Early Rains Couldn’t Dampen Lone Star Rally 2013
Not even Thursday’s torrential downpour could dampen the enthusiasm of the more than 400,000 motorcyclists who came for the party…the 2013 Lone Star Rally.
The view Saturday night (Nov 2, 2013) from balconies above the Strand was nothing short of incredible. More than 100,000 motorcycles, or maybe even twice that, filled the streets of historic Galveston with color and noise and lights and people.
The Strand and Saengerfest Park have long remained the heartbeat of the Lone Star Rally, providing the perfect venue for vendors to market everything from leather chaps to blinged- out bandanas. Riders cruise the Strand non-stop, day and night, showing off their bikes to fellow enthusiasts and heightening the rumble that permeates the air of downtown Galveston.
There were celebrity guests including six stars from the hit TV show the Sons of Anarchy; free concerts on two stages by some of the region’s best acts; custom choppers, baggers, cruisers and trikes by some of the country’s top builders and best brands; and, happy rally goers filling every square inch of downtown and the Seawall.
Along the Seawall, the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston’s hottest attraction, the Pleasure Pier, provided a spectacular backdrop for the rally’s expanded event district, Beach Central Park. The footprint of this year’s Beach Central Park was more than double last year’s rally, which was the
first year return by the rally to the Seawall since Hurricane Ike. City officials credit Rally organizers with helping to bring more attention to the newly revitalized Seawall district.
More Rally highlights included test drives conducted by Indian, Victory, Boss Hoss and Yamaha motorcycles, along the spectacular Gulf of Mexico. Hundreds of riders enjoy checking out the 2014 lines of the four major bike brands and getting a hands-on chance to discover their latest and greatest cycle enhancements.
Mary Ann Porada never enjoyed any bike event as much as the 2013 Lone Star Rally, as the lucky lady from Kemah, TX took home Saturday night’s big prize, a custom Honda 1800 VTX featuring Geico Motorcycle insurance themed paint and a gecko adorned, tooled leather seat. Porada recently moved to Texas from Pennsylvania in part so she could ride year-round. She currently owns a Kawasaki Vulcan Trike and enjoys all things motorcycle. This was her first visit to the Lone Star Rally and the largest rally she’s ever attended.
Music at the 2013 Lone Star Rally featured 3 pyro filled shows by the arena rock tribute act the Hairball Band and, performances by The Voice season one finalist and rising country-rock star Jared Blake who has fast become a favorite of Lone Star Rally fans. Rock acts Jasmine Cain, Farrell Weber, Nick and The Umbrella Man and, Houston’s own Zach Tate Band also performed before thousands on the Budweiser and Jaegermeister stages.
Rally organizers say they are pleased with the success of this year’s event, noting that the perfect combination of bright sun and fresh cool breezes Friday, Saturday and Sunday allowed rally goers to truly enjoy their experience and the community of Galveston.
