FORT SMITH -- Thousands of motorcyclists and those who like to watch motorcycles crowded into downtown Fort Smith on Saturday for the fourth installment of the Steel Horse Rally.
Downtown's main street, Garrison Avenue, was blocked off Friday afternoon to allow motorcyclists from all over Arkansas and surrounding states to park their machines. It will be blocked until early today.
Garrison Avenue is a wide street with four traffic lanes and angle parking on both sides. Motorcycles in a vast array of colors and configurations formed a solid wall two columns wide in the middle of the street and on both curbside parking areas for five blocks.
Saturday afternoon was a constant parade of motorcycles roaring up and down the avenue. Hundreds of people -- from grizzled bikers with long goatees, worn leathers and dirty do-rags, to couples pushing baby carriages -- stood or sat street-side and watched the stream of motorcycles roll by.
As he walked past a vendor selling leather goods, Mac "Bulldog" McBride of Lowell commented to his friends he was about to cough up a bug that got stuck in his throat on the road to Fort Smith.
"I ride an old school [Harley-Davidson] Soft Tail with no windshield," he said. "Bugs were hitting me and one went down my throat. It had a sour taste to it so it's coming back up."
McBride admitted swallowing bugs was a hazard for a biker, but "it's a good occupational hazard because you don't see bikes in front of a psychiatrist's office. So it's good therapy."
Rally president Dennis Snow said the natural beauty of the area providing for scenic rides was one of the reasons the 4-year-old rally has become so popular, drawing 75,000 people last year and creating an estimated economic impact on the community of $13.8 million. Snow said he hoped this year's rally would draw 100,000 people.
The rally's website invited riders this year to take the round-trip ride from Fort Smith to Arkansas' highest point on Mount Magazine in Logan County.
"Western Arkansas is a motorcycle playground," Snow said.
As the roads dried from the rains late last week and the skies cleared, motorcyclists began arriving in Fort Smith from every direction. The sun and warm weather Saturday helped draw the crowds.
People also spent the day visiting downtown restaurants, bars, businesses and area tourist attractions. The bands Shallow Side and Bobaflex played at the Sound Room on Garrison Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
A vendor village was set up in the parking lot at North Eighth Street and Garrison Avenue next to large colorful street art. The vendors offered T-shirts, leather clothing, motorcycle customizing, motorcycles old and new, artistic accessories, and a variety of foods. Family activities such as a birds of prey show and kid-friendly games were offered along the avenue as well.
At this year's rally, organizers introduced the Steel Horse Rally Shootout -- motorcycle races held Friday evening on a half-mile dirt track at Tri-State Speedway in nearby Pocola, Okla. The races pitted riders in multiple classes, and the winners were to receive cash awards.
One woman with the rally said the estimated 5,000 people who watched the races had a good time. One man called the races phenomenal.
Snow said the rally has been a dream of his for 20 years. He couldn't get the support of the city to start up the rally, but a number of local organizations and businesses stepped up to help. This year, the rally's website listed 30 sponsors.
The rally also is set up to benefit local charities. Snow said last year the rally was able to award $20,000 to four charities.
The local charities chosen to benefit from this year's rally are the Buddy Smith Home to assist veterans; the Arc for the River Valley that provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; the Children's Service League that provides clothing to needy students; and the Fort Smith Museum of History.
Metro on 05/06/2018