23 | August | 2010 | buddly47's Xanga Site

Thunder rolls in Ironton

Bikers descend on southern Ohio for Rally on the River

Tim Preston
The Independent

IRONTON — Despite clear skies and a hot summer sun, thunder rolled through Ironton starting early Friday and grew louder by the hour as thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts gathered for Ironton’s Seventh annual Rally on the River.

“People just like to come out and see people and act crazy,” said Mark Rutledge, owner of Frogtown USA where much of the action in Ironton was centered as people connected with old friends, had a meal and enjoyed their fair share of cold barley-based beverages. Speaking for himself and his business, Rutledge said the annual Rally on the River is nothing but a good time.

“I get to see everybody out and enjoying themselves — and it brings money to the city,” he said. “There’s no way to guess how much money it brings in. We’ve got people here from Florida, Michigan, Canada, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania and West Virginia ... and, a lot of them are staying at the Ashland Plaza Hotel.”

With estimates of 25,000 to 30,000 people participating in the 2010 Rally on the River, Rutledge said local law enforcement and other agencies have been extremely supportive of the event.

“They work with us because they enjoy it too,” he said with a chuckle. “When we do have trouble it usually comes from the locals. The same people they have to run in at least once a month anyway.”

With cyclists staking out spots, including camping spaces, from Hanging Rock to the other edge of Ironton nearly everyone agreed the rally is a gathering of strangers who are all distantly related.

“We are all one big family,” said Mike Willis, recalling a time when he experienced a breakdown on the side of a South Dakota road and was soon rescued by fellow riders he had never met.

Willis said the attraction of the annual Rally on the River boils down to two components, “the people and the bikes.” The people, he said “are just like a brother or a sister” once you meet them, and the machines are the subject of individual taste.

“I just look at the Harleys. You see 100 black ones, but no two are the same,” he said, turning his head automatically along with everyone else in the crowd as a crew of roughly a dozen Harley owners piloted their machines down the nearby street.

Hustling to keep a horde of hungry, thirsty customers satisfied, Frog Town USA employee Karen Ruggeiri shrugged, smiled and concluded, “It’s like a redneck Cheers.”

Working at the bar inside, Kathy Larson of Flatwoods and Randie Hensley of Ironton agreed the crowd would be in high gear by about 9 p.m. Friday and again tonight.

“It’s friendly and loud,” Hensley observed.

Quietly enjoying a meal among the chaotic scene, Bill and Janice Sands sat with Pat and May Anne Leuken and made up for lost time.

“Pat and I worked together for 25 years and we haven’t seen each other for about three years,” Mr. Leuken explained.

“We all like to get together and drink some beer and listen to some good music,” Mrs. Leuken said as the sound of the band Southern Thunder saturated the restaurant.

D.L. McWhorter, who arrived on the scene riding a 1999 Harley-Davidson Softail Custom, said he couldn’t begin to guess the economic impact of the Rally on the River for businesses and vendors from Ironton Hanging Rock.

“I have no idea. I know a lot of these places — it makes their year,” he said, explaining he personally enjoys socializing with fellow cyclists and hearing good music performed by live bands.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.