News
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
A3
BMW rally draws about 475 riders
Club raised
more than
$20,000 for
local groups
By Richard Hanners
Blue Mountain Eagle
About 475 riders showed
up in John Day for the BMW
Riders of Oregon’s 41st Chief
Joseph Rally in John Day
from June 29 to July 1.
The rally in the past was
held in various Eastern Or-
egon cities, but as the club
grew over the years, it settled
on John Day, club president
Bob Metzger told the Eagle.
“It’s a great community
with great facilities and phe-
nomenal riding opportuni-
ties,” he said.
Riders on BMWs as well
as other makes traveled from
across North America to par-
ticipate in the rally. Most
riders gathered at the Grant
County Fairgrounds, where
the grassy parkland was dot-
ted with tents.
In addition to activities at
the fairgrounds, about 85 rid-
ers participated in the Cow-
boy Lunch Tour on Friday for
a lunch and water resource
presentation at a ranch near
Izee.
Groups headed out to the
John Day Fossil Beds Na-
tional Monument on Friday
and Saturday, led by retired
park ranger John Fiedor, who
has led tours in the past in his
1967 Corvair. About $1,000
was raised through the geol-
ogy tour and will be donated
to the Juniper Arts Council,
Metzger said.
Keynote speeches and
seminars were presented at
the fairgrounds on various
topics, including on-road
advanced motorcycle safety
training provided by Team
Oregon, photography tips
headlined as MotoPhoto and
exercise suggestions for be-
fore, during and after riding
called MotoYoga. Celebrat-
ed motorcycle writers David
Hough and Walt Fulton also
spoke.
BMW Riders of Oregon
is a nonprofit group that rais-
es money for local charita-
ble and educational groups,
Metzger said.
Eagle file photo
Nick Stiner, No. 321, of Mt. Vernon collides with other
drivers during the first heat of the annual demolition
derby at the Grant County Fairgrounds last year. This
year, the event is July 14.
Demolition derby
ready to fire up
Blue Mountain Eagle
Eagle photos/Richard Hanners
Buyers and sellers meet at the Grant County Fairground during the BMW Riders of
Oregon club’s annual Chief Joseph Rally on June 29. This sidecar was custom-made
from a fiberglass boat body.
Drivers are warming up
for a smashing good time at
the Whiskey Gulch Gang’s
29th annual Demolition
Derby set for 7 p.m. Sat-
urday at the Grant County
Fairgrounds arena.
Organizer Hugh Farrell
said in this year’s pick-
up heat they are allowing
Broncos and Suburbans, but
they can only run on two-
wheel drive.
He said they expect a
good-sized crowd, as usual.
“It’s probably one of the
bigger events that happens
at the fairgrounds,” he said.
Proceeds from the event
benefit the Whiskey Gulch
Gang’s community events,
such as the ’62 Days Cele-
bration in Canyon City.
At stake in the main
event that night are prizes
of $2,000 for first place,
$1,000 for second and $500
for third. Winners of each
heat receive $200.
Trophies are also giv-
en out to all the winners.
Awards are also given for
Hard Luck winner and
Beauty Contest.
Last year’s last man
standing was Nick Stin-
er, with Douglas Hills in
second and Cody Frazier
in third. The Most Aggres-
sive Driver Award went to
Wayne Saul.
Gates open at 6 p.m., and
concessions will be avail-
able.
The cost for tickets at the
gate is $12 for adults and
$10 for ages 12 and under;
presale tickets are $2 less.
Children under 6 are free.
The entry fee for drivers
is $50 per car, which in-
cludes the driver and one pit
crew person; additional pit
passes are $30 a person.
Presale tickets are avail-
able at the fairgrounds of-
fice, Les Schwab Tires, Ace
Hardware and John Day
True Value.
For more information,
contact Farrell at 541-575-
0329.
Riders at the Grant County Fairgrounds gather for the cowboy lunch tour on June 29
during the BMW Riders of Oregon club’s annual Chief Joseph Rally in John Day.
“The Chief Joseph Rally is
our main fundraiser,” Metzger
said.
This year more than
$20,000 was raised at the ral-
ly, he said. Ideas were solic-
ited from members and com-
munity leaders about which
local organizations should re-
ceive donations. Metzger said
the club’s executive commit-
tee will meet in September to
make its determination.
Breakfast was served on
different days by a group
raising money for the Grant
County
eighth-graders’
field trip and by the Juni-
per Ridge 4-H Club. Three
generations of the Johnson
family performed bluegrass
music at the rally, raising
about $1,000 for Katie John-
son’s Calvary Horse Camp,
Metzger said.
“We had a great time and
are happy to leave some mon-
ey behind,” Metzger said.
“We hope to do it again next
year.”
Eagle file photo
Cody Frazier of John Day sits in his car after being
knocked out of last year’s demolition derby.
Who’s in the Woods?
Riders depart the Grant County Fairgrounds for the
cowboy lunch tour on June 29 during the BMW Riders of
Oregon club’s annual Chief Joseph Rally in John Day.
Riders at the Grant County Fairgrounds gather for the
cowboy lunch tour on June 29 during the BMW Riders of
Oregon club’s annual Chief Joseph Rally in John Day.
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located at Grant County Court House.
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www.bluemountainhospital.org
Services available at the
Home Health Office,
422 W. Main, John Day.
541-523-6377
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541-573-6377
541-576-2160
66164