   Vendors are currently being solicited and with excellent success according to event organizers.  Major media partners and retail sponsors have been contacted and that connection has been established with publicity for the rally underway.  

   The organizational logistics are impressive and according to Vermont Rally management the event is shaping up better than expected.

   How popular are New England Regional motorcycle rallies?  A website for one of the   most popular regional rallies had over 30,000 hits between January and April 17th of this year.

   The retail dollar roll-over figures for motorcyclist events are enormous even by conservative estimates.  Americade in Lake George Village is marketed nationwide as a key summer attraction by that community.  

   Bikers can make the cash register ring.  Bikers are on record across the country as being in the fore-front of important fundraising events that have raised millions of dollars nationwide for worthy causes.  

   The American Motorcyclist Association is guided by three words; rights, riding and racing and their members include people from all walks of life and just about every profession and demographic imaginable.

   In Rutland riders can enjoy live music featuring the regions best entertainers, ATV pulls, a freestyle stunt show, tattoo competition and a fashion show, “burnout” competition,  Rob's Dyno Service and IYF Pro-Wrestling in the Royce Mandigo Arena. This is just the first day.

 The Kiwanis Club will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, Lost Riders will organize a ride to raise money for disabled veteran's transportation.  More freestyle stunts, garden tractor pulls, a biker rodeo, custom bike show, a poker tournament and more pro wrestling.  Rob' Dyno Service will again be available to make sure bikes are running right.

Sunday will feature the Gayle Sheldon Memorial Ride for Brain Cancer Awareness.

All three day of The Vermont Rally will give motorcyclists an opportunity to meet knew riders and renew old friendships that will last a lifetime.