Everything is big in Texas and the Republic of Texas Rally (ROT) is no exception. This rally welcomes around 200,000 bikers a year and is held at the 125-acre Travis County Expo Center, a mere 15 miles from downtown Austin. The rally ran from Thursday June 9 through Saturday June 12 with local and national live music, a Friday night motorcycle parade, Custom bike builders, over 300 vendors, and of course the capital of Texas itself.

Along with the live music, which included The Doobie Brothers, Eddie Money, Georgia Satellites, The Pat Travers Band, and Wes Jean, there was also a wide variety of other entertainment on board. There was Team FMX Stunt Jumpers, World Champion Trials Champion Tommi Ahvala, and yes even America’s premier escape artist Michael Griffin.

The ROT Custom Bike Builders exhibit located in the ThunderDome Arena (which, by the way, is air-conditioned and a frequent stop for this reporter) included such builders as Rick Fairless, Hostile Cycles, Siouxicide Choppers, Sinister Industies, Martin Brothers Bikes, as well as many others. As I will be reporting on the ROT rally throughout the week I reserved a days coverage of all the great bikes showcased in the ThunderDome.

Attendance at the rally site is estimated at around 40,000 ready-to-party hooligans, many of whom stayed in approximately 6000-7000 RV’s as well as tenting camped out right on the Expo grounds ready to party like a Rock Star and rock it like a Porn Star. . .more on that later in the week.

Another event held at the rally and is close to my heart is the ROT Memorial Ride to commemorate the fallen heroes of our Armed Forces as well as every organization dedicated to preserving the sanctity of these great United States of America. Along with the bike ride the rally gives away a motorcycle to a registered armed forces attendee active or retired, and features as a giant screen on the side of the main stage with the names of lost warriors friends and family had sent in throughout the year. Very impressive and well deserved.

This rally is a labor of love to the founders Jerry and Colleen Bragg who are a dedicated and proud couple who put many hours into making sure this show will go on in years to come. Putting it all together for three days and running this show is none other than Denise Garcia, a pint sized dynamo who keeps it all together for three days with the help of dozens of pleasant and informative event staff workers. For the life of me I don’t know how they do it.

This is only part 1 of my coverage and there is plenty more to come during this week at Barnett’s Magazine Online. Hope you enjoy and wish you were there.