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ROCK & RIDE
Published 12:00am Sunday, August 19, 2012Bikers come in droves to hang out, have fun at Rally on the River
Bill Montroso still remembers the first movie he saw at the Ro-Na Theatre.
“It was 1963 and the movie was ‘Journey to The Center of the Earth’ with Pat Boone,” Montroso said. “The Ro-Na was beautiful.”
Now almost 50 years later, Montroso shared those memories as he sat by his stand at Rally on the River, slicing green peppers as thin as spaghetti strands, for the Bahama Mamas he sold throughout the weekend.
This was the ninth annual rally put on by Friends of Ironton, Inc., a group of civic-minded volunteers who last year gave the $20,000 net proceeds from that event to the restoration of the Ro-Na, one of the projects they have adopted.
“We are happy to be here,” Montroso said. “It is our hometown. You have a group of good people running it.”
By Saturday night, Montroso expected to have cut up five bushels of peppers and grilled about 400 Italian sausages for his signature sandwich.
This year close to 120,000 were expected to cruise into Ironton to hang out at rally headquarters on South Second Street. On Saturday afternoon more than 150 bikes crowded the AutoZone parking lot as more cyclists roared under the Third Street historical pennant honoring James Rogers, founder of Iron Bank in 1851.
For Chris Robinson and Cliff Thatcher, enthusiastic bikers who make the event rounds, this was the first time to come to Ironton’s rally. As they sipped cups of beer, they gave it a thumbs-up but with qualifications.
“It needs to be bigger,” Robinson said. “They need more room, more vendors. But they have pulled in some good bands.”
Down from the makeshift food court was Larry Franz with Bikers for Christ, who said his ministry has reached out to many during the rally.
“We try to meet the needs of the people,” he said.
The ministry handed out Bibles and guided people to put in their prayer requests into a black shellacked box ornamented by two crosses.
“They may have problems with alcohol, drugs, family problems or somebody is sick,” Franz said.
Each night members of the group opened the box to pray over the requests.
Bryan and Kim Jarvis of Ashland, Ky., came over on their 1974 Kawasaki that last year won them prizes in the bike show.
“I like the vendors with the leather pants and the T-shirts and the food,” Kim Jarvis said. “I look forward to the food. And the bands. They have some great bands.”
TWO OF THE BEST THINGS OF THE RALLY,
THE GAMES THE PORTSMOUTH MOTORCYLE CLUB PUT ON AND THE
PARADE OF HEROES. IF THE RALLY WOULD COME UP WITH
BIKE EVENTS SUCH AS A DRAG STRIP OR A 1/4 OR 1/2 MILE FLATRACK TO BRING IN RACERS… THIS WOULD BE A BIG BOOST TO THIS RALLY AND WOULD ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO THIS EVENT. FROM WHAT I COULD SEE MOST PEOPLE WERE AT FROGTOWN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE BIKE EVENTS…..HOW ABOUT THAT OLD MALLEABLE LOT…WHY CAN’T IRONTON DO SOMETHING WORTH WHILE WITH THAT EMPTY SPACE. THESE TYPE OF EVENTS WOULD BE ALOT MORE INTERESTING AND EXCITING.
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What’s sad is that is doesn’t stay at the river. It drifts out into the streets everywhere, all hours of the night, waking children and people that have to work. Keeping people that are sick and need rest awake and unable to get much needed sleep. Going all the way out into the county filling yards with bike “clubs” so that their neighbors can not get any peace of mind and have to put up with the crap for 4 days also. The rally should be kept at designated areas and if not the people need to respect those that are not involved. I see nothing wrong with the “Rally on the River” but come on folks, be respectful and keep it on the river!
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Also nothing in the Tribune about the accident on 93 yesterday around 5ish, have to read that one on WSAZ.
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