Harley-Davidson is rearing to host Rally in the Rockies – a motorcycle extravaganza featuring high-octane entertainment such as drag racing, stunt and motocross shows, demo rides, live music, and more at Airdrie Airpark on July 22 to 23.
The event, formerly known as the Airdrie Oilmen’s Association (AOA) Bikes and Bulls Rumble on the Runway, which was cancelled in 2022 considering uncertainty over COVID-19 variants, will continue under the Harley Davidson banner, said Adrian Pruden, president of AOA.
“The AOA start planning for Bikes and Bulls in January every year, but when we kicked of 2022, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 had just reared its ugly head,” Pruden said in a press release. “The decision was made to cancel the event this year considering the unknown effects of Omicron.”
According to Pruden, when Calgary Harley-Davidson caught wind the association was cancelling the event, they inquired if AOA would be willing to continue under the Harley-Davidson's Rally in the Rockies banner, and with a bit of rebranding.
He said the association was eager to accept the request to keep the event going under the new moniker, and expressed his gratitude to all attendees, partners, sponsors, and volunteers who helped to make the Bikes and Bulls event possible over the last 10 years.
“I am truly humbled by the support of the community and with what we have been able to accomplish over the decade this event has been running and look forward to assisting Harley-Davidson with Rally in the Rockies.”
The event will feature all things Harley-Davidson and rider culture, according to a press release, and will be hosted by Alberta Harley-Davidson dealerships: Calgary Harley-Davidson, Gasoline Alley Harley-Davidson in Red Deer, Harley-Davidson of Edmonton, and Barnes Harley-Davidson in south Edmonton.
According to Aleksandra Bulat, customer experience and public relations lead for Harley-Davidson Canada, the event was spearheaded by local dealership Calgary Harley-Davidson and has since been adapted into the rally it is today.
“We love the concept, and there’s nothing per se that’s a rally in Canada around right now where riders can get together and just invite you to meet up and socialize and have these great group interactions,” Bulat said in a phone interview.
“We all met together, and [the dealerships] thought, ‘This is great, let’s all get behind this,' and then Harley-Davidson got behind it as well.
“And we thought, let’s make it a two-location rally that everyone can get together and ride after having so many years of us not being able to get together."
The rally includes a pit-stop at Blackjacks Roudhouse in Nisku, Alta. on Friday, July 22, featuring a show and shine, stunt show, and beer gardens.
Unlike Bikes and Bulls, the revamped event will no longer include bull riding, but will showcase motor-sports, custom built drag bikes, freestyle motocross performer Billy Kohut, and The Highway Heathens and The Vanishing Ones stunt teams.
“Nobody needs a motorcycle. You want one because of what it means to be on a motorcycle – that freedom on the road,” Bulat said. “It's that sense of community you have, friends to ride with, places to ride to, all those explorations that you get to do on your motorcycle – that sense of ‘United We Ride.’”
Even though the event is presented by Harley Davidson, she added the event organizers wanted to keep it open to all motorbike enthusiasts and will remain as inclusive as possible so all feel welcome.
“This is a place where you can safely get together and talk about rides, routes – you can talk to each other about those really neat experiences,” she said. “You can see other parts and accessories and add-ons, people’s really cool outfits.”
"You can see dogs in little leather jackets,” she added with a laugh. “People come out of the woodwork. We want to give them the space to do that, to come together and talk to each other and get together again because we haven’t been able to for so long.”
She added the event is free to attend and is ideal for both young and old alike including electric powered balance bikes designed for young children to learn and enjoy riding two wheels.
“I think that’s another thing that hopefully will be enticing that literally anybody can come,” she said. “If you have kids, there’s going to be...something for everybody.”
The Airdrie Oilmen will be assisting onsite with bar services and will receive additional event assistance from North Rockyview Community Links, Airdrie & District Victims Assistance Society, and the Airdrie Foodbank who will receive a portion of the proceeds from the event.
For more information and drag racing pre-registration, visit the event website at www.therallyintherockies.com
