Hog heaven: Rallyin’ in the Valley returns

By Sage Merritt

Published: June 14, 2008

On Saturday, the air was alive with the roar of motorcycles.
Hundreds of bikers wheeled into the Queen City and headed toward the edge of town for the first day of Rallyin’ in the Valley 4, a celebration of everything motorcycle, hosted this weekend by Shenandoah Harley-Davidson Buell, located at 213 Rolling Thunder Lane off Route 11 South in Staunton.
Saturday’s scheduled festivities included a bike show, food and merchandise vendors, carnival rides and a magician for children and music by Keith Bryant and Ironhorse, Hillbilly Casino and former Three Dog Night lead singer Chuck Negron.
“This seems to get bigger every year,” said Robby Ladd, general manager at Shenandoah Harley-Davidson Buell. “I’ve had three different people come and tell me that they travel from out of state every year to come to this.”
Attendees — many clad in biker gear — mingled in the vendor area, enjoyed refreshments on the porch of the dealership and admired the motorcycles on display during the bike show. Adults and kids alike enjoyed a magician and tried their hands at a mechanical bull.
Ladd estimated at mid-afternoon that 10,000 people had attended the event, along with 3,000 motorcycles.
“Luckily, the weather’s been great to us so far,” Ladd said. “We’ve got stuff for the kids to do, stuff for the adults to do.”
All profits from beer sales at Rallyin’ in the Valley 4 will go to benefit SVH Charities Inc., the organization overseen by Shenandoah Valley Harley Owners Group. According to Ladd and Troy Price, vice president of SVH Charities, the Shenandoah Valley HOGS have partnered with Shenandoah Harley-Davidson Buell throughout the four-year history of Rallyin’ in the Valley to raise money for charitable efforts.
“Around Christmastime, we always take about 30 kids Christmas shopping,” Price said. “We spend about $200 each on them, clothes and school supplies and so on. We also do a back-to-school program and other things, if the money is there. Whatever’s left we spend on needy families.”
All of the money raised from beer sales this weekend will go to SVH Charities’ Christmas program. However, the HOGS also raise funds for other community organizations.
“In July, we’ll be back up here for Ms. Shenandoah Harley Davidson,” Price said. “Every bit of that [money raised] will go to New Directions.”
SVH Charities will also benefit from this Thursday’s Shakin’ at the Station, at the Wharf in downtown Staunton. SVH Charities was formed to serve as the incorporated charity organization for Shenandoah Valley HOGS, which has between 200 and 400 members at any given time.
“We try to ride some, when we’re not working,” Price said.
Rallyin’ in the Valley 4 will continue today, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children’s amusement rides will begin at noon, along with the magic program. Local Christian band D.O.G.S. of Pray, winner of last year’s Last Band Standing contest, will perform at 1 p.m. All of today’s events are free of charge.