Motorcycle Rallies and Events

Hawgs of Texas Motorcycle Rally

April 28th, 2007

I ran across an article describing the Hawgs of Texas Motorcycle rally and how the mayor of Somerville, TX saved what may have become another casualty. The news story says that Mayor Tommy Thompson, who took office in May 2005, and three other bikers bought the rally in May, 2006, Mayor Tommy was quoted as saying:

We were getting ready to lose this rally. But this community thrives on it. It’s a real moneymaker.

My initial thoughts were “Wow, a town politician that actually admits that the biker community can offer more than they take! Someone realizes the economic benefit of being the host to a motorcycle rally.” But some things did not quite add up.

If this was the third annual Hawgs of Texas motorcycle rally, that means that it held its first in 2005, about the same time that Mayor Tommy took office. The article says that Tommy had been associated with the Dawgs on Hawgs rally for nine years, until a private investor bought the rally rights in 2004. The Dawgs on Hawgs rally continued through 2006, and was only canceled this year because the US Army Corps of Engineers revoked their permit. Could one politician use his influence to drown out the competition?

Was there competition in the first place? The article stated that the mayor had worked with Dawgs on Hawgs for nine years. Then why was this years’ seventh annual rally the one that was canceled? Was there a Hawgs of Texas before the Dawgs on Hawgs, which might explain the difference of two years on the annual for both events?

Questions only, but I would really like answers. Anyone reading this that can enlighten me?

Anyway, glad the rally was saved; I will definitely keep my eye on it.

Entry Filed under: Motorcycle Rallies