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Press Releases
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 10, 2010
To secure additional information or interviews, please contact:
Bob Kunkel, BID acting executive director, 970.375.5065
Labor Day weekend Motorcycle Parade returning to Downtown Durango
City, BID, DATO and more support event designed to stimulate economic activity
DURANGO, Colo. – Following a two-year hiatus, the parade of motorcycles will return to Downtown Durango on Sunday, Sept. 5 with the Motorcycle and Classic Car Parade. Held in conjunction with Ignacio Bike Week/Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, the event is hosted by the City of Durango, with sponsorship support of the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) and the Durango Area Tourism Office (DATO), among others.
Designed to include a full morning of activity in Downtown Durango, the event features a burrito breakfast benefit for veterans; tribal blessing and special presentation by wounded Army Specialist BJ Jackson; classic car display and back-to-back parades along Main Ave. of classic cars and motorcycles. Fly-overs from the La Plata County Civil Air Patrol will precede both the classic car and motorcycle parades.
“Durango has been interested in hosting an event during the rally weekend for several years, and this year the City of Durango is pleased to have the opportunity to revive the parade,” said Bob Kunkel, the city’s central business district development manager. “Thanks to coordination with the Ignacio Bike Week committee, we’ve been able to add new components, so it won’t be ‘just’ a motorcycle parade. There will be a lot going on Downtown.”
Building Homes for Heroes will benefit from proceeds generated during the morning activities. The organization is dedicated to recreating home life for US soldiers who have been severely and permanently injured in the course of serving the country and protecting U.S. citizens.
“This is a great opportunity to support our veterans,” said John Wells, BID presiding officer. “We encourage everyone to come on down for the burrito breakfast at the Transit Center and take a moment to appreciate all those who have been injured in defense of our country – especially our keynote presenter, Army Specialist BJ Jackson. He’s a true inspiration.”
Army Specialist BJ Jackson will highlight the pre-parade festivities at 10:30 a.m. from the staging area at the Transit Center. Jackson was wounded in Baghdad in August 2003 when his vehicle struck a land mine and then was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Jackson lost both legs and suffered extensive burns. He spent nearly 50 days in the post burn unit, but by early December he was skiing on his new legs.
The burrito breakfast benefitting Building Homes for Heroes is set to run 8 to10:30 a.m. at the Durango Transit Center. Cost is $10 per person. The classic cars will be on display in the First National Bank parking lot immediately adjacent across 8th St.
The Classic Car Parade will depart the First National Bank parking lot at 11 a.m., proceeding through the Transit Center, turning left on 7th and left on Main Avenue for the procession up Main to 12th St.
The Motorcycle Parade will follow at 11:30 a.m., escorted by the Durango Motor Cycle Police and departing from the Transit Center. The bikes will follow the classic car route up Main Ave. from 7th St. to 12th St.
Classic car owners and bikers planning to participate in the parades are asked to enter the event staging area from Camino del Rio at 8th Street. Classic cars will be directed to the First National Bank of Durango parking lot, and those with motorcycles are to assemble in the Transit Center lot.
In addition to the City of Durango, BID and DATO, event sponsors and supporters include Durango Harley Davidson, Durango Party Rental, Mercury Payment Systems, Chimera Communications, VFW Post 4031 and its Ladies and Men’s auxiliaries, Blue Star Mothers of Durango, Durango Over-the-Hill-Gang car club, Durango Motor Expo, Four Corners Biker Rally Association, Ignacio Bike Week, Durango Mountain Resort, District 6 ABATE, First National Bank of Durango, VFW Warriors, Iron Horse Chapter Harley Owners Group and La Plata County Civil Air Patrol.
To learn more about the Motorcycle and Classic Car Parade, visit, www.durangogov.org or www.downtowndurango.org. For information on Building Homes for Heroes, visit www.buildinghomesforheroes.org.
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