Four Corners Motorcycle Rally™

Ignacio Bike Week 2008 Review

Swooping curves following roiling blue rivers through green valleys and high peaks drew more than 25,000 people to Southwest Colorado for Ignacio Bike Week, the 15th annual rally in the Four Corners over Labor Day weekend.

“We had free entertainment, vendor areas, biker bull-riding, biker field events and a rocking downtown with camping, food and beer that kept our visitors busy all weekend long,” said Emily Meisner, president of the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce, which has hosted Ignacio Bike Week since 2006.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday were the biggest days of the rally, with rain on Sunday diminishing the crowd to about 10,000, Meisner reported. The Sky Ute Casino brought Three Dog Night and the Little River Band to town, with a crowd of about 2,200 in attendance. Two beer tents this year offered libations, with the tips from the volunteer bar-tending crew going to the Blue Star Moms of Durango.

Poker runs ran daily from Wednesday through Sunday through Southwest Colorado’s incomparable riding territory, and despite Sunday’s dampness, riders who joined the Veterans’ Honor Ride to the Southern Ute Veterans Memorial, the Aztec and Farmington VFW Halls, the Farmington Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Durango’s Greenmount Cemetery contributed just over $500 to the Gold Star Mothers of New Mexico and Colorado, said Ann Mooney, chairwoman of the rally committee.

“We had nothing but good reports from visitors about this year’s rally,” Mooney said. “This is the one time of year when everybody in town mows their lawns in preparation for our motorcycle riding visitors. And I have to tell you that the only out-of-towner who caused any trouble was the bull that jumped out of its chute and ran through our up-hill neighborhoods.” After about two and a half hours the bull was finally corralled near the high school and the beer tent, where live music kept impromptu bull-handlers entertained, Mooney said.

“We’re happy to report that we had a safe rally, with no major injuries—not even from our bovine escapee,” Mooney said.

A $1,000 prize was handed out to Crystal Andasola, the winner of Miss. Ignacio Bike Week, buckles were given to the winners of the Hot Bike Show, biker bull-riding, field events and the tattoo contest, and plaques were plentiful for runners-up in all contests. The Sky Ute Casino gave away a 2008 ElectraGlide Classic, and winning hands in a poker run in memory of LaVara Thompson, a longtime Ignacio resident and cancer victim included a Pendleton blanket, $500 cash prize, leather jacket, turquoise jewelry and other goodies.

“We really appreciated the involvement of community organizations this year including the La Plata County Office of Veterans Services,” Mooney said. “They were able to connect with area and visiting veterans especially from the current conflict who hadn’t had access to services before.”

Ignacio Bike Week is a rally that highlights the beautiful rides in Southwest Colorado while raising funds for community improvement efforts, Mooney said.

Ignacio Bike Week is scheduled for Sept. 1 through Sept. 7 in 2009. Plan to ride to the Four Corners over Labor Day 2009—we have terrific country to putt through, and Ignacio enjoys partying each year with motorcyclists from all corners of the United States.