Harley-Davidson riders’ Super Rally 2009 in Ostrobothnia passes off without undue incident

print this

The Harley-Davidson Super Rally 2009, held between May 28th and June 1st in the City of Seinäjoki in South Ostrobothnia, has gone off peacefully and without fighting.
      However, about 20 motorcyclists were caught by police on suspicion of DUI, while one tired and emotional Harley-Davidson biker was taken into police custody to get some rest on the night between Saturday and Sunday.
     
The international Harley-Davidson riders’ Super Rally 2009 was organised on the island of Törnävänsaari in Seinäjoki, and officially it is due to end today - Monday.
      The number of participants in the rally was some 10,000, most of whom left for home already on Sunday, after several days of blazing late-May sunshine.
      ”Let's face it, these are no longer girls and boys”, said Detective Chief Inspector Urpo Lintala from the Seinäjoki Police Department, explaining why no major violations of public order have occurred during the five-day event.
      ”Two annual events in Seinäjoki - the Tango Festival and the Provinssirock Festival - both cause the police a good deal more work than this event”, Lintala noted.
     
A large number of European motorcyclists arrived in Seinäjoki at the weekend to attend the Super Rally 2009, the continent's Harley Davidson riders’ main event of the year.
      The first bikers arrived already last Thursday, and the number of participants exceeded 10,000 by Friday, reported Riitta Rintamäki, the communications officer of the event.
      The Super Rally featured good music, shows, and competitions, as well as cold beer and tasty food in the company of fellow-bikers from all over the world.
      The main performers were two rock bands from the USA, namely The Fabulous Thunderbirds on Friday and Molly Hatchet on Saturday.
     
Among the Super Rally guests, members of both the Hells Angels and Bandidos biker gangs could be spotted wearing their respective vests and colours.
      Thanks to a truce called for the duration of the event, no bloody altercations were witnessed, said Rintamäki.
      In addition, according to the rules of the gathering, guests were forbidden to bring weapons to the rally.
      In 2000, the international Harley Davidson Super Rally was arranged in Himos, in Central Finland near the City of Jyväskylä, and the number of participants was then close to 6,000.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Nearly 30 motorcyclists stopped for DUI (29.5.2009)

Links:
  Super Rally 2009 (Harley-Davidson Club Finland)

Helsingin Sanomat