Fifth Rosalia ‘cycle rally’ kicks off new format

Thousands of motorcycles are expected to be scattered throughout Rosalia this weekend, as the town will host its fifth motorcycle rally.

This year’s edition will be modified from previous rallies.

“It’s all coming together,” said Rita Crowl with the Rosalia Motorcycle Association. “It’ll be fun. It’s always fun.”

In prior years, the rally has taken place on closed off downtown streets. Because of a lawsuit filed by Josh Bryan, originator of the Rosalia rallies, the town has declared it will not allow city streets to be shut down during the event.

Bryan’s suit alleges his promoter contract with the city gives him the exclusive right to use Rosalia streets on the third weekend of August.

The Town of Rosalia and Chamber of Commerce are among defendants named in a damage suit which has been filed by Bryan in Superior Court.

Last year, the Rosalia Motorcycle Association took over operation of the rally. They took over the event after residents were upset with how the 2007 rally was conducted, and the Chamber of Commerce cancelled its contract with Bryan.

The 2009 rally will be based primarily in the city park, with vendors, motorcycle builders, bands and bikes setting up shop there. Other events are scheduled for venues throughout Rosalia. Admission to the park events is $15 for the whole weekend.

“We’re hoping they’ll be successful,” said Mayor Ken Jacobs. “As far as we’re concerned, and from what we know, they’ve set this thing up and everything’s good to go.”

Crowl said she has heard from many regular attendees who plan on coming back for this year’s rally. The Motorcycle Association is expecting a large crowd.

Potentially lowering attendance figures is vandalism to rally posters across the Inland Northwest.

Motorcycle Association member Brodey Babb said Tuesday night that someone had written “cancelled” in black permanent marker on rally posters in Rosalia, Spokane and elsewhere.

Babb said he was disappointed with the vandalism.

“I just hope whoever is doing that realizes they are hurting the town, and not just me, or the association,” said Babb.

Events kick off in the park Friday night, as bikers arrive, bands tune up and motorcycle performers shift into gear.

High Ridaz, a motorcycle stunt team from Spokane, will twice unload their bag of tire-smoking tricks on Park Street, next to the city park. The group is slated to perform at 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday.

Bands from the greater Spokane area will rock the park into the midnight hour Friday and Saturday.

Friday night’s music begins at 5:30 p.m. and features Nighthawk and Fire Creek. Music cranks up at 11 a.m. Saturday, with Limousine taking the stage. The 45’s from Fairchild Air Force base will follow, with Nighthawk taking the stage after that.

Motorcycle fave Hung Phat will then perform its brew of hard-driving “rawk and roll” in the park from 8 p.m. until midnight.

Northwest Wings, a group of Gold Wing slow-riding racers from the area will take to Whitman Ave. at noon Saturday.

Fresh off their appearance last weekend at Colfax, the NW Classic Motorcycle Club will bring its Pro Moto Motorcycle Rodeo to the Rosalia Fairgrounds Saturday. From 1 to 4 p.m. the motorcycle cowboys will compete in events like the slow race, barrel racing and pole bending.

Throughout the rally, vendors will sell their motorcycle gear, food and custom bikes in the park.

Beer gardens will be in the park, the rodeo grounds and the old Lumberyard building.

The park and lumberyard gardens are sponsored by the motorcycle association. The Rosalia Rodeo Association will sponsor the rodeo brew site.