Comments on: Hollister Independence Day Motorcycle Rally, 2007; a Nightmare!

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:20:02 +0000

I don't know?

Norm

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:03:15 +0000

Thanks for posting the video links John. It looks like what my friend said about the rally was accurate.

Norm

By: Norman Gregory Fernandez

Norman Gregory Fernandez — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:01:07 +0000

Well Sandie it seems like only bikers are being treated like this. I refuse to pay top dollar at events that is why I stay as far out as necessary to not be gouged.

I have another story regarding a gang unit rousting about 30 middle aged bikers in Minnesota this past weekend. One highly decorated ex cop was in the pack and he was rousted too. 70 people were cited for going through a stop sign.

So much for Rolling Thunder at the White House huh? It's all a joke. Bikers are being disrespected all over the country.

Norm

By: Sandie[Member}

Sandie[Member} — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

What a “horror” story. It is difficult to swallow because we live in the land of the free. Rallies are no longer fun to go too because of the hassle with all the law enforcement and expense. Businesses raise prices to accommodate the bikers and make a fortune. Then, too many people who do not know how to ride and the treatment of bikers. Bikers raise many charity dollars and do many good deeds and to be treated the way XYZ was treated is just absolutely deplorable!!!! If this was the treatment for a knife, can you just imagine if XYZ would have been carrying a pistol???? One must wonder where our Right to bear arms is going in the future????

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow - what a horrible account. I went down with low
expectations, good thing, of the run given the cancellation last year. I
went in 2003 and had a great time, bikes all down the streets,
everyone friendly and having a blast. This year, everyone,
while always friendly as we bikers are, seemed a bit on
edge, totally in part because of the damn overzealous law
enforcement, and WHAT WAS UP with the helicopters...were
snipers really needed? I wasn't impressed and will not go
again for years to come.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I found the rally to be just as all rallies are…. same ol’ thing. Nice to see the very few “nice” bikes, but other than that, it’s just a desert with overpriced merchandise. I for one, did not notice the officers, as this is common with large events. However, the parking issue raises concern. My boyfriend and I parked his custom chopper in the cone-zone with absolutley no issues. Although, we didn’t take an officer’s advice as to where to go. Just followed the signs. Unfortunate for XYZ. Horrible to hear. Overall, 5 out of 10, the city in general just plain sucks.

By: John Lee

John Lee — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This Police State Surge is going on all over USA.

"There are cities that don't want large groups of bikers spending money patronizing local businesses. The police showed up at Starbucks and threatened to arrest everybody and confiscate their bikes. I'm at a loss for words. They've got a helicopter and 15 cop cars. They thought everyone would scatter like roaches. Police are over it. Time to move on the greener pastures. In our 3rd stop the police asked us to leave immediately. It's like They hate me when I show up."
-Jason Britton, host of Superbikes -- West Coast Presidents Alliance in CA, Speed TV, 8 August 2007

Note that the intro to each episode of Superbikes TV begins with a map of the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap TN/NC, and Jason draggin a knee
on US 129. This police state is now attacking Deals Gap in TN.
It's shutting down business and killing bikers, while ignoring the real proximate causes of wrongful deaths, such as defective roads, defective signs, defective guardrails, lack of ambulance crews, and failure to ban trucks on a mountain road (so they can bypass the scales and checkpoints).

"As of noon, there are 14 THP troopers and 4 Blount County Sheriffs in the Gap. This begs me to ask the question that so many have on their mind. If all these Troopers are here, then who is watching the rest of the state ??"
"-Ben, DealsGap.com

"This weekend will be 'saturation' weekend for THP. For some reason, they seem to think that sending 10 cars up here to cover 11 miles of road is something that the general public sees as very cool, and not a waste of taxpayers money. I hardly agree. In fact, since the Gov of TN has decided to make war with tourists in this area, I strongly suggest to all of you that you send him an email if you feel the same way. We are under a police state on the TN side of the mountain."
-Ben, DealsGap.com, Saturday, August 4, 2007

These cops are writing 150 tickets per 3-day weekend, on an 11-mile rural highway, and confiscating the bikes of out-of-statetourists.

Many groups are cancelling their vacations to TN, during this PR War On Freedom.

For daily updates on this Police State crackdown that threatens to kill the Dragon and its tourists:
TailOfTheDragon.com
Killboy.com
DealsGapDragon.com

TN is the state that dared name a highway in honor of a convicted hit-and-run killer of a biker tourist, and the TN legislature is on record as telling the AMA that it does not want any biker tourists in the state:
http://www.ama-cycle.org/terrybarnard/

"I've seen a lot of outrageous things happen in politics since I've been working here, but this tops them all. It's the equivalent of issuing a series of O.J. Simpson autographed steak knives. And no, this isn't a joke. Here's the new rule: Kill a biker, get a highway named after you. As a tourist who has spent a lot of family vacation dollars in Sen. Clabough's district, if those signs go up, you'll never see another penny of mine in Knox or Blount counties."
-Greg Harrison, Vice President of Communications for American Motorcyclist Association, American Motorcyclist magazine, "A Monumental Mistake", June 1999

Â“Please read the enclosure that presents the facts by someone involved in the investigation of this tragic accident. I grew up knowing Sen. Koella for the last 30 years. The bill has been passed and signed. There is NOTHING you can do to change that, and if you choose not to come to Tennessee, we will be better off without you.Â”
-Senator Bill Clabough, American Motorcyclist Association, American Motorcyclist magazine, Greg Harrison Column: Contemptible, September 1999

Note that police in TN are only exempt from traffic laws when in their patrol car with emergency lights and siren turned on. Yet they routinely break the same laws they accuse bikers of violating, which is a Constitutional violation of the Equal Protection doctrine. When a govt employee gets to do something without prosecution, then everyone gets to do it.

HOW TO WRITE A "TRAFFIC TICKET" AGAINST A COP
http://www.smokymountainriders.com/viewtopic.php?p=6255

By: John Lee

John Lee — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr5CrpTyNYU
Hollister Rally police 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7Ihdc5NYJE
Hollister Rally police helicopter 2007

By: friend of Moss Mossberg

friend of Moss Mossberg — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Did they ever catch the hit and run driver who killed Moss Mossberg at the 2007 rally? Moss loved riding and enjoyed going to Hollister. If there was such a heavy police presence, it's a shame that someone may think they can get away with murder.

RIP, Moss.