Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally » Love Letters

We’ll be back

Steve — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:09:05 +0000

Dropping you a note to let you know how much fun we had in 2011 our first year. We are so excited for 2012…. even though our friend had a wipe out at the stop sign just off the freeway, bummer. He is back and ready to roll for 2012. Can’t wait to get back and do it all over again. Thank you for a awesome event.

Mark and Barry

She was Only 13

Steve — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:18:30 +0000

I was only 13. Johnny Murphy was giving girls rides on the back of his dirt bike. For a dollar you could get a 10 minute ride through the trail behind the shopping center. I stood in line and when it was my turn I said “I’ll pay you two dollars but I get to drive.” I found my first boyfriend that day but truly gained the lifelong love for riding motorcycles. (Thanks Johnny wherever you are.) Now, on my 6th motorcycle and 60,000 plus miles later, I am planning for one of my favorite destinations of the year: “Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally.” This will be my 4th trip to the Rally dreamed up by the infamous Folkestad brothers, Steve & Eric, and I can’t wait to ride the Devil’s Tail again! I love the people of Baker City and the people who come to the rally. I find the different routes challenging and they feed that free spirit inside that wakes saying “it’s time to make some miles!” The conversations with other riders are easy whether I’m at the Geiser Grand Hotel or standing under a tree waiting out a rain shower. I’ve gone to the rally by myself and with others and each time I found friends and cohorts who were there to ride. The real riders. We talk about the curves that pull you in like a bear hug and the farmers who stand on their driveways waving while their cows line the fence wondering how we gained our freedom as we ride by. The conditions vary from year to year, the scenery is soul stirring and the fun is what you make for yourself. You have to have it inside you and here, at this rally, it comes out with the ride! I look forward to meeting those of you willing to take on the adventure.

Pam C.

3 Wheels Have Fun Too

Steve — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:11:04 +0000

This was my 4th or 5th Hells Canyon Rally. The community rolls out the red carpet for all of us and we have a blast! The roads in and around that area are the best I’ve ever ridden!

DeeDee

Best Ride Ever

Steve — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:08:47 +0000

HCMR, one of the best rides we have ever been on, Oregon Rocks with Beauty. Sweet Baker City Oregon, No question we will be back next year….
Jim

2010 was great fun.

Steve — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 22:17:09 +0000

1257 miles for us. Whatta blast, and STILL after 3 years of going, rode some MORE roads we haven’t been on yet. That was after doing 2 rides while there this year, that we had never done before. Wow, always more reasons to come back!

Debra

Long Beach invades HCMR

Steve — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:20:24 +0000

Sitting back at work thinking about the great roads and time it was. My Buddy Dave and I headed up from Long Beach CA and had superb rides all the way. Oregon has some of the finest roads around and we were amazed that despite the weather Oregon roads were in great shape. Baker High School grass was pretty soft to sleep on and despite some of the winds, the weather couldn’t of been better. 2700 miles in 5.5 days. There was a guy taking photos on the Devils Tail, Was he a vendor? I was wanting to view some of the photos if he selling them. Please let me know and Thanks again for a great Rally.

Stu and Dave

PS The vendor link is here: KOKO

Why go to Sturgis?

Steve — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:39:44 +0000

I attended the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally last year, had a time of my life, can’t imagine why to go all the way to Sturgis, I peaked out my fun meter at Baker City.

Mick D.

There’s something about Baker…….

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:33:18 +0000

There’s something about Baker City……..

I know what it is and I want you to learn first hand what this thing is about Baker. Here are a few questions that bring the important stuff up to the level of serious thought.

What city allows bikers to campout during the rally on the High School football field?

What city has local residents contact the Chamber of Commerce to volunteer their homes for bikers to stay during the rally?

What city rolls out the red carpet for bikers and welcomes them like they are veterans returning home from war?

Baker City during the Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally is the answer.

For nine years Baker has welcomed me and thousands of my closest friends to come on their motorcycles and enjoy everything that Baker and its people have to offer. A friendly atmosphere, warm outgoing residents, great food with beverage, a Main Street that any American Mayor would die for. And that’s just Baker. Add to this the great motorcycle roads that intersect at Baker, I-84, Hwy 30, Hwy 7, Hwy 203, Hwy 245 and Hwy 86. Also close by are Hwy 244, Hwy 237, Hwy 26 Hwy 82 and the Hells Canyon, Blue Mountain and Elkhorn Scenic Byways. Let us not forget the most important road. The Devil’s Tail. This 22 mile road from Oxbow to Hells Canyon Dam is the signature ride of the rally. It could very well be the most inspiring 44 miles of your life.

There’s more. All of this is set in the mountains. Fantastic beauty surrounds you on all sides. The Blue Mountains, the Elkhorn Ridge, the Seven Devils, the Wallowa Mountains and the Strawberry Mountains. These mountains provide the snow pack for several rivers which include the Snake, Powder, Grande Ronde, Wallowa, Minam, Imnaha and Burnt. More natural landscape and beauty in one area than can be imagined!

SteveF

Billy aka SpeedGeek

admin — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:27:45 +0000

Here is what happened on the way over – I was on the Busa and my wife was in her Passat on our way to the Hells Canyon Rally in ’06. She had left Redmond, OR an hour behind me. I got nabbed in the middle of nowhere doing 79 in a 55 (off the throttle after passing a group of cars doing triple digits – WHEW!!!) Knowing my wife’s a leadfoot, I tried to phone her, but of course had no cell service. Sure enough, she gets pulled over, Sheriff walks up she hands him her license:

Sheriff: after pondering a second…. “Are you related to a Billy _____ ?”
Wife: Yes, that’s my husband.
Sheriff: Well, he wasn’t going as fast as you.”

-Also, because she was in the car going to Hell’s Canyon Rally and the Rally motto: “SEE YOU IN HELL’s canyon”. She had on her back window “See you in hell!” painted in white shoe polish. Ummm… he didn’t get it and didn’t like it one bit and thought it was rude… After lecturing her about the back window, open range and cows on the road… blah blah blah… he writes her up for doing 83 in a 55.

Spendy trip

I have since bought an escort and have it wired into my headphones with my MP3. It has saved me numerous times when I have been riding a little more spirited than I should. Last year we just avoided Mitchell altogether. I’ve had several friends get popped in Mitchell. Prineville-Post-Paulina-Seneca-Strawberry Mountain-Unity-Hereford is a MUCH better route and less worries of police.

This year I am thinking of doing something on the north side of 26… Fossil Condon type route…

By the way… Thanks again for the whole rally!!! We went in 2007 as a group of 6 sportbikes and had a BLAST! We have 4 rooms booked for this year and are bringing a lot more riders. We can’t wait!!!

Glenn K

admin — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:03:26 +0000

We stayed at Mt. View RV, great people there and nice facilities. The shuttle was a great new addition this year. All in all, the rally was lots of fun, the ride over and back as well as the rides and time at the rally.

The Baker City and Hells Canyon Area is great riding country. The rally was very well organized and a lot to do and see, with all the local businesses and towns welcoming bikers like they did, great people in this area.

We had a great time and have plans for returning next year.

Hells Canyon Rider 2007