Mayor concerned about summer motorcycle rally in Red Lodge

It seems really silly that the mayor thinks the rally is bad. Not only does it bring in tourists to Red Lodge but it really boosts the local economy. It will be a sad, sad day if the show does'nt go on.

I am a retired teache. I am a biker and I am proud of it. The weekend of the ralley My brother,and one of my cousins who are booth farmers and bikers come to Red Lodge to participate in the rally. Another cousin of mine who is a biker also attends the ralley He is employed by the State of Montana in the state lands delpartment. Another friend of mine who is also a biker and aattends the rally every year makes violins for a living. We are a scarry lot.

Lets all bite the bullet,have a good time,look at all the great bikes and interesting people and then monday morning all will be back to normal.

It is to late, we are all comming from Colorado. What are they going to do, put up a gate and turn everyone around?

Ron Ullom wrote:

We are a scarry lot.

LOL..yeah, it's not like we're the HA commin' to town...good post Ron

It brings in the Harley noise and money all right, and drives out all tourists who are not on Harleys. Lots of cash is brought in to bars and restaurants, who skim, because somehow not as much is reported for the taxes paid out, and not one business offers to pay for the over $11,000 bill for extra security and police for the event. This Harley weekend blows for anyone not on a Harley- especially the locals who leave.

Many towns are saying this to Harleys and the sportbiker crowds, "please take your money and your noise to somebody elses town!" "We do not want either of you here anymore!"
Whether it is Redlodge oe Myrtle Beach or Deals Gap; money is not a licence for bad behavior.
Motorcyclings image has been severely damaged by noise, drunkeness, knee dragging and wrecks.

Seth wrote:

This Harley weekend blows for anyone not on a Harley- especially the locals who leave.

And I would hazard to guess that all the locals who rent out their houses and lawns for parking at a premium will take a financial bite too...give me a break.

I think the $500 fee per vendor that comes to town for a few days should cover the extra
security costs. I believe there was only one? arrest directly attributable to the Red Lodge run.
We don't need extra security, we have sheriff deputies, highway patrol and police already here.
They should give them extra time off prior to the event and have all staff working for those few days. Speed and drinking traps aren't necessary.
We only have 2000 give or take full time residents
and about 6 times that many Harley participants.
The income is about $10,000,000 above what the
normal tourists spend. This is a NO brainer.

I can't believe the great people of Red Lodge tolerate the mayor. We show up to Red Lodge with a group of 20-24 people every year from NY (not the city). We go there because it's a laid-back ralley, not the b.s. of stugis. I think out of the whole group there has been two arrested, and that was 30-40 yrs ago. What a criminal element. Most of the group are retired or semi retired, most are grandparents. We range from skilled tradesmen,school teachers, shariffs, lawyers, and a multi millionare. Also were couples. So get your kids off the street this scary gang is coming to town.
I Have to say "everyone" we met from town seemed happy we were there. Hardly a problem and we spend $$$$$$$$$$ Unlike when the rodeo comes to town, which the mayor is just fine with.
Impeach the mayor like the people I met talke about and this problem will go away. Good luck from a regular ralley goer.

I live here and it is GREAT for the local economy, dont let negative feed back from a new mayor make you think otherwise. The town needs the vistors unfortunately like many resort towns some old timers have alove hate realtionship. They need to get over it you can stop progress and the Harley Rodeo is a good thing for the community. Ron it much the same here as in Ellicottville. Please keep visiting.

Did a biker take off with the mayor's wife? Or did the mayor's wife take off with a biker? Is this why he is so against bikers? We spend alot of money in this town. We are grandparents and we are professional people. What is the problem?

We come every year, can't beleave what I read.. I ride my own bike. I think you could handle me and my friends!!!! Are you going to close your town to biker?? I think that might be against the law..

I'm from Minnesota and will most likely be swinging thru Red Lodge for the rally on the way to Idaho and northern Montana this summer with some friends.
It bothers me to read there are issues w/ this 'rally' due to a fiesty mayor?
In this economy w/ state budgets being slashed to the bone, he should WELCOME any tourism dollars available. If he doesn't, he should not be in office.

Well Folks most of the town likes the rally. And for the record the current Mayor with the Issues is a SHE!!! Overall does a good job, but a little out there on this issue. Sorry if SHE has offended any of you good folks who come to visit us in Red Lodge.

It's basically about the fact that there is too much of a good thing. Harley owners like the sound of their bikes, straight pipes make them even noisier. People who live in the town find the noise generated by several thousand bikes irritating. How silly of them!! I've also heard from business who don't like it when men pee in their outdoor flower pots and when trash and beer bottles are left for them to clean up. Imagine that and how inhospitable! For many businesses the event is more of a bust than a boom--as the rally brings many of its own vendors to town and other tourists stay away. If there is too much irresponsible behavior, who really cares if the riders are lawyers, doctors, ranchers or professors? If you keep down the noise and show the townsfolk that you truly respect and appreciate their hospitality, then I'm sure you will not be hearing so many complaints and will be welcomed by the residents (including our mayor).

As a die hard rider and also a person who lives in Red Lodge,We do have several problems. 1. The Rally does generate noise(true) so does the rodeo. 2. The locals due make a good profit off of the rally(true) it also cost the city money to have MHP and other local law enforcement assist with the rally. Whats the fix for the other problems, noise ,public disorder.How bout policing our own as well as knowing that we are not liked or wanted buy the deputy cheif of police nor the mayor. If we want to keep the rally alive then maybe we should not just show up party and leave but lets see what we can do for the people when we get there and when we leave. You know little things like pick up after our selves, not piss in the flower potts,or rip down the streets as fast and loud as we can. I don't want to lose the rally but we might if we dont take care NOW.

I guess she would be concerned about any tourist attraction. If you continue to cut the police force and only leave seven officers to patrol and protect a tourist city like Red Lodge 7-24, PEOPLE will stop coming!!!!! I know that during the rally agencies from all over the county help with security and it is a well protected event.
But, what happens when that weekend is over? You cannot think that taking you family to Red Lodge for a vacation or even for the day you will have the protection you deserve.

Too right Sandy! I know the Sherriff and the staff in Carbon county very well(in a good way) and they are strechted very thin. The city of Red Lodge has a small force that is streched as thin.The police in RL have a deputy Cheif that admits he hates bikes and bikers, the Cheif doesn't mind bikes but doesnt like the people that come with them ie" the rough crowd that comes with them. The Mayor thinks that all the bikers are just trash, and a bad name for red lodge. As bikers we need to remember we are guest in every town we travel through and need to leave each town better than when we arrived. I hate to say it but some of the trouble comes from us riders forgetin or manners. As well as how to drive!!!

But you are all overlooking the corruption in the Carbon County Justice system and law enforcement. How can you have Judge sitting on the bench that cannot obide by the same laws he has sworn to up hold. And a former county attorney who traffics cocaine, occupies the office accros the hall from the sheriff and no one notices for years!!! give me break.
things may be a little better the corruption is still very much alive when you find a siting judge on numerious business BAD CHECK list. I do believe the is a felony conspirance by common theme.