Ninth annual bike rally starts Thursday

GRANTS - With merely a few days remaining before the start of the Ninth Annual Fire and Ice Bike Rally, event organizers said that most of the work has been completed that will turn the town of Grants into a mecca of fun for a three-day weekend.

“We're just tightening the belt at this point,” said Grants MainStreet President/Bike Rally Chairman Donald Jaramillo. “The reality is, ready or not, here they come. Once the event starts, it's on, and it just takes over and polices itself.”

Interim MainStreet Project Coordinator Randy Hoffman echoed Jaramillo's thoughts, and said that this year's rally would be the best in its history. He pointed to the “Ton of Fun” event, which expands the Bike Rally even further into a family-oriented event.

“During last year, when the MainStreet Board met, we were looking at doing additional things that would make the Rally family oriented,” Hoffman told the Beacon. “The Grants High School cheerleaders came in and said they would like to bring a fun zone, in the park, with six or eight different types of jumpers. We thought it could be ideal for children.”

Parents can take their children to the “Ton of Fun,” where they will be issued a wrist band, and parents can be satisfied that they can peruse the vendors and other Bike Rally areas without worrying about their child's safety.

Meanwhile, there are other improvements to speak of, many of which are already visible. A large, permanent stage has been built at Fire and Ice Park along with four “pavilions,” all of which create ease for organization and save money as well, according to Jaramillo.

“These are permanent additions that add to the community,” Jaramillo said. “We'll be able to serve liquor under one pavilion, serve food under another and use a smaller one for the entrance into the Bud Tent. Overall, we wanted to do away with the tent completely, but the expense will be less for facilities.”

Those savings, Jaramillo said, can then go towards things like hiring bigger-name entertainment for under the tent. This year, the band Dokken, a multi-platinum act most popular in the 80s and early 90s is the featured artist, and Jaramillo said that snagging a group of this caliber every year will continue to be important.

“Some might argue that you could put any band under there,” Jaramillo said, “but you have to get that nationally-known act in there on Saturday. And Dokken is a big draw.”

Additional improvements to this year's Rally include a Battle of the Bands, which will take place beginning at 2 p.m. on July 19, which is typically known as Community Day. Tim Martin and Friends, a Christian rock outfit, will play under the main stage prior to the Battle of the Bands beginning at noon. Also, expanded entertainment under the Gazebo at Riverwalk Park is set as well and with a local flair: local band Amigos West plays at 6 p.m. on July 17 while No Quarter, a Zuni Mountain-based group plays beginning at 2 p.m. on July 18

“We want the community to feel like they get something from the event also,” Jaramillo said. “Some stay hidden the whole event, but we still do try and end with an exclamation mark and that's for community. So, even the biker who doesn't appreciate the Bud Tent can also get high quality entertainment that's not costly.”

For all that has changed about this year's event, there is plenty that hasn't, including the very popular poker runs rodeo events and biker baby contests. Full schedules of all of these events are available online at www.fireandicebikerally.com

“We have had people come to us and say 'Would you consider us for one of the stops on the poker run?'” Hoffman said. “We did that last year and they're so thrilled that they're providing lunch for the entrants. That's pretty nice. Three Native American pots have been donated for drawings, there's another chance to win a bike on Sunday at Dancing Eagle Casino, so the whole thing is good. A lot of people in the community and county are participating.”

And lest anyone think that the MainStreet Project can sit on its laurels once this year's Rally has come and gone, Hoffman said the reality is quite the opposite.

“We wouldn't be doing the right thing if we did that,” Hoffman said. “I might want to say that next year is the 10th anniversary of the Bike Rally and it will be bigger and better. We can't have the same type of event over and over; we always need to bring in something new to keep people interested.”

Visit www.fireandicebikerally.com for further information about this year's Rally.