The normally quiet streets of Old Town Cottonwood were filled with the sounds of revving engines as thousands of bikers descended on Riverfront Park for a weekend of live music, food and, of course, riding.
The crowd wore leather jackets and jeans — some cut short — while every piece of clothing that could have a skull usually did. Beer vendors poured their wares into waiting glasses. Tattoos and long, scraggly beards were everywhere, and the various bands played the kind of energetic tough-guy classics you might expect: “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Slow Dive” and “Born to be Wild.”
“Crazy train in a cowboy hat,” shouted the lead singer of Mogollon after the band played a shredding, guitar-solo heavy version of the Ozzy Osbourne hit. They transitioned into “Sweet Home Alabama,” which turned into the crowd singing “sweet home Arizona” instead.
But the rally boasted a familyfriendly air, setting it apart from the normal biker image. Thunder Valley Rally is the kind of biker rally where people can bring their toddlers, or a goofy-looking furry dog, and feel right at home.
“It was a pretty uneventful weekend,” Cottonwood Police Sgt. Monica Kuhlt wrote in an email. “We only had one arrest that was TVR related. A 59-year-old Munds Park resident was arrested Saturday night for misdemeanor DUI and open container.”
“This is my favorite rally and that’s why,” said Melissa, a biker from Show Low with a tattoo of a phoenix on her shoulder who came with her son Daniel riding on the back of her bike. “People are nice and it’s family friendly.”
Daniel sported a black bandana around his forehead and showed off his 14-year-old biceps, still skinny but starting to develop tone.
The Cottonwood hospitality was a frequent high point for attendees, who celebrated the way the whole town welcomes the bikers and gets involved with the event.
“It’s the only one I’ve been to that really does that,” said Jeannie from Apache Junction of the involvement of the town. This was her first time at the Thunder Valley Rally, but she was gushing with praise of the event, compared to other rallies she’d attended. “We’ll come back.”
City officials praised the event’s place in the Cottonwood community.
“No. 1, it’s a financial gain, but it’s even better this year,” said Vice Mayor Kyla Allen, who attended the event with her husband. “Everyone’s so courteous and nice. It’s just a big party.
“It did take a lot of effort,” Allen said of the preparation for the event. “You’re always negotiating for what you can do compared to the money, but they knocked it out of the park this year.”
“It’s just really well done,” said Steve, a biker in his 70s from Show Low who came with his local biker club, the Mild Hogs. “The people are great here. I know they look forward to it all year.”
“He came last year and as soon as it was over he said, ‘We’ve got to go,’” said Steve’s fellow Mild Hog Bob, there for the first time.
Steve was diagnosed with cancer this spring, and this is his first biker rally since he got the news.
“I needed this,” Steve said of the rally, and of getting on his bike in general. “It’s freeing. It’s soothing. It’s good for the soul.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
