Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas November 2014 | Page 28
FEATURES
This rally has grown to a huge rally! Not only
were there an approximate 400,000 attendees, it’s
spread out over many miles and many locations
and venues. That’s one of the original things about
it! But BBBQ hangs its’ hat on the fact that it is
the largest charity rally in the nation. Now that’s
something to brag about! Since 2000, the rally
has donated over $600,000 to local charities of
NorthWest Arkansas area. Not only are funds
raised through monies collected at the rally, but
the rally may not be possible without the local
charities “working” the rally from set up to striking
the location, donated space to promote their
charities, breakfast locations, their own events
and more. It’s truly an amazing thing to see from
start to finish. We got to see more and be more
involved in the process this year as we were the
proud publisher’s of the first ever Official BBBQ
Rally Guide and on-line GPS locator. Read it online at www.bbbqrallyguide.com. It was quite and
honor and went over very well.
As for the rally, we had a blast in the National
Thunder Roads Magazine Booth as our National
Founders brought in Thunder Pete for the big
show. Thank you to all who stopped in to say Hello
to us at Baum Motorcycle Village on the South
side of Fayetteville. It was great to see folks from
all over the United States stopping in to grab up
magazines from over 22 states! There were some
who were thrilled to have the latest copy of their
next riding destination state. In addition to the TRM
28
Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR
booth, “The Baum” area was filled with big vendor
trucks, food trucks, product representatives, demo
rides, helicopter rides and more. Many looking for
motorcycle upgrades, products, etc, were able to
find all they needed there.
Dickson Street is where it all started or so
the legend goes. This is simply a stretch of city
roadway which goes way down a long hill with
about a 50 degree slope and back up the other
side. Highlights of this venue are the Parade of
Power Saturday afternoon which passed by the
crowded sidewalks and the exhilaration of the
extreme downhill and uphill grade. The vendor
booths packed the nearby parking lots. The bars
were filled with laughter and music. The Barbeque
Trailers and the Main Stage with bands daily in the
Beer Garden at the “hollar” as we call it or bottom
of the hill! One of “T”s favorite things about this rally
is the Stokes Air “Battle of the Bikes” presented by