More vendors set for expected larger crowds at the second annual Steel Horse Rally

The Steel Horse Rally is coming back to downtown Fort Smith on April 29 and 30 for its second annual event that looks to produce an even larger economic impact than 2015’s $4.272 million. Two early indicators suggest it could be well on its way.

The first, according to lead organizer and secretary of Steel Horse Rally Inc. Karen Snow, are hotel bookings.

“We’ve already been notified by several hotels in the area saying they are sold out two to three weeks earlier than they were last year, and that is a great sign that lots of people will be coming and planning on staying for at least one overnight,” Snow told Talk Business & Politics on Monday (April 25).

The second indication is a widely expanded vendor village, which will move to a new location at 800 Garrison Ave. in the parking lot across from Rooster’s. This year, there will be more than 40 vendors, twice as many as 2015. Vendors will also be taking up larger spaces, going with “more than just a 10-foot by 10-foot space this year in many cases,” Snow said.

More than 10,000 attended the inaugural event in 2015, according to a Fort Smith Police Department estimate.

Vendor types will include everything from food service to “people with leather goods, things to make your bike look great,” Snow said, adding that there would be an “incredible artist that does pin-striping” and that the Henry Brothers, famous for making custom knives and cutlery, will feature their “staffs of honor,” which are carved and engraved walking sticks that include a veteran’s name and insignia showing their branch served within the military.

“It’s a neat thing they’re doing to honor veterans, and along with that, we just have several booths donated to local charities, veterans’ organizations and the student veteran organization from UAFS,” Snow said.

GROWING UP
Snow credits most of the Steel Horse Rally’s growth to social media marketing efforts and, mainly, bikers’ tendency to talk to one another.

“Word-of-mouth has been a great help. If bikers experience a great event, word will travel fast, and we’ve got vendors from California and North Carolina this year, who found out from other people who’ve attended. There are also the charities themselves, which have been proactive in helping themselves and spreading the word. The Museum of History is just one example. They are having a bike show this year, and the proceeds from that will help with funding what they do,” Snow said.

During the first year’s festivities, more than 200 volunteers, organized by Karen and Dennis Snow (Steel Horse Rally Inc. president), and a wife-and-husband team, joined forces to help charities associated with military, veterans, law enforcement, and first responders as well as local charities. The five to benefit from the 2016 Steel Horse Rally are: Fort Smith Children’s Emergency Shelter-Independent Learning Program, Hannah House, Earthbound Angels, the Gregory Kistler Treatment Center, and the Fort Smith Museum of History.

Snow said this year there would be “several hundred” volunteers with “a noticeable increase from year one in the number of people wanting to get involved, because they see that it helps the charities and the entire community and restores a sense of civic pride.”

“Many of the retailers have said it was the best business they’ve ever had in their existence, and it’s not always where you would expect. Yes, of course, the bars and restaurants see growth, but we’ve also had one dealership tell us they sold more cars in two days during the rally than they have in several months. We’re just really excited to see how, once people see it and understand it, we no longer have to explain the concept from the ground up to get people on board.”

Aside from volunteers, Snow credited the Fort Smith Police Department with their help on the event and emphasized that the event’s activities will be for both bikers and non-bikers alike.

“We welcome all bikers, all people. We don’t care about the bike or if you even ride one, and that’s one of the beautiful things about this rally.”

21-AND-UP
Among this year’s events, there will be a mix of 21-and-up and family-friendly activities, Snow said. Friday and Saturday night concerts held at the nearby Fort Smith Convention Center, will include headliners Jackyl and White Collar Sideshow, respectively, and fall into the 21-and-up category.

Jackyl is known for hits like “Down on Me,” “Secret of the Bottle,” and “The Lumberjack,” during which vocalist Jesse James Dupree performed a chainsaw solo. The band is also featured on the hit reality TV show, “Full Throttle Saloon.”

Dallas guitar-slinger Juni Moon will lead off the Friday night concerts along with local band-of-brothers group .357. They will be followed by Hillbilly Vegas at 8 p.m., and Jackyl will take the stage at 10 p.m. Tickets are now available for a minimum donation of $15.

Taking the 10 p.m. show Saturday night will be White Collar Sideshow, an alternative Christian rock band specializing in industrial and “shock” rock with frequent use of horror movie imagery. They originate from Fort Smith, but have performed all over the world. This will be their second year to play the Steel Horse Rally. Opening acts will include Fort Smith-based Vertical Groove, Colton Cerny & Red Sun Caravan, and the Indiana-based Jason Wells Band. Saturday night, there will be no cover, though donations “are appreciated,” Snow said.

ALL-AGES
All-ages activities will include most of the rally itself along with the Birds of Prey show Saturday morning, hosted by the Arkansas Native Plant and Wildlife Center, which saves thousands of birds each year.

“If you have an injured eagle or an injured falcon, these are the guys to call,” Snow said. “Basically, they save these animals’ lives. We’ve even gotten to see them release a bald eagle back into the wild. We’re so proud to help organizations like that.”

Also on-hand, the Harley-Davidson national demo truck will be present and filled to capacity with new 2016 bikes for visitors to test drive, Snow said, but there will also be something for people, who’ve either never been on a motorcycle or who aren’t comfortable enough to hit the open road alone, but would like to simulate the experience.

“For people afraid of driving who just want to run through the gears, we’ll have the Jumpstart bike, which is set up to where you can sit on it and run through it, but the bike itself doesn’t go anywhere,” Snow said. “It’s free, too, and there will be somebody there to help you know when to change gears in case you’re considering taking this up.”

Snow said she is mostly a passenger and enjoys riding with her husband.

“For us, it’s really special,” she confessed. “It’s the one place we can escape on the beautiful roads here in Arkansas and beyond. Every year, we take a motorcycle trip and renew our vows in some beautiful place we’ve never been before. We’ve renewed at the Grand Canyon, at Colorado – it’s really a special thing.”

Experiences like hers are exemplary of how much motorcycle culture has evolved since the 1960s. While the Sons of Anarchies of the world are still out there, most motorcyclists are about camaraderie and community.

“To be able to get out on the road and explore and breathe the fresh air is an amazing thing,” Snow said. “And when you pull up at a gas station, people want to have a conversation about that bike. It’s a neat community to be a part of and a very giving community. Some of the roughest looking bikers have some of the biggest hearts, and they will get off the bike and open their wallets to give to a great cause. That’s one of the most inspiring things to me, and I’m honored to know them.”

Other activities will include the Thunder Through the Valley Motorcycle Parade, tattoo artist exhibits and an antique motorcycles display. More information and a full schedule of events is available at the Steel Horse Rally website.

(Michael Tilley, a co-owner of Talk Business & Politics, is on the Steel Horse Rally Board of Directors.)